We continue with my new friends in Intrepid Eye Society this month. It gives me great joy to see a young group of optometrists take the initiative to make strides in what optometry is as a profession. This month, I speak with Nate Lighthizer, O.D., Josh Johnston, O.D., F.A.A.O., and Scott G. Hauswirth, O.D., F.A.A.O.

Nate practices in Oklahoma, a state that has propelled our great profession to provide the highest level of care in the country. As an individual who oversees a group of O.D. residents, he is at the forefront of showing the public the full skills we, as optometrists, possess to improve vision and, in turn, the quality of life of our patients. I have talked with many of his residents, and their pride and enthusiasm for providing medical eye care is a wonderful thing to behold.

Meanwhile, Scott and Josh work in O.D./M.D. practices where the responsibility for patient care is shared equally. These practices are models for the future where O.D.s will oversee the care of patients up to and after surgical intervention. Kudos to all!

Jack Schaeffer, O.D., F.A.A.O.,
Editor-in-Chief
O.D. Scene

OPTOMETRY GROUP WEIGHS IN . . .

SCOTT G. HAUSWIRTH, O.D., F.A.A.O.,
JOSH JOHNSTON, O.D., F.A.A.O.,
& NATE LIGHTHIZER, O.D., F.A.A.O.

Q: WHY DID YOU JOIN THE INTREPID EYE SOCIETY?

SH: It is a collaborative effort of early adopters and innovators across optometric specialty areas.

JJ: I was excited to join a progressive group like this to further the profession of optometry.

NL: It was an incredible opportunity to join 18 other gifted young optometrists and to learn from them.

Q: PART OF THE GROUP’S MISSION STATEMENT IS COLLABORATIVE CARE WITH OPHTHALMOLOGY. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT’S IMPORTANT?

SH: I believe integrated care, when done well, ultimately benefits the patient to the highest degree. It also establishes a mutually beneficial trust across professions, with potential for collaboration.

JJ: We need to bridge the gap between optometry and ophthalmology to fully ingrain optometry into the medical model, which is good for patients.

NL: With the aging population, patient numbers and wait lists are only going to increase. Co-management and working together with ophthalmology promotes the enhancement of patient care.

Q: WHAT ARE YOUR SPECIAL INTERESTS IN PRACTICE?

SH: Most recently, trying to understand and treat patients who have neuropathic pain has been one of my areas of interest. There is a confocal microscope at one of the offices I work, and I have been doing some imaging and going over treatment options with patients.

JJ: Anterior segment disease with a focus on dry eye disease. I also enjoy cataract and refractive surgery co-management.

NL: My interest has always been toward the ocular disease side of optometry, but more recently my special interests have developed into three main areas: 1) advanced ophthalmic procedures, including laser and surgical procedures, 2) electrodiagnostics and 3) ocular disease.

Q: WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU WERE GIVEN ABOUT PRACTICING OPTOMETRY?

SH: Always put the patient first. Oh, and “I’ve never seen a day that hasn’t ended.” That can be helpful to remember sometimes.

JJ: An O.D. I worked for, before I went to optometry school, said, “10% of patients take 90% of your time.” Twelve years into practice now, I think it’s very true.

NL: That our learning will never stop. It is so true. Taking care of our patients is No.1, and continuing to learn new technologies and trends will only make us better doctors.

Q: FOLLOWING THE STATEMENT, “I WISH I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW,” WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF WITH REGARD TO OPTOMETRY?

SH: Concentrate on understanding the basics.

JJ: No. 1: Find mentorship early. No. 2: Become involved.

NL: Just enjoy the process, and develop as many relationships in optometry as you can.

Q: WHAT, IN YOUR OPINION, IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE TO THE PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY TODAY?

SH: It is difficult in this time and place to remain fully unified as a profession, and that is probably our biggest challenge. We are fractured across states with respect to scope of practice and the laws that govern our profession.

JJ: This is a hot-button question. My answer is that some settings focus exclusively on glasses and contact lenses, and I don’t think that’s a win for optometry.

NL: I think one of the biggest challenges is fighting off complacency and remembering that we need to continue to expand what optometry is and does.

Q: DO YOU HAVE AN OPTOMETRIC MENTOR AND, IF SO, HOW HAS THIS PERSON HELPED YOU?

SH: I am of the belief that we can all learn from each other, so, as I think back to how many meaningful interactions I have had with so many different individuals, it’s difficult to choose just one.

JJ: There was an optometrist in my hometown of Austin, Texas, whom I worked for before I went to optometry school. He certainly solidified my interest in the profession, and I learned a lot from him.

NL: The biggest mentor in my optometric career has to be Blair Lonsberry. He was my main attending doctor my third year of optometry school, and was the reason I applied for residency in Oklahoma. He also was the one who pushed me to start doing CE lectures.

Q: WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE FUTURE OF OUR PROFESSION?

SH: I see optometry embracing more of the medical care. This will come out of necessity, in the next several years, as the Baby Boomer population ages and ophthalmic surgeons spend more time in the operating suite.

JJ: Hopefully, optometry heads toward more medical eye care. Disruptive technology is in the pipeline that threatens our jurisdiction on refraction, for example, so we must practice to our full scope, which is, in addition to refraction, diagnosing and treating eye disease.

NL: I see the future of our profession continuing toward the medical model and also continuing to own primary eye care with glasses, contact lenses and general eye exams, while at the same time expanding our involvement in treating ocular disease and surgical patients.

Q: WHO ARE THE MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY, AND WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO FOR FUN?

SH: I have been married for 11 years to a beautiful person who happens to be my best friend. We have two kids together – our son is 10 and loves hockey, our daughter is 5. I also have an older daughter who will be married next summer and who has made me very proud. For fun, I love listening to live music, swimming, running, golf and watching my son play ice hockey.

JJ: My wife Jacquelyn, my sons Pierce (age 4) and Welles (age 19 months) and our white Labrador, Lucy. We love to exercise outdoors and travel. Personally, I love college football and golf.

NL: My wife, Jenna, who is so supportive of my travels and CE lecturing, and our children Adalyn Grace (4) and Camden Luke (20 months). For fun, I enjoy playing golf and watching football.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE, BOOK, BAND AND ADULT BEVERAGE?

SH: Movie: “Pulp Fiction;” Book: Can I pick authors? Chuck Klosterman, David Foster Wallace and Cormac McCarthy; Band: Changes constantly. I have Daughter on a recurring rotation at the moment. Others I listen to regularly are the Pixies, Braids, Radiohead… I could go on…; Adult beverage: wine.

JJ: Movie: “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off;” Book: “Outliers, The Story of Success;” Band: John Mayer; Adult beverage: dark — Bulleit Bourbon, light — Tito’s vodka.

NL: Movie: “Tin Cup,” Band: ESPN Radio (Is that sad?); Adult beverage: Any good Northwest India Pale Ale (IPA). (You cannot beat a good IPA.) I also really enjoy red wine. OM