Employers
We’ve been helping leading practices across the nation identify and hire talented, relational Ophthalmologists and Optometrists for over 17 years.
Recruiting an Ophthalmologist or Optometrist for Your Practice?
Trusted leaders in ophthalmology and optometry recruitment. No exclusivity, no upfront fees, competitive pricing, and deep industry knowledge. Backed by the best Peace of Mind placement guarantee in the eye world.
Why Eye Care Practices Partner With OjO Recruitment Agency
OjO Recruitment Agency helps ophthalmology and optometry practices recruit doctors who fit not only the clinical opportunity itself, but also the long-term culture, philosophy, pace, values, and future vision of the organization. For more than 17 years, we have focused exclusively on helping ophthalmology and optometry practices recruit ophthalmologists, ophthalmology subspecialists, and optometrists nationwide. During that time, we’ve had the privilege of partnering with practices, surgeons, and optometrists through some of the most important professional decisions affecting their careers and organizational growth.
We work with private practices, OD/MD groups, hospitals, health systems, academic organizations, PE-backed eye care groups, and corporate optometry organizations throughout the United States.
Our approach is highly relationship-driven, consultative, and centered around creating strong, long-term mutual fits for both our candidates and client practices — helping organizations recruit talented doctors who will not only contribute clinically, but who will also strengthen culture, patient care, online reputation, leadership, and the future of the practice itself.
In today’s increasingly competitive eye care market, successful recruitment often involves far more than simply offering a strong compensation package. Mentorship, efficiency, surgical opportunities, work-life balance, practice philosophy, patient flow, staffing support, leadership dynamics, and long-term growth potential all play meaningful roles in helping doctors determine where they can truly thrive.
At OjO, we genuinely enjoy serving as a resource to both practices and candidates throughout the recruitment journey. We care deeply about helping outstanding doctors and outstanding organizations find one another — and helping build long-term relationships that benefit practices, patients, communities, and careers alike.
Who We Help
Private ophthalmology practices
Private optometry practices
OD/MD groups
Hospitals & health systems
Academic centers & universities
PE-backed ophthalmology organizations
Corporate optometry groups
Multi-location eye care organizations
Roles We Recruit For
We recruit across a broad range of ophthalmology and optometry specialties and subspecialties, including:
Comprehensive Ophthalmologists
Cataract Surgeons
Glaucoma Specialists
Retina Surgeons
Cornea Specialists
Oculoplastic Surgeons
Pediatric Ophthalmologists
Neuro-Ophthalmologists
Refractive Surgeons
Medical Retina Specialists
Medical Optometrists
Primary Care Optometrists
Residency-Trained Optometrists
New Grad ODs
Why Recruiting Eye Doctors Has Become More Challenging
The shortage of ophthalmologists in the United States is very real and increasingly well documented. Even highly regarded practices in desirable metropolitan areas are often competing aggressively for a limited number of residency and fellowship-trained physicians.
At the same time, younger ophthalmologists and optometrists are evaluating opportunities differently than previous generations. Compensation remains important, but mentorship, culture, flexibility, efficiency, leadership, long-term growth potential, and lifestyle have become equally important parts of the decision-making process.
Every recruitment search is unique. Factors such as geographic location, compensation structure, surgical volume, partnership opportunities, scheduling flexibility, staff support, turnover history, local schools, and community quality of life all influence how quickly a practice can successfully recruit the right doctor.
How OjO Helps Practices Recruit More Effectively
National candidate outreach
Compensation and market insight
Candidate screening and qualification
Interview coordination
Offer and negotiation support
Confidential search assistance
Long-term relationship-driven recruiting
Strategic guidance throughout the hiring process
We work closely with both practices and candidates throughout the recruitment process, helping facilitate communication, expectations, timelines, interviews, and ultimately long-term alignment.
Why Practices Choose OjO
OjO Recruitment Agency was founded by a seasoned healthcare recruiter and a practicing ophthalmologist. That combination has provided unique insight into both the business and clinical sides of eye care recruitment.
Because we have spent years walking alongside practices and candidates through the hiring process, we understand many of the real-world factors that influence successful long-term placements — from mentorship and patient flow to compensation structures, burnout concerns, surgical opportunities, and practice culture.
We genuinely care about helping practices recruit outstanding doctors who will strengthen patient care, contribute positively to the organization, and build long-term roots within the community.
Unlike many recruiting firms:
We do not require exclusive recruiting agreements
We do not charge upfront fees
We offer one of the strongest placement guarantees in the industry
We focus exclusively on ophthalmology and optometry recruitment
Testimonials
Success stories from Ophthalmology and Optometry candidates, eye care organizations and practices we’ve worked with.
Need Help Recruiting & Hiring a Great Ophthalmologist or Optometrist for Your Practice?
Work with Experienced, Knowledgeable Physician Recruiters.
One-on-One Help to Hire a Great Eye Doctor or Surgeon.
Marketing Your Ophthalmology or Optometry Opportunity.
Outreach That Works: Calls, Emails, Texts, Zoom, and Social
Know Your Key Selling Points: People, Pay, Purpose, and More
How Does Your Offer Compare with Your Competitors?
We Know How to Connect with Today’s Young Eye Doctors and Surgeons.
The Best Placement Guarantee in Ophthalmology and Optometry Recruitment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does ophthalmology or optometry recruiting typically cost?
Recruitment fees vary considerably from one firm to another. Some agencies charge flat fees, while others charge a percentage of the physician’s first-year compensation. Fees also vary based on the specialty being recruited, the complexity of the search, and each firm’s pricing model.
At OjO Recruitment Agency, we believe practices deserve transparent, competitive pricing with no surprises. Our fees are generally positioned on the lower end of national ophthalmology and optometry recruitment rates, and because we work on a contingency basis, you only pay a fee if we successfully help you hire a doctor. Unlike some firms, we do not require exclusive recruitment contracts, so you’re never obligated to pay us if you find a candidate on your own. We also stand behind our work with one of the strongest guarantees in the eye care recruitment industry, giving our client practices added confidence and peace of mind throughout the hiring process.
Do you require an exclusive recruiting agreement?
No.
We intentionally designed our recruitment agreement with the client experience in mind. Practices are free to continue utilizing their own recruitment efforts and may also work with additional recruiters or consultants simultaneously if they choose.
In general, we encourage practices to review exclusive recruiting agreements carefully. Some exclusive contracts may require payment even if the practice ultimately identifies and hires a doctor through its own independent efforts.
At OjO, we prefer a relationship-driven, contingency-based approach. We only receive a fee if we successfully help your organization hire a doctor.
Do you charge upfront fees?
No. OjO Recruitment Agency does not charge upfront recruiting fees unless a practice specifically requests that we create and manage job postings on third-party job boards (AAO, AOA, AGS, etc) as part of the recruitment process.
This is an optional service we offer for busy practices that would like additional exposure for their opportunity. In those situations, we simply pass along the actual cost of the third-party job board advertising fees without markup.
Our recruitment services themselves remain contingency-based, meaning we only receive a recruitment fee if we successfully help your organization hire a doctor.
What types of eye care practices do you work with?
We work with a wide range of organizations throughout the eye care industry, including:
Private practices
Multi-location ophthalmology groups
OD/MD organizations
Hospitals & health systems
Academic institutions
PE-backed eye care organizations
Corporate optometry groups
How long does it usually take to recruit an ophthalmologist?
The timeline can vary significantly depending on several factors, including geographic location, compensation structure, subspecialty demand, mentorship opportunities, practice reputation, partnership potential, patient volume, scheduling flexibility, and overall lifestyle considerations within the community.
In today’s market, recruiting talented ophthalmologists — particularly surgeons with strong interpersonal skills, clinical strengths, and proven surgical experience — has become increasingly competitive nationwide.
Even highly respected practices in desirable locations are often facing meaningful challenges securing long-term physician matches.
One of the most important things practices can do is begin the recruitment process as early and proactively as possible. The strongest candidates are frequently evaluating multiple opportunities simultaneously, and many ophthalmologists begin exploring career options well before they officially complete training or plan to relocate.
Why is recruiting ophthalmologists so competitive right now?
The physician shortage within ophthalmology is substantial and widely recognized throughout the industry.
Each year, only a limited number of ophthalmologists complete residency training in the United States, and many continue into fellowship training in subspecialties such as retina, glaucoma, cornea, oculoplastics, or pediatrics.
At the same time, demand for eye care services continues to grow due to an aging population and increasing patient needs nationwide.
What ophthalmology subspecialties are hardest to recruit?
Currently, glaucoma specialists and retina surgeons are among the most competitive physician searches in ophthalmology.
These physicians often have numerous career options available to them, creating intense competition among practices nationwide.
Can you help recruit medical optometrists?
Absolutely.
Many ophthalmology organizations are actively seeking medically oriented optometrists who are comfortable managing ocular disease, co-managing surgical patients, and practicing within collaborative OD/MD environments.
“Find us a strong medical OD” is one of the most common requests we receive from practices.
Do you recruit nationwide?
Yes. OjO Recruitment Agency has recruited ophthalmologists and optometrists throughout the United States for more than 17 years.
What makes OjO different from general healthcare recruiters?
OjO Recruitment Agency focuses exclusively on physician recruitment within the eye care profession — helping ophthalmology and optometry practices recruit ophthalmologists, ophthalmology subspecialists, and optometrists nationwide.
Because our work is centered entirely around the eye world, we are able to offer a depth of market insight, compensation knowledge, recruitment perspective, wisdom, and industry understanding that many broader healthcare recruiting firms simply cannot provide.
For more than 17 years, we’ve had the privilege of building relationships with practices, surgeons, residents, fellows, and optometrists throughout the country. Along the way, we’ve gained valuable perspective into the real-world factors that influence successful long-term hiring — including mentorship, culture, patient flow, surgical opportunities, staffing support, compensation structure, partnership potential, lifestyle considerations, and practice philosophy.
Most importantly, we genuinely care about the long-term success of both the practices and the doctors we serve. We believe successful recruitment is about far more than simply filling a position — it’s about helping good people and good organizations find the right long-term fit for one another.
Can searches remain confidential?
Yes.
We have extensive experience handling sensitive and confidential recruitment searches discreetly and professionally.
What compensation are ophthalmologists expecting today?
Compensation varies significantly by subspecialty, experience, production expectations, and geographic region.
In general, many new graduate comprehensive ophthalmologists, cornea specialists, and glaucoma surgeons currently receive offers ranging from approximately $280,000–$350,000+, often in addition to some combination of the following:
Productivity incentives
Sign-on bonuses
Relocation assistance
Fellowship stipends
Partnership opportunities
Experienced surgeons may command substantially higher compensation packages.
What compensation are optometrists expecting today?
Within ophthalmology-affiliated OD/MD settings, many offers currently fall within approximately $140,000–$190,000+, although compensation can vary significantly depending on factors such as geographic location, medical scope, patient volume expectations, experience level, and production incentive or optical commission perks.
In addition to base compensation, many optometrist opportunities may include some combination of additional incentives or benefits such as:
Productivity bonuses
Sign-on bonuses
Relocation assistance
Student loan support
Stipends during training
Not every opportunity includes all of these components, but these are among the more common incentives we are currently seeing throughout the national optometry recruitment marketplace.
How involved is OjO during interviews and negotiations?
As involved as our clients would like us to be.
Throughout the process, we help facilitate communication, interview coordination, follow-up discussions, and offer negotiations help.
Our goal is to serve as a helpful, experienced resource for both the practice and the candidate throughout the recruitment journey.
What happens if a placement does not work out?
For many years, OjO Recruitment Agency has offered a true placement guarantee designed to provide additional peace of mind and protection for our client practices.
Some recruitment agencies offer what is essentially a limited replacement policy — for example, stating that if a physician placement does not work out within the first 30 days, they will attempt to help find a replacement candidate.
The challenge with that approach is that there is no guarantee another suitable candidate will actually become available, which may leave the practice having invested significant recruitment dollars without a successful long-term hire.
Our philosophy has always been different.
At OjO, we believe practices deserve stronger protection and greater accountability from their recruitment partner. Recruiting an ophthalmologist or optometrist requires a meaningful investment of time, energy, trust, and financial resources, and we believe our guarantee should reflect that reality.
That is why OjO has long stood behind our work with a true money-back guarantee.
Can practices reach out to OjO for compensation guidance or market insight even if they are not actively using your recruitment services?
Absolutely.
One of the things we genuinely enjoy is serving as a resource to ophthalmology and optometry practices throughout the country. Even if a practice is not actively utilizing OjO Recruitment Agency for a recruitment search, we are glad to share general market insights related to compensation trends, recruitment competitiveness, candidate expectations, production bonus structures, partnership considerations, relocation incentives, and current hiring dynamics within the national eye care marketplace.
Over the past 17+ years, we’ve had the opportunity to observe a wide range of recruitment trends and compensation models throughout ophthalmology and optometry. We enjoy helping practices better understand how today’s candidates are evaluating opportunities and what factors may help strengthen long-term recruitment success.
Sometimes a brief conversation with us and a few thoughtful adjustments to an offer structure can significantly improve a practice’s ability to attract strong candidates.
Ready to Start a Conversation?
Whether you are a physician exploring your next step or a practice looking to strengthen your team, we’re here to be a trusted recruitment partner and career resource to the practices and candidates we serve.
Schedule a Confidential Conversation | info@ojorecruiting.com | 828.514.9419