- Joined
- Oct 15, 2009
- Messages
- 27
- Reaction score
- 0
My sister keeps mentioning that she wants discounts when I graduate - as does the rest of my family. How do you guys deal with relatives making these sorts of hints?
My sister keeps mentioning that she wants discounts when I graduate - as does the rest of my family. How do you guys deal with relatives making these sorts of hints?
My sister keeps mentioning that she wants discounts when I graduate - as does the rest of my family. How do you guys deal with relatives making these sorts of hints?
I'm not saying I don't want to help out my family - that was and always has been my plan. BUT, when I keep on hearing from family that they should have waited until I graduated to even get new glasses - because it was too expensive and I can get it to them for free - that makes me mad.
Before you decide to jump on me, YOU also need to understand that optometrists make a living off selling eyeglasses. I don't mind helping out my family, but when it gets to the point that they think it's not worth the cost to pay for those services - well, then crap, you're in trouble, because that is how you make your living. And if your own family thinks that, what do you think the general public think?
Think about that.
My father has AMD and my mother has optic neuritis and glaucoma, all which need frequent monitoring. I do not charge them a cent and I pick up the cost of their progressives. .
There is no way I would treat a family with a chronic medical condition that has the potential to blind them unless there was no other alternative. Obviously, severity is important, is it a druse vs moderate ARMD or OAG (S) vs OAG with field defects. Are you sure you are being completely objective? The answer is you are probably not, which is why in many states you cannot treat a relative with a chronic condition. In addition, you missed a finding on a patient last week, so did I, we all did. Do you want that to be your parents? Anecdotally, I know of two patients who went blind, one with undiagnosed OAG (followed for many years) the other with NVG due to OIS, both were followed by a family member. I know, those docs are idiots, it would never happen to you, but stuff happens. IMO saving a few bucks with new glasses, fine, but you are likely not doing them any favors if they have significant pathology.