o.d. to o.d.

The “D” in “O.D.”

It may seem like just a letter, but, in actuality, it represents a slew of responsibilities we have to our patients

BY SCOT MORRIS, O.D., F.A.A.O.
Chief Optometric Editor

Like many of you, I sign my name about 40 times a day with that “O.D.” at the end. Have you ever stopped to think about what the “D” means?

A few days ago I was reflecting on that “D,” and I came up with a list of what I believe it represents and the questions to ask yourself to ensure you’re living up to that “D.”

Duty

First, it is our duty to apply the knowledge we have gained between our studies and our experiences to that of our consumers, who pay us for our knowledge. In essence, we serve as the bridge between science and society. We question consumers and then integrate what they tell us with what we observe and what we know. In the process, we deal with human nature, human behavior and many other psychological and emotional intangibles.

Discipline

Also, we have to have the discipline to weigh “non-facts” with the “fact(s)” of science in the form of diagnosis, outcome analysis and medical protocols before providing our opinions. In other words, it is our job to explain to consumers the health threats they face and provide them with treatment options.

Delicate

The “D” also stands for the delicate balance between our professional “scientific” approach and the compassion, empathy and humility we must employ as caregivers on a daily basis. Granted, explaining a floater for the third time today and the 20th time this week can be tedious, but we must remember that each consumer’s situation and capacity to understand is different and, thus, the empathy and compassion we show must be measured accordingly.

Sometimes, we face an even greater challenge to respect our patients’ decisions, despite whether or not we agree with them. In my opinion, this is where the humility part of our job factors in. We must remember that, ultimately, our patients are responsible for their own health.

Living up to the “D”

When we sign “O.D.,” we must ask ourselves, “Did I do everything I am legally and ethically supposed to do?”

Many of us treat myopia, hyperopia and presbyopia on a daily basis. In the context of those refractive diseases, ask yourself: “Did I give the consumer all the options?” “Did I discuss refractive surgery or the newest contact lenses with that last patient?”

“Did I assess and discuss the dry eye disease (DED) or hyperemia I observed?” (Remember: DED affects one in five of our patients.)

“Did I discuss nutrition, protective sun wear and general health with patients who have a strong family history of AMD?” “Did I have that same discussion with patients who have healthy eyes and want to keep them that way?”

Yes, we have time constraints, fiscal concerns and operational issues. But regardless of the administrative stuff, ask yourself whether you were the best doctor you could be to all your patients. Think about this the next time you write that “D” in “O.D.” OM