Dear Dr. Cole:
Your article, This O.D. Sees Glaucoma from a Different Angle, (July 2005), puts a new slant on glaucoma treatment. I had never before read an article by an O.D. about his personal experience with glaucoma and found this interesting and informative.

I do have one question regarding your visual fields. The FDT perimetry seems to show an inferior temporal defect on the same side as the blind spot, whereas the later 24-2 threshold field of the left eye shows a nasal defect. Am I misinterpreting the FDT? I have not used it myself.

Paul Slaton, O.D.
Hopkins, Minn.

Dr. Cole Responds:
Dear Dr. Slaton: Thank you for your letter. Your question regarding the correspondence of the visual fields is an excellent one. As you pointed out, the initial screening field defect did not correspond to the threshold field defect taken at a later date. The point I was making is that the screening instrument revealed a defect four to five years earlier than the traditional threshold visual field. A current repeat of the screening visual field reveals a corresponding defect. This includes the threshold visual field defect and the initial defect on the screening field. Please see the image of the current screening FDT.

Another Practice Management System
I read Pick the Right Practice Management System for You (August 2005) with interest. We, too, recently went through the process of finding the best practice management software for our office. However, Dr. Diecidue didnt mention the system that we found to be the best. Goal Eyecare Software was our decision. We now have a great system that is easy to use, has the features we need and the best technical support of any system we considered. To find out more, visit www.goalsoftware.com.

Dawn M. Webb, O.D.
Estherville, Iowa

Resource for Women O.D.s
In the August 2005 editorial, you asked, What Will Women Do to Optometry? We would like to introduce Women of Vision (WOV), an organization that defines what women will do for optometry.

WOV is an educating, mentoring and networking professional organization dedicated to helping women optometrists be proactive in defining themselves.

Mentors as role models will encourage risk taking, leadership roles and national awareness of the professional choices available to all women optometrists.

Members of the organization hope to encourage all women to seek the career they envisioned with help from others. For example, women may want an independent practice, but worry about balancing career and family. However, two women could have a full-time practice together, but individually work part-time while raising their family. WOV can be their source for networking to find like-minded women.

WOV will also provide business education and help with business and loan planning to women who want an independent practice. WOV networking will also help women already in practice excel with the help of others outside of their own community. 

WOV members predict that women will strengthen optometry as they work together to provide the best vision care for patients while achieving personal satisfaction through work-life balance.

Join us at our website, www.wovonline.org.

Rhonda S. Robinson, O.D., President,
Women of Vision

Funny Patient Stories
As an 18-year-old patient with a hordeolum was leaving my office, I told her that the stye should resolve with hot compresses alone. However, I added, she should return to my office immediately if it seemed to be getting worse.

Her response: So, if I wake up tomorrow morning and Im blind I should give you a call?

Actually, I said, if you wake up blind, call your lawyer and then call me.

I thought that was a pretty good line, but her response was even better. You work for the State of Minnesota, she reminded me. You don"t have any money. Touch.

Max Hergott, O.D.
Minneapolis, Minn.