One to Watch: Chris Kruthoff, OD, FAAO

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Please share with us your background.

I grew up in a small town in northern Iowa, where my father practices as a physical therapist. I was able to see firsthand the positive effect that medical providers can have on people and communities as a whole. I went to the University of Iowa for biomedical engineering before ultimately graduating from the Illinois College of Optometry in 2015. I then completed a residency in ocular disease and perioperative care at Omni Eye Services of Atlanta, which helped to set the course for my career.

Describe your current position.

I practice at Northwest Eye Clinic in the suburbs of Minneapolis. We are an OD/MD practice spanning a wide range of patients from primary to tertiary care of all ages. I especially enjoy the areas of cornea and glaucoma, including acute, chronic, and perioperative care. Managing these patients offers fun challenges, exciting new treatments and therapies, and the ability to build a good rapport with patients over time.

Who are your mentors?

Paul Ajamian, OD, and Walter Whitley, OD, MBA, FAAO, have both been invaluable role models for me in the early stages of my career. Each of these doctors works tirelessly to advocate for optometry and has challenged me in the early stages of my career to expand my comfort zone while providing support and encouragement.

What has been the most memorable experience of your career thus far?

In 2019, I presented at the Southern Council of Optometrists, a conference influenced heavily by Dr. Ajamian, and shared the stage with Dr. Whitley. Being able to experience this meeting with them, although somewhat nerve-wracking, validated the path I have chosen for my career.

What are some new technological advances that you find particularly exciting? Which advances in the pipeline are you most enthusiastic or curious about?

Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery has the potential to slow disease progression, lower medication burden, and generally improve quality of life. Although I may not be performing these procedures, I have an active role in offering such options to my patients, making recommendations and referrals, managing patients in the postoperative period, and providing long-term care. As for emerging technologies, I am cautiously excited about how artificial intelligence will be incorporated into our practices.

Describe a typical day in your life.

I spend my workdays in clinic, rotating between three of our five
locations. Each day brings a good variety of cases, from glaucoma follow-ups to various postoperative visits, to urgent red eyes or vision loss, that keep me engaged and on my toes.

I’m not much of a morning person, so my time to get personal things done is always after work. This may involve reading, writing, exercising, or working on projects around the house to varying degrees of success. I love spending time with my wife, Kelsey, checking out new restaurants in the cities, or going to baseball games during the few beautiful warm months in Minnesota.

What advice can you offer to individuals who are just now choosing their career paths after finishing optometry school or a residency?

For a field that is already specialized to a small organ, there are myriad areas that you can spend your time and attention on. Find what catches your attention and gets you excited, and go after it at full speed. Seek out people who are established in your area of focus and learn from them. In my experience, they are willing and eager to help younger peers advance in their careers.

Lastly, find and connect with your colleagues who are also early in their careers and who share your interest. They will keep you challenged and motivated and help to push you forward in the years ahead.