Gene Sweetnam, O.D., (9/8/03):
It's obviously clear that you have no idea what an Optometrist is, other
than having the obsurd (sic) opinion that they are eyeglass peddlers. It's
amazing that your website could be this irresponsible to suggest that the
general public should see an Ophthalmologist ONLY for their "annual" eye
examination. You even go further when an Optometrist questions your
statements by indicating that she puts her welfare above that of the
patient.
You really need to read the definition of an Optometrist, and also read what State Laws say an Optometrist can do. Not all patients with eye disease need surgical intervention as you may suggest. I spent years serving my country in the United States Navy and treated all kinds of eye disease that did not need to be seen by an Ophthalmologist. When I need to, I do refer for surgical management, but only when all other options have been exhausted.
It has taken years for Optometrists to emerge out of the stigma of eyeglass peddler, but it has come. There have been, are, and will be sources of information like yours that will continue to give biased and unfair opinions However, as time goes on, and as the general public continues to be educated the truth emerges. I mostly ignore sites like yours that make these types of remarks because it's not usually worth my time, however, this one I take exception to because you infer that the Doctor takes her own welfare into consideration before that of the patient.
Just like ANY profession there are good and bad. You seem believe that this profession is all bad, and I am happy to say that you are WRONG!
Gene is reading much more into our mild advice than warranted. State laws regarding optometrists vary widely and much of what optometrists have achieved at the state level is the result of effective lobbying rather than medical breakthroughs.
