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.

Testimonials

I recently got a letter from a longtime patient of mine who moved back east.  Optometry is such a great profession.  The professional and personal care we deliver to patients could certainly affect their lives.  I encourage you to read the most recent letter from this patient as well as other letters received in the "Testimonial" section of our website.  Please go to www.wehelpuc.com.

Feeling Like A Quarterback

Throughout my practice, I always feel I have my patient's best visual interests in mind.  With this in mind, I am always thinking am I the best professional to work with a patient's condition or should I refer them to a specialist?  My standard is if I would refer myself or a family member for a given condition, I'll refer the patient.

As a private practitioner, I have only myself to answer to.  I don't have to justify myself to any corporate head.  I know my strengths in working with patients and I'm continuously updating my skills.  I have been able to establish great sources of referrals over the years.  What's interesting is that some of these specialists refer patients to me whom they know will be well taken care of and effectively treated.

Mastermind Group

We held a really good Mastermind session at my office yesterday.  It dealt with skills of communication as outlined by Jim Rohn.  We had ten individuals of varying backgrounds attend.  I really look forward to our meetings as there's such a good feeling among all the participants.  Our sharing and learning experience has been wonderful.  If you're interested in attending, please call me at (951) 206-1747.  The week to week attendance varies so if you call first, we would appreciate it. 

We look forward to seeing you.

Dr. Bob Rothbard Discusses Vision and Aging

Special Needs Patients

I recently had a couple of young patients who had Down's Syndrome.  Many of these patients have problems with the teaming of their eyes together.  I referred them to the optometry school in the area which has a tremendous pediatric program.

I recently saw the parents of these patients.  They couldn't be more pleased.  They raved about the attention their children received.  They also presciribed vision trainaing which helped their children a lot.

The parents were so impressed with the care received, they are having the faculty of the school address their support group for Down's Syndrome.

Great Individuals To Work With

It's really great when you can come into your office and everyone really gets along well.. I find that with the individuals in my office.  Believe me, I have worked in offices where this wasn't the case.  You probably have, too.

It's really wonderful that I am able to deligate many of the office tasks to my employees where I am then able to concentrate my efforts on patient care.  The other area of the practice I enjoy is the networking part of my practice.  From the gym to chambers of commerce to online, I really enjoy meeting with people and discussing (with enthusiasm ) my practice.

Patients are really able to pick up where there are "good vibrations" within a work environment.  I encourage you to read the testimonial section of my website, www.wehelpuc.com.  The last testimonial describes this to a tee and made me feel really good.

A second year optometry school student remarked to me: "Bob, you never say you're going to work, you say you're going to the office."

Helping People

Zig Ziglar said, "help enough people get what they want and you'll get what you want."  That is so true.  I have noticed this with family members as well as the staff within my office.

A couple of years ago I had a student and friend work in my office who was interested in making optometry her career.  We helped her during the application process.  It was rewarding for both her and me when we heard she was accepted to optometry school. 

Recently, I told her I was going through the process of becoming certified to prescribe for glaucoma. Immediately, she offered to sit for me so I could practice a technique I needed to know.  She was very knowledgeable in this area.  There's a little bit of discomfort with this technique as you have to put a viewing lens on the eye itself.

This helping of others is so important to one's own well being.  I'm really proud of how the course of events has taken place so far with this future optometrist.

Mastermind Group

Over the last several months, we have been holding a Mastmind Group studying the tenets of Jim Rohn's a year in success. We have been really exceited about the discussions that have been generated among the participants. The topics have included, marketing, networking, spirituality, health and diet. If you're interested in attending, please text me at (951) 206-1747.

The next two meetings will be at my office at 7:00 P.M., Thursday, January 31 and February 7. The office address is 7211-A Haven Ave. Rancho Cucamonga. We're in the Ralphs's shopping Center at Baseline and Haven. The sign over the office says "optometry."  We hope to see you.

 

A great quote from Jim Rohn is:  "Work Harder on yourself than you do on your job."

The Importance of Frame Adjustment

When a patient receives their glasses, sometimes they have trouble seeing.  Assuming the prescription in correct, the next thing we look at is the way the frame is fitting on the patient.  If the frame is sitting far away from the patient's eyes, this could cause a problem of distortion, especially on high prescriptions, particularly bifocals.

Speaking of bifocals, a poor adjustment of the frame could put the bifocal in the wrong position leading to patient discomfort.  Another area of adjusstment that's impoartant is how the frames are tilted on the patient.  We generally try to match the tilt of the frame to the tilt of the patient's old frames.  If it's the first time the patient is receiving glasses, we have a good idea on how we want the glasses to fit and adjust the frames accordingly.

Lastly and just as important, if the frame is not adjusted for the patient correctly,  this could discomfot of the ears or nose.

Patient Comfort

There are times when we give patients a prescription which they could see clearly with but are not comfortable.  Their eyes may feel tired with them or they may get headaches.

Sometimes we have to look at the old prescription and modify the change we gave them.  Sometimes there is a correction for astigmatism that makes the patient see clearly but causes a warpage in their vision.  In that case, we either reduce or remove the correction for astigmatism.

There are a host of other types of prescriptions which we measure on the patient during the examination that the patient can't tolerate. We also find that when the patient has been wearing contact lenses only for a long time and wants to get spectacles, there could be trouble adjusting to the glasses.

Mastermind Group

Over the last several months, we have been holding a Mastmind Group studying the tenets of Jim Rohn's a year in success.  We have been really exceited about the discussions that have been generated among the participants.  The topics have included, marketing, networking, spirituality, health and diet.  If you're interested in attending, please text me at (951) 206-1747.

The next two meeting will be at my office at 7:00 P.M., Thursday, January 17 and January 24.  The office address is 7211-A Baseline Rd. Rancho Cucamonga.  We're in the Ralphs's shopping Center at Baseline and Haven.  The sign over the office says "optometry."

College Major

I had an 18-year-old patient starting college as a patient.  I asked him what his major was.  He said he was combining a psychology and a business major together.  I thought what a great idea.  His advisor at school couldn't figure out why he wanted to combine the two. 

Owning my own business, so many psychological factors enter into how successful a business is.  Of course one is how well the staff gets along with each other as well as the patients.

I thought this patient was quite insightful, especially for being so young.  It will be interesting to follow his progress.

Good Vision Is More Than 20/20

A number of individuals feel they don't need to have their eyes examined because they see clearly.  When examining the eyes, of course we want to the patient to have clear sight.  But we also want to know how well their eyes work together, if they have depth perception or even if they're straining their eyes when working close up, particularly on a monitor.  You can have clear sight and still have problems visually.

The other side of the examinatin deals with how healthy the eyes are.  You can have 20/20 and still manifest a sight-threatening or life threatening disease such as glaucoma, cancer of the eye or even a detachment of structures of the eyes and not be aware of them.  You can be losing peripheral vision and not even be aware of it.  I've had patients who were diagnosed to have a brain aneurysm or a tumor through examination of the eyes.

For more information, please visit my website, www.wehelpuc.com.