O.D. Scene

THE ENTERTAINING SIDE OF OPTOMETRY

O.D. Scene creator, writer and editor Jack Schaeffer, O.D.

Olivia Goree became worried when then six-week-old son Christian’s eyes had a “hazy, bluish-grayish color,” says a recent article in the Health section of US News & World Report. Although Christian’s pediatrician told Olivia not to be concerned, she took him to see an eye doctor anyway, and that’s when Christian was diagnosed with primary congenital glaucoma.

Christian Goree is the latest example of the importance of comprehensive eye exams at a young age and our role as optometrists in educating parents about such exams. The fact is, had Olivia ignored her motherly instinct, Christian would not have received the prompt treatment required to maintain his vision.

Here, in part two of this two part series on pediatrics, I speak with two more eyecare practitioners who have dedicated their careers to educating parents on the vision disorders and eye diseases that can affect children, so that comprehensive vision exams at infancy someday become as standard as pediatric well visits. These practitioners are Leonard J. Press, O.D., F.C.O.V.D., F.A.A.O., and Robert Sanet, O.D., F.C.O.V.D.

In addition, culinary fanatic Kirk Smick, O.D., returns with a description of molecular gastronomy and a U.K. restaurant that he says practices the art like no other. Kirk, his wife and I spent four-and-a-half hours at dinner, and it was worth every minute. I should mention that Kirk and I were invited to lecture at the BCLA meeting in Birmingham, England. The meeting was a wonderful experience, and I would encourage anyone interested in contact lenses to attend. I bring this up because there is an international focus on pediatric contact lenses and myopia control.

Key Opinion Leaders Weigh in…

Leonard J. Press, O.D., F.C.O.V.D., F.A.A.O., Fair Lawn, N.J., and Robert Sanet, O.D., F.C.O.V.D., Lemon Grove, Calif.

Q: Why did you decide to become an optometrist?

LP: My father played a significant role. He had his office as part of our house, so I literally grew up in the profession.

RS: I had learning problems, and during my summer break from college, I was in a very serious auto accident, which required two years in and out of the hospital and 20 surgeries on my head. At age 20, I got the first eye exam of my life, and that’s when I realized that learning and vision are linked.

Dr. Press as a “surfer dude.”

Q: Can you describe your practice?

LP: We specialize in children who have vision-based learning problems, such as visual dyslexia, developmental issues, such as autism, and strabismus and amblyopia. Increasingly, we work with athletes of all ages who have experienced visual problems secondary to concussion. Also, we work to a greater extent with adults who have acquired brain injury after stroke or motor vehicle accidents.

RS: I am no longer in private practice. At the time I left, it was a dynamic, full-scope practice with primary care exams, contact lens services, optical dispensing and a strong emphasis on behavioral optometry and vision therapy (VT). We had 13 employees, six of whom were optometric vision therapists, and we had between 400 to 500 patient visits in VT each month.

Dr. Sanet with his Spanish “daughter” Pilar left and wife Linda.

Q: Why do you practice pediatric optometry, participate in InfantSEE exams and offer VT?

LP: I love working with children, I feel that InfantSEE is a portal to early intervention when needed, and I offer VT because I love helping people reach their full potential.

RS: Due to my personal experiences, I feel a profound obligation to help children see better. And now, I “pay it forward” by teaching other optometrists and vision therapists how to provide the same services to their patients so that they can experience the true joy that comes from changing the life of a patient.

Q: How should we educate patients and their parents to understand VT’s importance?

LP: O.D.s should have information about VT on their practice website, brochures in their reception areas or exam rooms and a sheet of resources that incudes the Optometric Extension Program Foundation (www.oepf.org) and the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (www.covd.org).

RS: Staff must be educated to understand VT’s importance and how to communicate this to patients.

Dr. Press adds his signature mustache to his gandchildren.

Q: If you could have dinner with anyone living or deceased, who would it be and why?

LP: Benjamin Franklin. He did such a superb job of blending so many different facets of life.

RS: A.M. Skeffington, the “father of behavioral optometry.” Many of the “new” discoveries in neuroscience related to vision were discussed in Skeffington’s writings more than 50 years ago.

Dr. Sanet lectures in Spain on pediatric vision.

Q: What can we do to develop a patient-screening protocol to uncover issues such as convergence insufficiency (CI), so we can move into the preventive care mode of practice?

LP: We already have good screening models in place. The problem is that they’re not utilized widely enough. One can begin right away by incorporating a few key questions from the CI Symptoms Survey (visit http://bit.ly/1kDoffz) or the College of Optometrists in Vision Development quality-of-life checklist. Then, access the AOA screening protocol for CI at http://bit.ly/1lcM3XC.

RS: Introductory courses covering these and other related topics provided at optometric meetings, such as the AOA and SECO and many state association and other regional meetings, is a good place to start. In addition, COVD and OEPF — visit their websites — offer introductory courses at their annual meetings and in numerous smaller meetings throughout the United States. Finally, I would be happy to help any interested optometrists get started. They can contact me through my website at www.robertsanet.com or personally via rsanet@cs.com.

Q: What is your favorite book, band and adult beverage of choice?

LP: Book: Risk Savvy; Band: Train; Adult Beverage: Angry Orchard.

RS: Book: The Brain’s Sense of Movement and Beach Music; Band: Led Zeppelin; Adult Beverage: tequila.

Q: Where do you see the future of VT in the medical model optometric practice?

LP: Optometrist Jim Thimons and I have lectured a number of times on the synergy between the medical model and VT, particularly for acquired binocular vision problems. I believe that more CE courses should pair two lecturers, one of whom excels in the medical model and the other who excels in VT.

RS: Full-scope optometric care includes providing for all the patient’s needs: refraction, contact lenses, dispensing of glasses, VT and low vision. Comprehensively evaluating visual and perceptual skills and providing VT to enhance the crucial visual abilities necessary for achieving maximal potential in academics, work and sports is therefore, essential to the medical model optometric practice.

Q: Who are the members of your family, and what do you like to do for fun?

LP: My wife Miriam is the practice’s office manager. We have four children. The eldest Sarina is a NICU nurse who has four girls, a set of twins included. Our second daughter, Adena, is a geriatric nurse and has three girls. Our older son Elliot went to West Point, served two tours in Iraq and has three children. Our youngest, Daniel, graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 2007, has three children and practices in Illinois. We’re fortunate that each of our children have wonderful spouses - David, Joey, Heather and Sara.

Dr. Press at Phillies’ “Phantasy Camp.”

For fun, I love to read, write, spend long weekends at our place on Point Pleasant Beach and spend a month in Clearwater, Fla., watching spring training in baseball.

RS:  I have two families. My wife Linda, who has been at my side for the past 43 years; first working to put me through optometry school, then working in my practice as a vision therapist for more than 30 years, and now helping to organize and present my seminars. We are very proud of our adopted daughter in Spain, Pilar Vergara, who has the largest and most successful VT practice in Spain. Second, it may sound a little corny, but I also consider the behavioral optometric community as family.

Dr. Sanet reels in a big one in Baja, Calif.

For fun, I love to read, watch sports on TV and travel. My international seminars afford me many opportunities to visit new places. Among my favorites: Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China and Africa. When in San Diego, I spend a lot of time in the gym, working in my organic garden, and a big love: going fishing. Also, I am very active in mentoring optometrists through the C.O.V.D. Fellowship certification process.