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PCON introduces “Corporate Spotlight” series

Issue: August 2004

ByMichael D. DePaolis, OD, FAAO

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My parents recently had the good fortune of celebrating their 50^th wedding anniversary. While reminiscing about how things have changed over the past 50 years, I couldn’t help but wonder what it was like to practice optometry in 1954. To practice in an office without a computerized information system. To practice without the benefit of corneal topography, threshold visual fields or optic nerve imaging. An optical dispensary without high-index progressive-addition lenses. No silicone hydrogel contact lenses or multipurpose care products. And, most shockingly, no fourth-generation fluoroquinolone antibiotics or prostaglandin analogs ... much less the privilege to prescribe them. In short, we’ve seen some dramatic changes in the practice of optometry over the past 50 years.

In reflecting on optometry’s evolution over the past half-century, one trend has become especially evident: the ever-expanding collaborative effort between industry and optometry. This has been a concerted effort to help us better understand, diagnose and treat a variety of ocular conditions. And out of this mutual pursuit of improved patient care has emerged a unique relationship between optometry and industry: a relationship in which every patient care encounter is enhanced by a variety of technologies at our disposal today.

Emerging technologies, patient care

At Primary Care Optometry News we’ve long recognized and appreciated the relationship between industry and optometry. For the past decade, we’ve provided our readers — and colleagues — with accurate and balanced editorial concerning emerging technologies and the role they play in direct patient care. In meeting with this theme, we are proud to introduce our latest editorial initiative, “Corporate Spotlight.”

With the assistance and expertise of our Editorial Board, we’ve identified a variety of companies who, we believe, will significantly influence the practice of optometry over the next 5 years. We’ve sought companies with strong research and development pipelines, optometric participation in clinical trials, a demonstrable commitment to education and a significant influence on clinical practice.

Interviews with CEOs

Over the next year, “Corporate Spotlight” will feature interviews with the CEOs of these companies. In doing so, we hope to provide our readers with a better understanding of each company’s mission and vision, as well as a glimpse of emerging technologies that will further shape the practice of optometry.

Our initial interview with Mr. Tim Sear of Alcon Laboratories can be found in our August 2004 issue on page 27. We certainly hope that you’ll find this editorial initiative interesting, informative and — most importantly — beneficial to you and your patients.