Careful planning can still lead to great opportunities in ophthalmology

Depending on where one touches the elephant, the perception on the current environment and future opportunity for ophthalmology can be quite different. I tend to be an optimist and that colors my thinking significantly, but I also try to look at the facts and put some realistic boundaries on my optimism.

Overall, as an ophthalmologist in active practice trying to provide high-quality care for patients, I find myself increasingly challenged. The same is true in my role as a consultant to, investor in and board member of many companies both large and small. Yet, I continue to see significant opportunity as well.

One way to evaluate the current state of a field, industry or company is to perform a SWOT analysis, looking at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats confronting the entity in question. While a comprehensive SWOT analysis of ophthalmology as a whole would run hundreds of pages, I will in the next few paragraphs hit a few of the key issues from my personal perspective.

Click here to read the full publication exclusive, Lindstrom's Perspective, featured in the Ocular Surgery News U.S. Edition, October 10, 2014.