VIEWPOINT

AND HERE’S TO 50 MORE

OM CELEBRATES ITS 50^th WITH A NOD TO THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

JIM THOMAS
Editorial Director

LOOKING AT THE LANDSCAPE OF OPTOMETRY through the past 50 years, the one word that springs to mind is opportunity. OM came to life because Irving Bennett, O.D., identified an opportunity. Early in his career, Dr. Bennett struggled to establish a private practice. He believed that other optometrists, much like himself, were missing a critical piece of education. They needed to learn how to operate a successful practice. In an editorial in the Journal of the American Optometric Association, he suggested curricula that included practice and business management courses. That editorial found its way to the editor of Dental Management who agreed, and in 1965, Optometric Management was born.

Beginning on page 18, the timeline of the past 50 years documents myriad opportunities for the profession. The LaGuardia Meeting of 1968 set the stage for optometry to transition from a vision care profession to a vision and health care profession. Opportunity was fueled by innovation, be it in the area of diagnostic instruments, ocular therapies, contact lenses, spectacle lenses, office equipment or information technology. The list seems endless. Many of these advances were set in motion without the Internet, email or cell phones — can you fathom such a thing?

FROM PAST TO PRESENT

Shifting to the present, OM is pleased to present this, our 50th anniversary issue. There’s never enough time or space to acknowledge all those who made the magazine a success, but I have to recognize the professional editors who have taken the time to share with me their insights and expertise during my tenure with OM: Drs. Bennett, Jack Runninger, Art Epstein, Neil Gailmard, Walt West and Scot Morris. We are fortunate to have each represented in this issue, and let me add that their guidance has been invaluable.

Also represented in this issue are 45 of the people who have had the greatest influence on eye care’s past, present and future, as nominated by key opinion leaders in the profession and industry (page 36). Acknowledging these leaders is a small way we can begin to say thank you to the profession.

AND NOW. . . A WORD FROM THE FUTURE

The congratulatory toast at many 50th anniversary celebrations ends with “and here’s to 50 more years.” What will those 50 years look like? Dr. Morris takes a look in his essay, “The Future of Eye Care Delivery” (page 43). He cites key opportunities that revolve around such trends as a national health care database, virtual or online staff, 3D printing, wearable computers and remote diagnostics.

OM’s future is only as bright as our ability to provide you with the most valuable information for your practice. If you have a moment, let us know how we’re doing at tinyrul.com/OMcomment. And on behalf of the staff of OM, thank you for 50 wonderful years. Here’s to the future! OM