VIEWPOINT

TAKE TIME FOR WELLNESS

MY WELLNESS PLAN HAS GONE TO THE DOGS... WELL, NOT EXACTLY

JIM THOMAS
Editorial Director

MY RECENT EXPERIENCES with wellness could have gone better. At times, a portion of my wellness program (exercising), has made me less well (strained muscles.) Recently, it appears I spent more on my dog’s and cat’s wellness than on my own, but I’m certain they appreciate the gluten-free, grain-reduced cuisine. And when it comes to nutrition news, I can’t keep up: Which one is healthier this time, butter or margarine?

BEGINNING A JOURNEY TO WELLNESS

Such examples could test my mental health were it not for the fact that wellness is more of an active, continuous process than a few isolated events. To help keep on course, “Optometric Management” devotes most of this issue to the theme of wellness, both personally and professionally. For example, Mary E. Boname, O.D., explains how she treats patients in her practice by integrating medical and optical solutions, preventative care and research into genetics and psychology In her feature, “Practice Wellness,” (p. 16).

For those considering a wellness program in the practice, a good starting point might be the ocular surface, especially when one considers the prevalence of dry eye disease. In tackling this subject (p. 20), Kelly Nichols, O.D., offers five concepts to help shift the focus “from disease to prevention and wellness.”

CLOSING OUT THE YEAR WITH THANKS

As 2015 winds down, I’d like to recognize all the editors, authors and editorial contributors who made this another healthy year for OM. Let me also acknowledge the work of Drs. Leonard Press and Kim Reed, as their final columns appear on pps. 31 and 36, respectively. Dr. Press provided a year of monthly content on pediatric optometry that was both enlightening and practical. As Dr. Reed moves on to a position in industry, she has our gratitude for her three years as our nutrition columnist (and expert).

Let me also thank you, our readers, for your support in 2015. We look forward to delivering the management content you expect, along with a few surprises, in the coming year. OM