CLINICAL

  contact lenses

A Fond Farewell

Alcon’s Dave Sattler reflects on his career in the optical industry

JASON R. MILLER, O.D., M.B.A., F.A.A.O.

This month’s column is a conversation with Dave Sattler, F.A.A.O., who retired this month from Alcon Laboratories after 28 years of service.

Q Can you tell me a bit about your career working with eyecare practitioners?

A: I spent 28 years of my career with Alcon, Inc., and have seen many changes within the eyecare field, including the scope of practice changes and large growth in the contact lens industry. I witnessed the beginning of Alcon’s sales force within optometry at a time when O.D.s were achieving diagnostic and therapeutic privileges. I also had the opportunity to work with many of the academic and student programs in the variety of Colleges of Optometry, and visited more than 5,000 optometric practices.

Q What was one of your proudest accomplishments along the way?

A: One of my proudest accomplishments has been working with the students and residents as part of Alcon’s Academy for Eyecare Excellence. This program captures incoming doctors eager to learn about the profession and those who are ready to make that leap into the “real world.” These new practitioners have a contagious attitude that “anything is possible.”

Q Did you see any changes in attitudes from the students vs. doctors in the field?

A: I saw that the excitement and attitude [of the students] can sometimes wear through time, and finding ways to keep the fire going is a challenge for many. Whether it is third party plans, business or staffing challenges, those practices that continue that excitement are most often the practices that grow the fastest. The O.D.s who controlled their schedule and delegated the best seemed to enjoy day-to-day patient care the most.

Attendees enjoy live music at the 2005 AOA Great American Picnic at Alcon, Inc., in Dallas, Texas.

Q What was one of your most memorable experiences?

A: One of my most memorable events was the 2005 AOA Great American Picnic at Alcon in Dallas, Texas. I was the chair of the committee that organized the entire event. We hosted an “open house” on the Alcon Campus for our customers who attended the AOA meeting. Many doctors and their staffs were able to experience a behind-the-scenes tour of Alcon’s R&D and manufacturing facility for the first time.

It was like being at a family reunion with our customers — everyone had a great time!

Q Where do you see the most opportunities for practitioners within the contact lens business in the future?

A: I see the most opportunity for those practitioners who understand tear film the best. Many companies are investing R&D dollars to find improved contact lens materials, designs and modalities to maximize patient comfort with contact lens wear. None of that means much without a healthy tear film. Understanding and treating the ocular surface increases success rates, especially for the aging population who want to continue wearing their lenses.

Improving their ocular surface wellness prior to and during contact lens wear is critical to the prevention of contact lens dropout. As the initial refractive surface of the eye, it is critical to everything, including cataract surgery, laser surgery, optical correction and especially contact lens wear. OM

DR. MILLER IS A PARTNER IN A PRIVATE PRACTICE IN POWELL, OHIO, AND IS AN ADJUNCT FACULTY MEMBER FOR THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY. SEND COMMENTS TO OPTOMETRICMANAGEMENT@GMAIL.COM.