The Optimist Optometrist
I graduated with a Doctor of Optometry degree from Indiana University School of Optometry in 1976. Of note: Indiana University was at that time more noted for their basketball team (being the last team to go undefeated during the regular season in 1976 and win the NCAA end of year tournament) versus their successful football endeavors the past few years! So, you can refer to me as a “transplanted Hoosier” as I’m still loyal to the University and Indiana where my sister still lives on our original homestead farm, established in 1860.
I started my Optometry career in the fall of 1976 when I joined long-time local Optometrist, Edward Dewey in practice at the same location (essentially rural at that time) where my business still exists. Being from northern Indiana, I wanted to stay relatively close to my stomping grounds and thought Michigan would be a great state to reside. Dr. Dewey passed on the following year and I essentially inherited his patient base. I still occasionally see a patient that was seen by Dr. Dewey prior to my services, but by attrition, most of his patient base has obviously passed on. In 1985, I purchased patient records from retiring local Lakeview Optometrist, Frank Prevost, which added to my patient base.
Like any profession and especially those in the health care field; services, equipment and new and updated health discoveries have significantly advanced. I didn’t even have my first office computer or an internet connection until the late 80’s. One thing that hasn’t change is my standard of providing the best possible vision that accurately fitting glasses or contact lenses will provide patients. Due to the limited scope of the medical eyecare Optometrists could provide at that time, most of the emphasis taught in optometry schools then was based on refraction, which is the technique of determining objectively and subjectively the most accurate glasses prescription for patients in need of enhanced unaided vision.
One of my professors at IU School of Optometry was Irvin Borish, who at the time was widely regarded as “The Father of Modern Optometry”. He authored Clinical Refraction, one of the most renowned textbooks in the field of Optometry. He also played a key role in establishing several educational and research institutions for optometry and advocated extensively to elevate optometry to the status of a recognized medical profession. He passed in 2012 at the age of 99.[
It wasn’t until 1984 when Michigan Optometrists lobbied and the law was changed enabling a certified Optometrist (30+ hours of pharmacological classroom hours of education required) to utilize diagnostic drugs such as those to dilate the pupil for a better interior view of the eye and another to anesthetize the cornea for a more accurate reading of the intraocular pressure in assessing glaucoma. State Optometrists again lobbied in 2002 and legislation was passed enabling licensed certified Optometrists to utilize various therapeutic drugs for treatment of various ocular infections, inflammation issues or minor injuries. Recent graduates were grandfathered in, but most Optometrists who elected to pursue the advanced degree were required hours of classroom instruction and the passing of tests. Presently to maintain your state Optometry license, 40 hours of classroom or on-line instruction (passing tests) is required every two years to maintain a license to practice Optometry.
Going back to my educational roots, my emphasis for patients has been to be sure I provide an accurate refraction, provide an appropriate fitting frame, check all Rx’s and edging quality from the optical lab I used for their particular glasses fabrication and dispense the glasses being sure the optical lab I used for their particular glasses fabrication and dispense the glasses being sure they fit properly and patients understand how the glasses will best function for them. Maybe you can refer to me as the “Glasses Doctor”.
Of course, along with the services for the glasses, I comprehensively exam the health of eyes, which typically involves a dilated examination for most adults. I work in conjunction with a conglomerate of Ophthalmologists (eye surgeons) and refer when patient’s ocular health needs are beyond my scope of expertise, which is often the case with respect to cataracts, retinal issues such as macular degeneration and advanced glaucoma, which I am unable to control with eye drops. For diabetic patients, which should have a dilated exam yearly, I send a report to their private Physician informing them about our mutual patient’s eye health with respect to their diabetic state. Being in practice so long, a high percentage of my patients are older and are more inclined to have ocular health issues. Besides general comprehensive eye/vision examinations, I am able to see patients for office visits relative to minor eye injuries or ocular physical issues such as “pink eye”.
Over the span of 50 years, probably the most advances I have seen in vision care has been in contact lenses. When I started, soft contact lenses were just becoming available; the modality for contact lenses was generally a small “hard” lens, which typically was not the most comfortable to wear, but provided clear vision if fitted properly. Now the most recent update is high oxygen transfer daily wear disposable contact lenses – wear once and dispose! Advances have also been enhanced for contact lenses correcting for astigmatism and presbyopia (loss of near vision you encounter sometime during your 40’s decade).
Spectacle lenses were originally either made of glass or plastic. I have not dispensed a glass lens in years and not sure any optical labs even provide them. Along came polycarbonate, which was lighter weight, more durable, and thinner than plastic, but in actuality not optically as clear as plastic. Upgrades to polycarbonate are lenses of more dense optical material, but better peripheral optical quality. Technology has also improved the progressive addition lenses, perhaps defined as no-line bifocals, providing less peripheral distortion and larger near reading areas. Although, when it comes to reading or doing an up-close craft, the “old-fashioned” lined bifocals work great. There have been numerous upgrades to transition lenses (lenses that darken in direct sunlight) and anti-reflective lenses which provide sharper night vision, UV and blue light blocking properties plus the invisible appearance of the lens if cleaned properly. My lab also provides a one-year scratch warranty if the A/R coating is originally applied to the lenses.
When I started in the late 70’s, I managed quite well with maybe 50 frames for youth and adults, which most came in different sizes and colors and almost all US manufactured. Now I’ve got over 300 frames, most come in one size, but offer different colors and practically all are imported. My higher quality metal frames are titanium and with proper care, stay looking new for 5+ years with many patients reusing them if their prescription changes. This of course does not apply to the ladies who prefer to make a new fashion statement with their glasses every year! I take practically all vision insurance plans including Medicaid, which helps burden the expense of glasses and eye examinations. For ocular related medical office visits, major medical insurance can be billed.
Enough on Optometry…..I have been blessed with relatively good health, although I now have metal parts in my hip, knee and shoulder. Fortunately, I am able to play the now very popular pickleball; I played tennis for 40 years and until a shoulder accident in 2019, I was captain of a Minges Creek USTA senior travel team for 15 years. I have no immediate family in the area – maybe you could classify my long-time patients as family! I have been very active with the Harper Creek Optimist club, whose motto is “Friend of Youth” since 1978, serving all elected positions at least one time and for the past number of years have organized the only open local tennis tournament for the community and chaired an essay contest for the local youth utilizing the Optimist Club as my foundation. In my free time, I enjoy gardening making 30+ pints of salsa every fall, entertaining myself playing the piano, keeping up with current events and cheering for my Indiana Hoosiers and the now failing Chicago White Sox. I have no immediate plans for retirement, but will be searching for avenues in the upcoming years in hopes of finding an Optometrist who will continue with the same eye and vision care philosophy I have provided for the community at 4275 Capital Avenue SW all these years.
I graduated with a Doctor of Optometry degree from Indiana University School of Optometry in 1976. Of note: Indiana University was at that time more noted for their basketball team (being the last team to go undefeated during the regular season in 1976 and win the NCAA end of year tournament) versus their successful football endeavors the past few years! So, you can refer to me as a “transplanted Hoosier” as I’m still loyal to the University and Indiana where my sister still lives on our original homestead farm, established in 1860.
I started my Optometry career in the fall of 1976 when I joined long-time local Optometrist, Edward Dewey in practice at the same location (essentially rural at that time) where my business still exists. Being from northern Indiana, I wanted to stay relatively close to my stomping grounds and thought Michigan would be a great state to reside. Dr. Dewey passed on the following year and I essentially inherited his patient base. I still occasionally see a patient that was seen by Dr. Dewey prior to my services, but by attrition, most of his patient base has obviously passed on. In 1985, I purchased patient records from retiring local Lakeview Optometrist, Frank Prevost, which added to my patient base.
Like any profession and especially those in the health care field; services, equipment and new and updated health discoveries have significantly advanced. I didn’t even have my first office computer or an internet connection until the late 80’s. One thing that hasn’t change is my standard of providing the best possible vision that accurately fitting glasses or contact lenses will provide patients. Due to the limited scope of the medical eyecare Optometrists could provide at that time, most of the emphasis taught in optometry schools then was based on refraction, which is the technique of determining objectively and subjectively the most accurate glasses prescription for patients in need of enhanced unaided vision.
One of my professors at IU School of Optometry was Irvin Borish, who at the time was widely regarded as “The Father of Modern Optometry”. He authored Clinical Refraction, one of the most renowned textbooks in the field of Optometry. He also played a key role in establishing several educational and research institutions for optometry and advocated extensively to elevate optometry to the status of a recognized medical profession. He passed in 2012 at the age of 99.[
It wasn’t until 1984 when Michigan Optometrists lobbied and the law was changed enabling a certified Optometrist (30+ hours of pharmacological classroom hours of education required) to utilize diagnostic drugs such as those to dilate the pupil for a better interior view of the eye and another to anesthetize the cornea for a more accurate reading of the intraocular pressure in assessing glaucoma. State Optometrists again lobbied in 2002 and legislation was passed enabling licensed certified Optometrists to utilize various therapeutic drugs for treatment of various ocular infections, inflammation issues or minor injuries. Recent graduates were grandfathered in, but most Optometrists who elected to pursue the advanced degree were required hours of classroom instruction and the passing of tests. Presently to maintain your state Optometry license, 40 hours of classroom or on-line instruction (passing tests) is required every two years to maintain a license to practice Optometry.
Going back to my educational roots, my emphasis for patients has been to be sure I provide an accurate refraction, provide an appropriate fitting frame, check all Rx’s and edging quality from the optical lab I used for their particular glasses fabrication and dispense the glasses being sure the optical lab I used for their particular glasses fabrication and dispense the glasses being sure they fit properly and patients understand how the glasses will best function for them. Maybe you can refer to me as the “Glasses Doctor”.
Of course, along with the services for the glasses, I comprehensively exam the health of eyes, which typically involves a dilated examination for most adults. I work in conjunction with a conglomerate of Ophthalmologists (eye surgeons) and refer when patient’s ocular health needs are beyond my scope of expertise, which is often the case with respect to cataracts, retinal issues such as macular degeneration and advanced glaucoma, which I am unable to control with eye drops. For diabetic patients, which should have a dilated exam yearly, I send a report to their private Physician informing them about our mutual patient’s eye health with respect to their diabetic state. Being in practice so long, a high percentage of my patients are older and are more inclined to have ocular health issues. Besides general comprehensive eye/vision examinations, I am able to see patients for office visits relative to minor eye injuries or ocular physical issues such as “pink eye”.
Over the span of 50 years, probably the most advances I have seen in vision care has been in contact lenses. When I started, soft contact lenses were just becoming available; the modality for contact lenses was generally a small “hard” lens, which typically was not the most comfortable to wear, but provided clear vision if fitted properly. Now the most recent update is high oxygen transfer daily wear disposable contact lenses – wear once and dispose! Advances have also been enhanced for contact lenses correcting for astigmatism and presbyopia (loss of near vision you encounter sometime during your 40’s decade).
Spectacle lenses were originally either made of glass or plastic. I have not dispensed a glass lens in years and not sure any optical labs even provide them. Along came polycarbonate, which was lighter weight, more durable, and thinner than plastic, but in actuality not optically as clear as plastic. Upgrades to polycarbonate are lenses of more dense optical material, but better peripheral optical quality. Technology has also improved the progressive addition lenses, perhaps defined as no-line bifocals, providing less peripheral distortion and larger near reading areas. Although, when it comes to reading or doing an up-close craft, the “old-fashioned” lined bifocals work great. There have been numerous upgrades to transition lenses (lenses that darken in direct sunlight) and anti-reflective lenses which provide sharper night vision, UV and blue light blocking properties plus the invisible appearance of the lens if cleaned properly. My lab also provides a one-year scratch warranty if the A/R coating is originally applied to the lenses.
When I started in the late 70’s, I managed quite well with maybe 50 frames for youth and adults, which most came in different sizes and colors and almost all US manufactured. Now I’ve got over 300 frames, most come in one size, but offer different colors and practically all are imported. My higher quality metal frames are titanium and with proper care, stay looking new for 5+ years with many patients reusing them if their prescription changes. This of course does not apply to the ladies who prefer to make a new fashion statement with their glasses every year! I take practically all vision insurance plans including Medicaid, which helps burden the expense of glasses and eye examinations. For ocular related medical office visits, major medical insurance can be billed.
Enough on Optometry…..I have been blessed with relatively good health, although I now have metal parts in my hip, knee and shoulder. Fortunately, I am able to play the now very popular pickleball; I played tennis for 40 years and until a shoulder accident in 2019, I was captain of a Minges Creek USTA senior travel team for 15 years. I have no immediate family in the area – maybe you could classify my long-time patients as family! I have been very active with the Harper Creek Optimist club, whose motto is “Friend of Youth” since 1978, serving all elected positions at least one time and for the past number of years have organized the only open local tennis tournament for the community and chaired an essay contest for the local youth utilizing the Optimist Club as my foundation. In my free time, I enjoy gardening making 30+ pints of salsa every fall, entertaining myself playing the piano, keeping up with current events and cheering for my Indiana Hoosiers and the now failing Chicago White Sox. I have no immediate plans for retirement, but will be searching for avenues in the upcoming years in hopes of finding an Optometrist who will continue with the same eye and vision care philosophy I have provided for the community at 4275 Capital Avenue SW all these years.
