Volume 42/Number 3/2011 195 NewsMakers Dr. WC Maples Retires from SCO Richard W. Phillips, OD, FAAO, President of the Southern College of Optometry noted that: We are saying farewell to a gentle giant today. … Whereas I am certain that Dr. Maples will continue to serve the profession in various ways, today is his last official day on campus as an SCO faculty member. He is transitioning from the world of accommodative rock to rocking the boat. Actually, three boats … We have benefitted greatly from W.C.’s years of experience, his leadership in behavioral optometry and his passion for our profession. … At a time when CE presenters argue about minimum fees to participate in a program, W.C. Maples has unselfishly served the profession. Whether he would be providing care to the Indian Nation, or optometric instruction in Poland, Greece, South America … W.C. said ‘Yes’ again, and again … and again. If a student needed a place to stay, his home was open. If another faculty member needed someone to cover him, W.C. would volunteer … It is difficult to understand how such a strong, disciplined Marine can be so gentle with a small child and so soft-spoken … Please join me in extending best wishes for gentle breezes and clear sailing for W.C. and Linda. A well deserved reward for a stellar career. COVD has been served well by this ‘gentle giant’ and southern gentle-man. We wish him and his family the very best. Bausch + Lomb and Asthenopia B+L has taken a significant interest in the diagnosis and management of asthenopia. ey have put together the first world-wide study assessing many areas, including the incidence of all the signs and symptoms associated with asthenopia. ese articles are accessible at: http://www.revoptom.com/ cmsdocuments/2011/6/0611_b+l_13thedition.pdf You may want to specifically read the following articles: Addressing All Aspects of Vision; Asthenopia: A Technology Induced Visual Impairment (Maino & Chase); and Global Trends in Contact Len Use in Sports. It is important to note that this is the first time a major ophthalmic company not directly involved in the diagnosis and management of functional vision problems has taken a significant interest in vision function worldwide. Please let B+L know how much you appreciate what they are doing in this area. Angie’s List You would think that a company that prides itself on its ability to evaluate everything from housing contractors to doctors would do a better job of taking a look at the differences and similarities between optometry and ophthalmology. ey did not. e very first paragraph in Angie’s List Magazine (http:// mainosmemos.blogspot.com/2011/07/responses- to-angies-list-listing.html) set the tone for the rest of this somewhat anti-optometry listing towards ophthalmology article. at’s too bad. I’m thinking about cancelling my subscription. COVD Fellow Personal Optometric Vision Therapy Success Story Dr. Barry Tannen wrote about his own personal vision therapy success story on the VisionHelp blog. Dr. Tannen writes, “… I noticed that … I was getting headaches, eyestrain, blurred and double vision, and my eyes were consistently bloodshot (I was getting accused of doing things I really wasn’t doing – really).” As a student at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry he was referred to Dr. Len Press, the Chief of Peds/ BV. Dr. Tannen continues, “He treated me with NewsMakers is a column dedicated to COVD and the many activities of its membership. If you have done anything of note (lectured, published, or been recognized by a group or organization), please email Dr. Dominick M. Maino, Editor of OVD at [email protected] today. We welcome photographs with all submissions, but they must be submitted as separate files, not embedded in the document. Optometry & Vision Development is an open access journal and is readily available online at www.covd. org. All underlined words in this article represent functional hyperlinks for use in the online version of OVD. Please take advantage of using this unique feature by reading this article online.
Transcript
Volume 42/Number 3/2011 195
NewsMakers
Dr. WC Maples Retires from SCORichard W. Phillips, OD, FAAO, President of
the Southern College of Optometry noted that: We are saying farewell to a gentle giant today. … Whereas I am certain that Dr. Maples will continue to serve the profession in various ways, today is his last official day on campus as an SCO faculty member. He is transitioning from the world of accommodative rock to rocking the boat. Actually, three boats … We have benefitted greatly from W.C.’s years of experience, his leadership in behavioral optometry and his passion for our profession. … At a time when CE presenters argue about minimum fees to participate in a program, W.C. Maples has unselfishly served the profession. Whether he would be providing care to the Indian Nation, or optometric instruction in Poland, Greece, South America … W.C. said ‘Yes’ again, and again … and again. If a student needed a place to stay, his home was open. If another faculty member needed someone to cover him, W.C. would volunteer … It is difficult to understand how such a strong, disciplined Marine can be so gentle with a small child and so soft-spoken …
Please join me in extending best wishes for gentle breezes and clear sailing for W.C. and Linda. A well deserved reward for a stellar career.
COVD has been served well by this ‘gentle giant’ and southern gentle-man. We wish him and his family the very best.
Bausch + Lomb and AsthenopiaB+L has taken a significant interest in the
diagnosis and management of asthenopia. They have put together the first world-wide study assessing many areas, including the incidence of all the signs and symptoms associated with asthenopia. These articles are accessible at: http://www.revoptom.com/cmsdocuments/2011/6/0611_b+l_13thedition.pdf
You may want to specifically read the following articles: Addressing All Aspects of Vision; Asthenopia: A Technology Induced Visual Impairment (Maino & Chase); and Global Trends in Contact Len Use in Sports. It is important to note that this is the first time a major ophthalmic company not directly involved in the diagnosis and management of functional vision problems has taken a significant interest in vision function worldwide. Please let B+L know how much you appreciate what they are doing in this area.
Angie’s ListYou would think that a company that prides itself
on its ability to evaluate everything from housing contractors to doctors would do a better job of taking a look at the differences and similarities between optometry and ophthalmology. They did not. The very first paragraph in Angie’s List Magazine (http://mainosmemos.blogspot.com/2011/07/responses-to-angies-list-listing.html) set the tone for the rest of this somewhat anti-optometry listing towards ophthalmology article. That’s too bad. I’m thinking about cancelling my subscription.
COVD Fellow Personal Optometric Vision Therapy Success Story
Dr. Barry Tannen wrote about his own personal vision therapy success story on the VisionHelp blog. Dr. Tannen writes, “… I noticed that … I was getting headaches, eyestrain, blurred and double vision, and my eyes were consistently bloodshot (I was getting accused of doing things I really wasn’t doing – really).” As a student at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry he was referred to Dr. Len Press, the Chief of Peds/BV. Dr. Tannen continues, “He treated me with
NewsMakers is a column dedicated to COVD and the many activities of its membership. If you have done anything of note (lectured, published, or been recognized by a group or organization), please email Dr. Dominick M. Maino, Editor of OVD at [email protected] today. We welcome photographs with all submissions, but they must be submitted as separate files, not embedded in the document.
Optometry & Vision Development is an open access journal and is readily available online at www.covd.org. All underlined words in this article represent functional hyperlinks for use in the online version of OVD. Please take advantage of using this unique feature by reading this article online.
vision therapy, and soon I was able to read and study much more efficiently and without all the headaches, eyestrain, and other symptoms that had become so much a part of my life.” For the complete story go to http://visionhelp.wordpress.com/2011/02/15/vision-has-nothing-to-do-with-reading/
Comments: I don’t often comment on the news-bits I put here, but this one shouts out for me to do so. The relationship between Drs. Press and Tannen clearly demonstrates the power of vision therapy not only to alter one’s vision functioning, but also a future colleague’s mode of practice. It doesn’t matter if you are an optometric educator, clinician, or researcher, we all can have a major impact upon the type of practice our future and current colleagues choose to follow. In this day and age of ever expanding scope of medical optometric practice, it is vital for all of us to lead by example. We must continue to demonstrate to all that the functional, behavioral, and developmental mode of practice is rewarding above and beyond what most optometrists experience. We make a difference in the lives of our patients every day. Now go tell a future colleague how we do that! —DM
Oliver Sacks and Susan Barry Team Up AgainSusan Barry, PhD is at it again! She’s been on
three TV shows, one in Spain, one in the U.K., and one in the U.S. The program in Spain: Redes – Ver el mundo en estÈreo . This Spanish program is available at http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/redes/redes-ver-mundo-estereo-entrevistas-vo-inglesa/1127289/. This show is a popular science show in Spain analogous to a program on National Geographic or Discovery.
This show was on the BBC and was a discussion of Oliver Sacks’ book, The Mind’s Eye. Since her story, “Stereo Sue,” was a chapter in the book and she was filmed for the program. The U.K. show can be accessed at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012b42j.
And finally in the U.S., The Science Channel: Through the Wormhole: Are there more than three dimensions? http://science.discovery.com/tv/through-the-wormhole/ episodes/more-than-three-dimensions/
“This show was mostly about the universe but it opened with my story about learning to see in three dimensions,” states Dr. Barry.
Don’t forget about Dr. Barry’s book, Fixing My Gaze. If you haven’t read it yet go to http://www.fixingmygaze.com/ and get a copy today! It is a fascinating story on how optometric vision therapy can change lives.
Behavioral Optometry in PolandKelly Frantz, OD, FAAO, FCOVD, professor at
the Illinois College of Optometry, recently had the opportunity to teach in Poznan, Poland. Dr. Frantz presented a lecture and workshop on management of accommodative disorders, which included hands-on instruction in optometric vision therapy. The presentations were part of an international conference on optometry organized by the Poznan University of Medical Sciences. All of the speakers were presented
with the “Witelo” award for their contribution to the program. Witelo, who lived in the 13th century, is considered by Poles to be the father of optometry due to his writings on optics and the visual system. Dr. Glen Steele also presented at this conference. He discussed various retinoscopy techniques.
COVD Fellow Writes Article in Parenting on the Peninsula
Dr. Carole Hong once again was a featured author in Parenting on the Peninsula. Her article Kids, Computers and Digital Eye Damage can be found on page 16. Go to http://www.ponthep.com/issues/11_JUN_WEB.pdf.
COVDers Featured Speakers at AOADrs. Andrea Thau and Glen Steele lectured
at AOA’s Optometry Meeting. Their presentation InfantSEE®: A Primer into Infant Vision for the Optometric Student and New Practitioner was very well received. Dr. Thau was also featured in the All You magazine in a piece about sun protection and on Fox News national TV in a story about InfantSEE.® Go to http://video.foxnewscom/?playlistid=86903#/v/979094161001/healthy-eyes-for-baby/?playlist_id=86892 for more information.
British Hear about Behavioral OptometryCOVD Fellow, Dr. Curtis Baxstrom spoke at
the British Association of Behavioural Optometrists in London recently. He presented information on acquired brain injury and its diagnosis and treatment, as well as present-ations on vestibular disorders and infantile esotropia. Dr. Baxstrom notes that, Bill Hay, Scottish optometrist, graciously helped to plan some excellent vacation time.
Digital Media and Getting the Word Out
Dr. Nathan Bonilla-Warford, COVD digital and social media guru, and new associate editor of OVD was featured in a story in Vision Monday. Go to http://www.visionmonday.com/ViewContent/tabid/211/catId/621/Parent_content_id/28809/content_id/28684/Default.aspx to read all about it.
Dr. Larry Lampert Quoted in Golf DigestGo to http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-equip-
ment/2011-03/equipment-new-looks for the full story. He was also featured in a story concerning his work at a skilled nursing facility and many visual problems encountered in the facility’s residents. It was noted that … a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility, today took the wraps off a functional vision rehabilitation program that helps patients resolve long-standing vision problems not detected through traditional eye examinations … The facility developed its program with … neuro-optometrist Dr. Larry Lampert, one of only 511 optometrists certified worldwide in vision development and vision therapy by the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. Lampert … notes that undetected vision impairments are prevalent in elderly people – but very often overlooked. Those problems regularly contribute to falls, blurred and double vision, difficulty reading, focusing issues, an inability to walk in a straight line, depression, and more … For the complete story go to http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/6/prweb8407738.htm.
Behavioral Optometry in SpainDr. Celia Hinrichs had an opportunity to speak with
a group of behavioral optometrists in Madrid, Spain. This group, SIODEC, is the International Society of
Curt Baxtrom with Scottish optometrist Bill Hay.
Developmental and Behavioral Optometry and was established 3 years ago. Dr. Hinrichs spoke about “Creating Success for Children with Multiple Issues.” Pilar Vergara, FCOVD-I, a former IECB member is a founding member of the group.
Dr. Lynn Hellerstein: Author, Lecturer, and Developmental Optometrist
Dr. Hellerstein recently spoke at Learning & The Brain Conference. This presentation was entitled: See It, Say It, Do It: Creating Successful and Confident Students Through Visualization. She also spoke at the Starbucks Corporate Office (in Seattle, WA) on
The picture above is the entire group (Pilar Vergara, Celia Hinrichs, SIODEC President, Elisa Aribau, and Nuria Risco).
Dr. Hellerstein, her 2 daughters (Becky and Annie) and granddaughter (Edina) are pictured standing in front of Starbucks Corp.
Integrating Your Internal & External Vision. She was the COVD representative for the AOA 2011 School Readiness Summit: Focus on Vision. Dr. Hellerstein notes that after the presentation they indulged in a few Starbucks drinks of course!
Greek OptometryGreek optometrist, Vassilis Kokotas, notes that
… “the first course of OEP Clinical Curriculum in cooperation with SCO has taken place in Athens, Greece. The course was hosted in my office and we are planning for more courses in 2012 …”
Special Olympics Healthy Athletes in GreeceGreek Behavioral Vision Care Optometrist and
Clinical Director of Opening Eyes Greece, Fotis Velissarakos, tells us that during the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens more than 90 Optometrists from all over Greece worked together with 25 Ophthalmologists for a common goal. This event made Optometry more visible in Greece. Among the participants were a large number of optometrists with a behavioral philosophy as well as members of the Hellenic Academy of Optometry.
Greek optometric students with Drs. Paul Harris and Vassilis Kokotas.
Greek optometrists at the Special Olympics.
Autism Meeting Attendees introduced to Behavioral Optometry
Dr. Jeff Getzell gave a presentation at the AutismOne/Generation Rescue Conference in Chicago recently. The title of his presentation was Autism: The Vision Connection. This presentation described the visual findings exhibited by patients with ADS.
Vision Leads Foundation AOA Specialty Day a Success
Dr. Brenda Montecalvo and the new Vision Leads Foundation with COVD hosted a Specialty day seminar at June’s American Optometric Association meeting. This specialty day was very well received by all. She was also elected to a second term to the Board of Trustees for the Vision Rehabilitation Section of AOA. Dr. Montecalvo is the co-editor for the Vision Rehabilitation Section Newsletter and is always looking for interesting cases, clinical pearls and articles. She serves as the Secretary Treasurer of the Ohio Optometric Association and is running for President Elect in October. She also notes that: “Mom and I were recently featured in Women in Optometry Magazine [and] so [were Drs.] Kellye Knueppel and Mary Van Hoy.”
3D Movies Help Increase Awareness of the Link between Vision & Learning
Canadian optometrist, Patrick Quaid BSc(Hons)Optom, MCOptom, PhD wrote an article for the Vision Educators Network of Ontario on simulated 3D and how this can affect the visual system. In this article he features several links to the COVD webpage. Go to http://www.psbnet.ca/eng/schools/wross/newsletters/files/Sharing_Visions_issue9.pdf and see page 16 for the full story.
Michigan Fellow Getting the Word Out!Dr. Sarah Hinkley was recently quoted in
an article featured in USA Today regarding UV Protection. The online link is: http://yourlife.usatoday.com/your-look/story/2011/06/Dont-be-blind-to-the-suns-effects-on-eyes/48210570/1 The article was also quoted in the AOA News Brief the next day.
She also presented at a statewide continuing edu cation conference called the Michigan College of Optometry’s Summer CE. The presentation was titled, Neuroplasticity: Rewiring the Optometric World. See: http://www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/colleges/michopt/Continuing-Education.htm for more info.
The Michigan Optometrist recently published her article MCO Holds Low-Vision Grand Rounds Program. http://michigan.aoa.org/documents/MI/MayJuneMichiganOptometrist.pdf
COVD Fellow Speaks at ICOStan Appelbaum, OD, FCOVD, author of Eye
Power (www.EyePowerBook.com), gave a two hour presentation at ICO. Thanks to Marsha Sorenson, ICO COVD Vice-President, ICO Class of 2013 and Sura Hassan, ICO COVD President, ICO Class of 2012, pizza and beer were provided to all of the students attending. Topics covered included: Why Specialize in Vision Therapy? How Hidden Eye Problems can Block Learning, 9 Ways People can Benefit from Vision Therapy, Developmental Hierarchy of Vision, The Difference between Eyesight and Vision, Neuro Optometry and Vision Rehabilitation, Improving Lives through Optometric Vision Therapy, My Private Practice Vision Therapy/Vision Rehabilitation Residency, and Visual and Vestibular Assessment and Treatment.
Sura Hassan sent the following email to him after the presentation: “It was wonderful meeting you and your wife today and hearing you speak. After the stress of boards and sometimes getting caught up in the nitty gritty of school, it was nice to be reminded of what most of us came to optometry school for--the opportunity to change lives. Your passion and dedication are so uplifting. Thank you for taking the time to come share your drive with us. I’ve already heard much great feedback about the event. And to be honest this is the first time after any event that so many people stayed after to speak with you and your wife. I truly think it’s because we all want to someday have the same amount of impact on our patients’ lives that you do on yours
today. I look forward to and am eager to see what my future in optometry will entail. Thanks again!”
Dr. Robert Sanet: Behavioral Scholar in Residence at NECO 2011
Dr. Robert Sanet served as the tenth Behavioral Scholar in Residence at the New England College of Optometry. This program was established in 2001 for the purpose of inviting a distinguished behavioral optometrist to campus to provide insights that may not be included in the current curriculum. The duties of the Scholar include:
• Speaking to the students in their regularly scheduled classes,
• Meeting with designated faculty, • Meeting with key administrators, • Being a member of a evening Seminar for
students and the College community • Providing a three hour continuing education
lecture to the general optometric community and other allied health professions.
In his role as Behav-
ioral Scholar Dr. Sanet participated in a sympo-sium “Optometric Inter-vention – A Key Variable in the Treatment of Brain Injury/Insult.” Other par ti cipants includ ed Dr. Jack Richman, emeritus professor at NECO and consultant to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, Dr. Barbara Bruno-Golden, a clinical neuropsychologist in pri-vate practice, and Dr. Richard Laudon, Coordina-tor of Vision Therapy Services at the New England Eye. Dr. Sanet also presented a continuing education course, “Optometric Management of Patients with Acquired Brain Injury” to a full house at NECO. The majority of participants, who attended the lecture, were NECO students, but a number of occupational therapists were in attendance. His presentations were enthusiastically received by students, one of whom wrote the following response:
Dr. Ernest Loewenstein and NECO Behavioral Scholar Dr. Robert Sanet.
NECO Behavioral Scholar Dr. Robert Sanet and Dr. Solomon Slobins.
I thought that Dr. Sanet’s presentations were fabulous! He is an excellent speaker that is obviously passionate about the work that he does. I think that the opportunity to attend lectures from those that are in the top of their respective field is often overlooked by students due to their busy schedules but am extremely happy that I decided to attend. I truly wish that these opportunities could continue.
Past Behavioral Scholars in Residence included many COVDers including: 2001 WC Maples, OD; 2002 Glenn Steele, OD; 2003 Dominick M. Maino, OD, MEd; 2005 Rochelle Mozlin, OD; 2006 Irwin Suchoff, OD; 2007 Lynn Hellerstein, OD; 2008 Leonard Press, OD; 2009 Paul Harris, OD; 2010 Mitchell Scheiman, OD and now 2010 Robert Sanet, OD.
This program is supported by the Rosborough-Behavioral Optometric Studies Endowment Fund which was created by the merger of two existing funds at NECO. One was the Behavioral Optometric Studies Endowment Fund which was formed in 1995 by the Optometric Extension Program Foundation – NECO study group. The other was a grant to NECO by Friends of the Sensorially Deprived (FSD), a group that had been formed by educator Pearl Rosborough. Ms. Rosborough was a long time friend of behavioral optometry and left her estate to the FSD. The New England College of Optometry also contributes to the success of the program through both financial and logistical support.
