Fulfilling Career

There are many ways individuals define success, especially with regard to their job or career.  I was on Youtube this weekend listening to various motivational speakers.  What they stated that most impressed me was you can really only consider yourself a success if you feel fulfilled in what you're doing.  Do you feel you're really doing something that will not only benefit yourself, but more importantly, benefit someone else?

I've been practicing optometry for about 31 years.  I can definitely say I've chosen the right profession for me.  The love I have for the profession as well as my patients is very fulfilling.  I frequently look over the testimonial section of my website, www.wehelpuc.com, and it gives me such a great feeling.  When my patients say they love coming to the office, it makes me feel really wonderful.

I certaily feel optometry is a calling for me.  I am so thankful.

Community Events

Our office participated in a health fair sponsored by Lewis Homes.  The age of the attendees ranged from young kids to individuals in their 80's.  One of the nurses whom I was stationed next to discussed with me the importance of drinking enough water, especially if you work out a lot.  She was going over with me how this could even affect one's blood pressure.

We've participated in various community events.  It's so enjoyable getting out into the community.  I've also become a reading buddy for Dona Merced Elementary School here in Rancho Cucamonga.  The enthusiam of the first through third graders was wonderful.

If you have a group who would like to have an enthusiatic presentation on vision, please call our office at (909) 980-3535.

Optometry, A Profession That Has Everything

I've been practicing optometry for nearly 32 years.  It's a profession  that is quite dynamic,  Advances in the scope of practice that we're able to offer our patients is great. We're able to improve a child's reading ability as well as help adults who view monitors all day making them more efficient and less visually fatigued.  We're able to improve the sports performance of an athlete through improved vision skills.  We're able to detect and treat many eye infections and diseases.

We're able to possibly save a patient's life through detection of certain visual problems as well as anatomical eye problems.  Please go to the "testimonial" section of my website, www.wehelpuc.com and view the letters.  Also, we could improve the ability for an individual to obtain a job where the employer thought he didn't have the visual skills necessary. There's a letter pertaining to this on the website.

The last area I want to discuss is the prescribing of glasses and contacts.  The area of cosmesis as well as the appropriate frame for a prescription comes into play.  Also contact lenses are such a dynamic part of our practice.

What's really neat is when we thank our previous patients for returning.  A lot of times we'll hear that they "love" coming to us.  I can't think of too many professions where this is the case.

Frame Selection

After examining a patient and coming up with a presciption for glasses,  the next stage is picking a frame.  Besides for cosmetic reasons, the size and shape of a frame is very imporant.  I have had patients who were perfectly happy when they received their clear pair and then had problems with their sunglasses chosen (same prescription).  This could be due to the difference in size and rap (around the face).  Sometimes the patient could adjust and sometimes we have to pick a different frame.

Another factor is whether the frame is rimless or has a complete rim around it.  If the prescription is high, a rimless frame could cause the lenses to be thicker and heavier.  Also, it's important to see what type a frame the patient is use to.  If there is a big difference in shapes, this possibly (but not necessarily) can cause a problem.  Also, the adjustment and tilt of the frame should be similar to the patient's old frame (unless the old frame is out of alignment).

A last item I want to go over is when the patient is given a progressive multifocal lens.  If the frame is too small, the patient may run out of reading room and close-up work might cause a struggle.

In future blogs, we'll discuss lens type and material as far as patient comfort is concerned.

YouTube Videos

Over the last year I've posted some videos on my YouTube Channel.  You can go to "drbobrothbard"
 to view them.

There are different videos featuring different areas of optometry that I feel will be of benefit to you and your family.

Over the course of time, I really hope to expand on these.  I hope you guys like NYC because most of the intros feature different parts of the City.  If the Yanks don't start playing better I'm going to take down Yankee Stadium and put up Citifield where the Mets play.

Business Interview

I was recently interviewed by students from a local college studying business.  It was really neat to be interviewed by them.  They asked about the strengths and weaknesses of business as well as marketing efforts and competition.  I spent around 60-90 minutes with them and there will be subsequent interviews.

The more questions they asked, the more passionate I became.  I really enjoy being in a practice where I can make the decisions.  If I feel a referral to another health care provider needs to be made, I don't have to worry about what corporate will say.  If  I want to prescribe a certain brand of lens or contact lens, I am not limited.  I can spend as much time examining a patient as I want.

I've been practicing in my own business for 24 years and still enjoying it.  The fact that I can share this with young individuals is great.

Depth Perception In a Lazy Eye Individual.

As an optometrist, we come across patients who have one eye that has trouble seeing the big"E" even when wearing their glasses or contact lenses.  This could be due to problems at birth, disease or trauma.  Many patients feel the eye is of no use to them.

Just because a patient has diminished central vision, doesn't mean the patient doesn't make good use of peripheral vision.  Secondly, this eye could aid in depth perception.

I had a patient today who had a lazy eye all his life.  I was able to show him how much better his depth perception was with both eyes opened as compared to his closing his lazy eye and trying to do a task that required depth perception.

He was quite happy as for the first time, he now realized how much vision the lazy eye was contributing to his visual well being.