Comments for optoblog.com http://www.optoblog.com Personal Opinion Blog of David Langford Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:54:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Humphrey Acuitus 5015 takes 40 minutes to warm up! by John Himes http://www.optoblog.com/2011/12/02/humphrey-acuitus-5015-takes-40-minutes-to-warm-up/comment-page-1/#comment-1171 John Himes Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:54:02 +0000 http://www.optoblog.com/?p=1471#comment-1171 The fact that your video board is "snowing" means some degradation of some components on the video board. I have been repairing this problem and countless others for three years now. The fact that your video board is “snowing” means some degradation of some components on the video board. I have been repairing this problem and countless others for three years now.

]]> Comment on Do Not Become an Optometrist by Ren Aldo http://www.optoblog.com/2007/01/21/do-not-become-an-optometrist/comment-page-2/#comment-1169 Ren Aldo Thu, 05 Jan 2012 07:23:53 +0000 http://www.optoblog.com/2007/01/21/do-not-become-an-optometrist/#comment-1169 How easy it is to lay blame on failiure on others. I have always believed that success lies within each of us. However success does not come automatically with a title. Doctors of Optometry fucntion just like doctors of any other health care specialty. Their success rests on how they conduct themselves. If the doctor can't find a job it isn't because of the profession. There are opportunities in all faucets of the profession. All one needs do is open one's eyes . If one wants to live at the beach, drive a Jag, and expect to pay off their student loans with a salary of an OD , those are unrealistic expectations and you have definitely chosen the wrong profession. Actually you probably would never have chosen the right profession. Success comes with hard work, sacrifice, motivation, perserverence and dedication, among a whole bunch of other things. If you love what you do and you have the drive to be the best at it, no matter what your choice of occupation, you will succeed. Please get real and examine the facts if you are disatisfied with your choice of life's work. There are too many successful OD's who have great practices, do good things for their patients from helping children overcome learning dissabilities to co-managing cataract surgeries, saving lives by detecting conditions that might have gone un-noticed, or just teaching a reluctant patient how to use her eyewear to enhance her appearance. There is so much self satisfaction a doctor of optometry gains and the scope of responsibility is almost overwhelming. When comparing the opportunities available, there is no reason to be discouraged. Optometry has grown to become one of the most prestigeous professions in health care. And those of you who are dissalusioned have not been seeing clearly. How easy it is to lay blame on failiure on others. I have always believed that success lies within each of us. However success does not come automatically with a title. Doctors of Optometry fucntion just like doctors of any other health care specialty. Their success rests on how they conduct themselves. If the doctor can’t find a job it isn’t because of the profession. There are opportunities in all faucets of the profession. All one needs do is open one’s eyes . If one wants to live at the beach, drive a Jag, and expect to pay off their student loans with a salary of an OD , those are unrealistic expectations and you have definitely chosen the wrong profession. Actually you probably would never have chosen the right profession. Success comes with hard work, sacrifice, motivation, perserverence and dedication, among a whole bunch of other things. If you love what you do and you have the drive to be the best at it, no matter what your choice of occupation, you will succeed. Please get real and examine the facts if you are disatisfied with your choice of life’s work. There are too many successful OD’s who have great practices, do good things for their patients from helping children overcome learning dissabilities to co-managing cataract surgeries, saving lives by detecting conditions that might have gone un-noticed, or just teaching a reluctant patient how to use her eyewear to enhance her appearance. There is so much self satisfaction a doctor of optometry gains and the scope of responsibility is almost overwhelming. When comparing the opportunities available, there is no reason to be discouraged. Optometry has grown to become one of the most prestigeous professions in health care. And those of you who are dissalusioned have not been seeing clearly.

]]> Comment on Systane Ultra is Safe for Use with Contact Lenses by Nick http://www.optoblog.com/2010/03/20/systane-ultra-is-safe-for-use-with-contact-lenses/comment-page-1/#comment-1168 Nick Thu, 05 Jan 2012 02:41:49 +0000 http://www.optoblog.com/?p=852#comment-1168 I regularly use both Systane Ultra and Systane Balance while wearing contact lenses, it works just fine with no side effects. I regularly use both Systane Ultra and Systane Balance while wearing contact lenses, it works just fine with no side effects.

]]> Comment on Do Not Become an Optometrist by Sharon, OD http://www.optoblog.com/2007/01/21/do-not-become-an-optometrist/comment-page-2/#comment-1158 Sharon, OD Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:44:35 +0000 http://www.optoblog.com/2007/01/21/do-not-become-an-optometrist/#comment-1158 I have been a practicing optometrist for fifteen years now. I started out in retail and hated it! After twelve years, I decided to buy a practice from a retiring OD. It has been awfully difficult to keep this practice going with a Walmart Optical, a Sterling Optical, three Lenscrafters, two Pearle Vision Centers, four Empire Vision Centers, a Boscov's Optical, a Sears Optical, a JCPenney Optical, a Target Optical, and a partridge in a pear tree within eight miles of the practice. I am dangerously close to closing the door, but I will give it one more year. The scary thing is that you would think with all the aforementioned establishments, an optometrist should have no problem finding a job. However, I get a lot of calls from local optometrists wondering if I had any work available for them. One of the calls was from an optometrist friend of mine who is moving to the area. She said none of the retail places are hiring right now. In addition to the retail competition, optometrists have to deal with poor reimbursement for eye exams from many vision insurance plans. This is a problem which seems to be getting worse. So, don't take those insurance plans? Well, then you don't get the patients in the door. You may get a few faithful patients, who will pay out of pocket to see you, even if their insurance plan changes. My experience has been those are very few, and most patients are only as loyal as their insurance dictates. I have a son and a daughter. I'm almost certain that neither one would decide to pursue optometry as career after witnessing the frustration I have been through. I would encourage this decision. In fact, I would discourage them from going into the healthcare field in general (with the exception of orthodontistry ... most don't take insurance, most kids get braces these days, costs thousands of dollars ... you do the math). I have a brother who is a pediatrician, and a bother who is a family physician. Bothe in well established practices. Both struggling now with the continued decrease in reimbursements from insurance companies. At least they don't have to deal with the same competition, but mark these words "Doc-in-a-Box Retail Clinics" are coming our way. I fear for the future of healthcare. To all those considering optometry ... DON'T. Gone are the Golden Days of Optometry. I have been a practicing optometrist for fifteen years now. I started out in retail and hated it! After twelve years, I decided to buy a practice from a retiring OD. It has been awfully difficult to keep this practice going with a Walmart Optical, a Sterling Optical, three Lenscrafters, two Pearle Vision Centers, four Empire Vision Centers, a Boscov’s Optical, a Sears Optical, a JCPenney Optical, a Target Optical, and a partridge in a pear tree within eight miles of the practice. I am dangerously close to closing the door, but I will give it one more year. The scary thing is that you would think with all the aforementioned establishments, an optometrist should have no problem finding a job. However, I get a lot of calls from local optometrists wondering if I had any work available for them. One of the calls was from an optometrist friend of mine who is moving to the area. She said none of the retail places are hiring right now.
In addition to the retail competition, optometrists have to deal with poor reimbursement for eye exams from many vision insurance plans. This is a problem which seems to be getting worse. So, don’t take those insurance plans? Well, then you don’t get the patients in the door. You may get a few faithful patients, who will pay out of pocket to see you, even if their insurance plan changes. My experience has been those are very few, and most patients are only as loyal as their insurance dictates.
I have a son and a daughter. I’m almost certain that neither one would decide to pursue optometry as career after witnessing the frustration I have been through. I would encourage this decision. In fact, I would discourage them from going into the healthcare field in general (with the exception of orthodontistry … most don’t take insurance, most kids get braces these days, costs thousands of dollars … you do the math). I have a brother who is a pediatrician, and a bother who is a family physician. Bothe in well established practices. Both struggling now with the continued decrease in reimbursements from insurance companies. At least they don’t have to deal with the same competition, but mark these words “Doc-in-a-Box Retail Clinics” are coming our way. I fear for the future of healthcare.
To all those considering optometry … DON’T. Gone are the Golden Days of Optometry.

]]> Comment on Do Not Become an Optometrist by Forynia http://www.optoblog.com/2007/01/21/do-not-become-an-optometrist/comment-page-2/#comment-1147 Forynia Thu, 24 Nov 2011 16:33:32 +0000 http://www.optoblog.com/2007/01/21/do-not-become-an-optometrist/#comment-1147 I work as a technician in an eyecare practice in the San Antonio Texas area, and I have considered going to school to become an Optometrist. I am fascinated by the science involved in eye care and can't help but soak up everything I have seen and assisted with in my 2 years in my current position. I have loved it all, but I get nervous about the idea of being a surgeon, so I have shied from the prospect of Opthalmology. Optometry seems like the right fit for me. That said what I think is most interesting about my company is that we are not a big box store but a practice of several Opthalmologists and optometrists working together (and some Opticians, and of course a small horde of techs like myself). We have a few branches around the city and the doctors move from one location to another throughout the week in order to increase their patient base. San Antonio is also a PAIN to commute around so many patients who encounter us on emergency referrals in our main branch (near the primary medical district of the city) are pleased to learn that they can see the doctor later at a location closer to their home, if they only call ahead and schedule an appointment on a day the doctor is there. The optometrists and opthalmologists work well together and have a great respect and friendship for one another, so it surprised me to find out from reading this post that this is apparently not standard in the industry. One of the great things about our practice (which the doctors are fond of mentioning; Opthalmologist or Optometrist, they are all very proud of our work) is that we have several specialists of various kinds in the practice. 2 Retina specialists, one pediatric/strabismus/muscle imbalance specialist, several general opthalmologists and 3 optometrists. Come in for your normal exam and if you have a serious retinal problem we discover, no need to refer you outside the practice for it, you can see one of our associates who will have instant, full access to our notes and records and an easy line of comminication to your previous physician. Many times we handle those kinds of consultations instantly, simply calling another doctor over for a second opinion or a direct hand off of the patient's care. Opthalmologists and Optometrists and the specialists all handle eyeglass prescriptions because a refraction is performed once yearly by the technicians before they see the doctor, which the doctor can then review and tweak as needed. However, our general opthalmologists have long since left off handling contact lens prescriptions, and instead refer patients to one of the optometrists in the practice for this. They have plenty to do handling 35+ patients a day for cataracts and LASIK and chalazion excisions and the like that they really enjoy referring CL exams to their partners whom they trust to provide the same standard of care that all the doctors in the company hold themselves to. Consequently the Optometrists know exactly who to give patients to when cataracts have finally grown to impede visual acuity enough that they need to be removed and replaced with an IOL, and even know enough about their partners personalities to refer patients to one doctor over another, knowing that this person will get along with that person better, etc. I am kind of surprised that this is not more common. However over the lunchroom table I often get into discussions with the doctors (or simply listen in on one already going on) concerning how healthcare is moving away from individual practices vs Corporate to companies a lot like our own, with larger joint practices who can compete with Corporate Opticals in the kind of affordability and services they offer to patients. So, maybe there will be more options available in the future. I certainly hope to sign on with my current employer when I graduate, as I couldn't imagine working anywhere else. =D The Healthcare industry is changing a lot, and despite public perception, Optometry is a huge part of healthcare. Even as a technician, I enjoy explaining to patients how important it is that they have yearly eye exams for their health, and how Optometry is one of the few places where we can see Nerves, arteries, and smaller blood vessels. I have great respect for all of you Optometrists out there, and I hope those of you with difficulties will be able to find something better. I work as a technician in an eyecare practice in the San Antonio Texas area, and I have considered going to school to become an Optometrist. I am fascinated by the science involved in eye care and can’t help but soak up everything I have seen and assisted with in my 2 years in my current position. I have loved it all, but I get nervous about the idea of being a surgeon, so I have shied from the prospect of Opthalmology. Optometry seems like the right fit for me.

That said what I think is most interesting about my company is that we are not a big box store but a practice of several Opthalmologists and optometrists working together (and some Opticians, and of course a small horde of techs like myself). We have a few branches around the city and the doctors move from one location to another throughout the week in order to increase their patient base. San Antonio is also a PAIN to commute around so many patients who encounter us on emergency referrals in our main branch (near the primary medical district of the city) are pleased to learn that they can see the doctor later at a location closer to their home, if they only call ahead and schedule an appointment on a day the doctor is there.

The optometrists and opthalmologists work well together and have a great respect and friendship for one another, so it surprised me to find out from reading this post that this is apparently not standard in the industry. One of the great things about our practice (which the doctors are fond of mentioning; Opthalmologist or Optometrist, they are all very proud of our work) is that we have several specialists of various kinds in the practice. 2 Retina specialists, one pediatric/strabismus/muscle imbalance specialist, several general opthalmologists and 3 optometrists. Come in for your normal exam and if you have a serious retinal problem we discover, no need to refer you outside the practice for it, you can see one of our associates who will have instant, full access to our notes and records and an easy line of comminication to your previous physician. Many times we handle those kinds of consultations instantly, simply calling another doctor over for a second opinion or a direct hand off of the patient’s care.

Opthalmologists and Optometrists and the specialists all handle eyeglass prescriptions because a refraction is performed once yearly by the technicians before they see the doctor, which the doctor can then review and tweak as needed. However, our general opthalmologists have long since left off handling contact lens prescriptions, and instead refer patients to one of the optometrists in the practice for this. They have plenty to do handling 35+ patients a day for cataracts and LASIK and chalazion excisions and the like that they really enjoy referring CL exams to their partners whom they trust to provide the same standard of care that all the doctors in the company hold themselves to. Consequently the Optometrists know exactly who to give patients to when cataracts have finally grown to impede visual acuity enough that they need to be removed and replaced with an IOL, and even know enough about their partners personalities to refer patients to one doctor over another, knowing that this person will get along with that person better, etc.

I am kind of surprised that this is not more common. However over the lunchroom table I often get into discussions with the doctors (or simply listen in on one already going on) concerning how healthcare is moving away from individual practices vs Corporate to companies a lot like our own, with larger joint practices who can compete with Corporate Opticals in the kind of affordability and services they offer to patients. So, maybe there will be more options available in the future. I certainly hope to sign on with my current employer when I graduate, as I couldn’t imagine working anywhere else. =D

The Healthcare industry is changing a lot, and despite public perception, Optometry is a huge part of healthcare. Even as a technician, I enjoy explaining to patients how important it is that they have yearly eye exams for their health, and how Optometry is one of the few places where we can see Nerves, arteries, and smaller blood vessels. I have great respect for all of you Optometrists out there, and I hope those of you with difficulties will be able to find something better.

]]> Comment on Do Not Become an Optometrist by MT http://www.optoblog.com/2007/01/21/do-not-become-an-optometrist/comment-page-2/#comment-1146 MT Thu, 24 Nov 2011 16:04:37 +0000 http://www.optoblog.com/2007/01/21/do-not-become-an-optometrist/#comment-1146 I have never ever felt the need to ever respond or give my input on any blog/Internet forums before until now. I am an optometrist in Ireland, working for the past 3 years. I have changed locations a few times and I STILL HATE IT!! I am on a reasonabley good salary as I qualified just before the recession really hit, but I havnt increased my salary since. A newly qualified optom who just started in the place I work is earning 15k less than me, for the same job. And an optom who is qualified at least 7 years before me is on about 20k more than me a year. I loved college, loved learning about optometry and all the science and physics behind it. But what you do and learn in college has pretty much no real resemblance to what you will be doing day in day out for the rest of your life!! There are very few 'interesting' cases that you will see. Most are just the same problems, over and over again, but different patients. So you end up saying the same things, over and over again, but just to different people. And because eyecare isn't regarded by most patients as proper healthcare, a lot of them don't believe you. I am rather good at my job, and although it makes me cry on the inside, I still explain to everybody who is having problems, why it is they are experiencing these problems (if eye related obviously) That's great and all, but I promise you after your first 18months in practice you will be fit to pull your hair out. I wouldn't take back going to college to do optometry, I learnt a lot and met some of my bestest friends. But I wish I had looked in to it more. I am 100% certain that I am leaving optometry and going back to college next year to do something completely different. I am very very unhappy in optometry. And no matter how much further you educate yourself within optometry, you are still going to be doing the same thing, you'll just have more knowledge in a certain area of it. The only good thing about optometry is the fact that you can go home after a days work and not even have to think about it again until the next day. There is no take-home stress related to the job itself. I used to love meeting people and helping them with their problems, but now I have started to hate people. Would you go in to a GP's practice and demand a new prescription without seeing the Dr. because you think 'nothing has changed'. Anyway, rant over. Dont do optometry or pharmacy people. Do dentistry or medicine if you are that way inclined, or a completely different avenue. I'll be looking forward to my weekends off next year, and Christmas holidays!! I have never ever felt the need to ever respond or give my input on any blog/Internet forums before until now.
I am an optometrist in Ireland, working for the past 3 years. I have changed locations a few times and I STILL HATE IT!! I am on a reasonabley good salary as I qualified just before the recession really hit, but I havnt increased my salary since. A newly qualified optom who just started in the place I work is earning 15k less than me, for the same job. And an optom who is qualified at least 7 years before me is on about 20k more than me a year.
I loved college, loved learning about optometry and all the science and physics behind it. But what you do and learn in college has pretty much no real resemblance to what you will be doing day in day out for the rest of your life!! There are very few ‘interesting’ cases that you will see. Most are just the same problems, over and over again, but different patients. So you end up saying the same things, over and over again, but just to different people. And because eyecare isn’t regarded by most patients as proper healthcare, a lot of them don’t believe you. I am rather good at my job, and although it makes me cry on the inside, I still explain to everybody who is having problems, why it is they are experiencing these problems (if eye related obviously)
That’s great and all, but I promise you after your first 18months in practice you will be fit to pull your hair out.
I wouldn’t take back going to college to do optometry, I learnt a lot and met some of my bestest friends. But I wish I had looked in to it more.
I am 100% certain that I am leaving optometry and going back to college next year to do something completely different. I am very very unhappy in optometry. And no matter how much further you educate yourself within optometry, you are still going to be doing the same thing, you’ll just have more knowledge in a certain area of it.
The only good thing about optometry is the fact that you can go home after a days work and not even have to think about it again until the next day. There is no take-home stress related to the job itself.
I used to love meeting people and helping them with their problems, but now I have started to hate people. Would you go in to a GP’s practice and demand a new prescription without seeing the Dr. because you think ‘nothing has changed’.
Anyway, rant over.
Dont do optometry or pharmacy people. Do dentistry or medicine if you are that way inclined, or a completely different avenue. I’ll be looking forward to my weekends off next year, and Christmas holidays!!

]]> Comment on Do Not Become an Optometrist by tiff http://www.optoblog.com/2007/01/21/do-not-become-an-optometrist/comment-page-2/#comment-1125 tiff Thu, 27 Oct 2011 03:17:21 +0000 http://www.optoblog.com/2007/01/21/do-not-become-an-optometrist/#comment-1125 I'm not an optometrist but I work very closely with one. My job there involves juggling practically everything there is to do in an optometry practice, except for examining the patient's eyes (of course). I've been doing this for five years so far and it's been tough. Not tough in a way like we're not getting enough business, no. Our practice is doing quite well in terms of the patients we get every day, but the hard and stressful part is the nature of the profession. As you've mentioned, people simply don't equate eyecare with healthcare. At present, this job has become partly health-related and mostly fashion. It'd be much easier to be a doctor of medicine or to work in a retail clothing store. *sigh* I’m not an optometrist but I work very closely with one. My job there involves juggling practically everything there is to do in an optometry practice, except for examining the patient’s eyes (of course).

I’ve been doing this for five years so far and it’s been tough. Not tough in a way like we’re not getting enough business, no. Our practice is doing quite well in terms of the patients we get every day, but the hard and stressful part is the nature of the profession.

As you’ve mentioned, people simply don’t equate eyecare with healthcare. At present, this job has become partly health-related and mostly fashion. It’d be much easier to be a doctor of medicine or to work in a retail clothing store.

*sigh*

]]> Comment on Do Not Become an Optometrist by fay http://www.optoblog.com/2007/01/21/do-not-become-an-optometrist/comment-page-1/#comment-1123 fay Sun, 23 Oct 2011 05:28:16 +0000 http://www.optoblog.com/2007/01/21/do-not-become-an-optometrist/#comment-1123 I think optometry is better then pharmacy!! i would chose optometry anyday if i was given the choice to go back and redo my education. Im a retail pharmacist and its horrible. Pharmacists are pretty much like a fast food chain restaurant. They get a prescription and the pharmacist has to dispense it within a minute and deal with all the insurance claims and trouble, you don't get a lunch break while working 12 hour shifts, you have to sell over the counter medications (as you need to reach sales targets daily) and we have so much responsibilty with so little authority ( we cann't change a dose or quantity without the doctor saying it's ok, yet if the doctor gets's it wrong it's our fault and we have to catch the doctors mistakes 10 times of 10) so as you can see the grass is not always greener. Atleast with optometry you get to use the clinical knowledge you learn at unversity whereas with pharmacy once your working in retail its just putting the prescription through the computer, counting and labeling, fun stuff!! I think optometry is better then pharmacy!! i would chose optometry anyday if i was given the choice to go back and redo my education. Im a retail pharmacist and its horrible. Pharmacists are pretty much like a fast food chain restaurant. They get a prescription and the pharmacist has to dispense it within a minute and deal with all the insurance claims and trouble, you don’t get a lunch break while working 12 hour shifts, you have to sell over the counter medications (as you need to reach sales targets daily) and we have so much responsibilty with so little authority ( we cann’t change a dose or quantity without the doctor saying it’s ok, yet if the doctor gets’s it wrong it’s our fault and we have to catch the doctors mistakes 10 times of 10) so as you can see the grass is not always greener. Atleast with optometry you get to use the clinical knowledge you learn at unversity whereas with pharmacy once your working in retail its just putting the prescription through the computer, counting and labeling, fun stuff!!

]]> Comment on Do Not Become an Optometrist by Nicha http://www.optoblog.com/2007/01/21/do-not-become-an-optometrist/comment-page-1/#comment-1119 Nicha Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:06:43 +0000 http://www.optoblog.com/2007/01/21/do-not-become-an-optometrist/#comment-1119 Im a first year OD-1 student in optometry school. I love it! ;). Blessings & good luck on your journey to a new job! Hope you fund something you love! Im a first year OD-1 student in optometry school. I love it! ;) . Blessings & good luck on your journey to a new job! Hope you fund something you love!

]]> Comment on Bad cord management on Sonogage Corneo-Gage Plus 1AS by Peter Rozanec http://www.optoblog.com/2005/05/19/bad-cord-management-on-sonogage-corneo-gage-plus-1as/comment-page-1/#comment-1118 Peter Rozanec Sun, 02 Oct 2011 02:42:56 +0000 /?p=45#comment-1118 How do you turn off the Sonogage? There is no off switch and mine won't turn off automatically? How do you turn off the Sonogage? There is no off switch and mine won’t turn off automatically?

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