In Praise of Industry Partners

With optometry meeting season now in full swing, many of you have, no doubt, increased your frequent flyer miles, your hotel points, and, of course, your knowledge in eye care and practice management. Having been involved in chairing and planning several of these meetings, Selina, Justin, and I cannot stress enough the importance of the involvement of industry. To be blunt, optometry meetings wouldn’t provide the innovative education programs we receive without industry partners donating both their dollars and time. 

In addition to industry’s support of optometry meetings, I think it’s important to reemphasize that they support us in practice. In fact, local, regional, and national representatives visit our practices to personally educate us and staff on the products they provide. Specifically, they contribute meaningful discussions on how their drug/technology will address a patient and practice need. Also, they offer best practices on where and how their drug/ technology can be implemented in practice, and they provide helpful information regarding overcoming prior authorizations. 

I think it’s fair to say that many of us can become so accustomed to seeing industry point-of-purchase materials, posters, and displays in our practices that we can take their support for granted. Without these items, patients wouldn’t ask us questions about a drug, technology, or product they think could work for them, a family member, or a friend. Further, we wouldn’t be able to educate patients on how the latest drug, technology, or product could improve their vision and, therefore, their quality of life. (And let’s not forget that our practice walls, end tables, and examination rooms would look bare, sending the message to new and prospective patients that our eye care services are also bare.) 

Having been involved with student/resident education for many years, one thing Selina, Justin, and I stress to our externs and residents is why industry relationships are so important. Yes, it takes time to meet with industry representatives, but as illustrated, the time is well worth it. So, whether you stop at one or more of their booths at a meeting’s exhibit hall or meet with one or more of them at your practice, please consider thanking them for supporting the profession and your practice. 

Also, please consider reaching out to thank this issue’s contributors for taking time out of their busy schedules to share their experiences with the anterior segment and ocular surface disease, the March/April theme. Whether they’re tackling dry eye disease diagnostics or mimickers, among other related topics, they aim to provide you with “news you can use,” just like industry.

— Walt Whitley, OD, MBA, FAAO