Hello all,
It's been a while since I've been here, but I'm up with my new infant son, and while he's getting a catnap in, I figured I'd check in. I briefly glanced over the thread, "Why doesn't the public know what optometry school is?", and I thought I'd share a story that caused quite a ruckus on ODwire when I posted it there.
A few weeks ago I was reading the wall street journal, and I saw a letter to the editor from the president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology that made me chuckle. It was in regards to a column that the paper had printed in which the author wrote about whether she would be better served by going to the mall to see an optometrist, rather than her Ophthalmologist. Here is the letter, from 7/27 on page A11 in case you want to look it up:
For the Best Eye Care, You Must See a Doctor
A recent "cranky consumer: column on getting an eye checkup ("Going to the Mall for an Eye Checkup," Personal Journal, July 12) asks why a healthy 41-year old woman with no history of eye disese couldn't be adequately served by an optometrist instead of an ophthalmologist. For routine things like getting an eye-glass or contact lens prescription, your'e right.
However, it's too easy to underestimate your risk for eye disease. Some diseases begin to develop as early as age 40. Diseases like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy often have no early symptoms but can have a devastating impace on your vision - even blindness- if left untreated. For serious eye problems, it is critical to see an ophthalmologist, who has years of medical training.
David Parke, MD
President Elect
American Academy of Ophthalmology
San Francisco
I would guess that since the wsj is the 2nd largest newspaper by circulation in the country that a couple of million people read it. It is stories like these that shape people's perception. If the public doesn't know what an optometrist is, or what our schooling entail, then it is our responsibility to inform them, and ensure that the organizations that represent us do their part to educate the public as well. The president of the AOA has submitted a response to the above letter. I'd be interested to see if it will be published.
AA
It's been a while since I've been here, but I'm up with my new infant son, and while he's getting a catnap in, I figured I'd check in. I briefly glanced over the thread, "Why doesn't the public know what optometry school is?", and I thought I'd share a story that caused quite a ruckus on ODwire when I posted it there.
A few weeks ago I was reading the wall street journal, and I saw a letter to the editor from the president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology that made me chuckle. It was in regards to a column that the paper had printed in which the author wrote about whether she would be better served by going to the mall to see an optometrist, rather than her Ophthalmologist. Here is the letter, from 7/27 on page A11 in case you want to look it up:
For the Best Eye Care, You Must See a Doctor
A recent "cranky consumer: column on getting an eye checkup ("Going to the Mall for an Eye Checkup," Personal Journal, July 12) asks why a healthy 41-year old woman with no history of eye disese couldn't be adequately served by an optometrist instead of an ophthalmologist. For routine things like getting an eye-glass or contact lens prescription, your'e right.
However, it's too easy to underestimate your risk for eye disease. Some diseases begin to develop as early as age 40. Diseases like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy often have no early symptoms but can have a devastating impace on your vision - even blindness- if left untreated. For serious eye problems, it is critical to see an ophthalmologist, who has years of medical training.
David Parke, MD
President Elect
American Academy of Ophthalmology
San Francisco
I would guess that since the wsj is the 2nd largest newspaper by circulation in the country that a couple of million people read it. It is stories like these that shape people's perception. If the public doesn't know what an optometrist is, or what our schooling entail, then it is our responsibility to inform them, and ensure that the organizations that represent us do their part to educate the public as well. The president of the AOA has submitted a response to the above letter. I'd be interested to see if it will be published.
AA
