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Now an Optom but never an OO
Being plain ignorant has no excuses. For example, Scotch Salmon just conjures up images of the poor fish basted in whisky. I prefer Scottish Salmon after all and support the Scots rather than the Scotch as they run out onto the playing field. Leave the ‘Scotch’ in the bottle, please.
I read a UK article recently about OO’s. I haven’t been an Ophthalmic Optician for several years, and being called an OO was even more irritating. However, in the same journal a following artice decided to change us to being ’Optoms.’ Just as bad?
Over the last few years the term ‘Optom’ appears to have become commonplace. I still use the name I was given by the College. I am an Optometrist and prefer it that way.
Why do we all feel the need to label ourselves as anything different?
Oh dear, has middle age finally set in?
Joy Myint // Oct 3, 2007 at 2:55 am
If middle age has set in then it has for me too! Do you think there will come a time when we will become “oculists”?
Old habits die hard. Though well and truly an MCOptom myself, I have a colleague who insists on using MBCO because “that is what he is”, even though it is generally accepted that we are all MCOptom.
Our esteemed DO colleagues seem to however still have the FADO/FBDO divide.
Recently I had a conversation with another OO/Optom? colleague regarding the change in University names. Did you graduate from UMIST/UWIST/TCU/APU? Or are you Manchester, Wales, City, Anglia Ruskin alumnus(a).
Hmmmm. Have become grumpy old woman methinks…….
Jane Macnaughton // Oct 3, 2007 at 6:00 am
I love the term oculist.
Sir Arthuir Conan Doyle, the most famous ‘oculist’ of them all sat in his rooms in Upper Wimpole Street awaiting some patients to cross the threshold. As the gernal public had no idea of what an oculist actually did, they did not venture in to see him. Apparently whilst waiting, he continued with his other passion, that of creative writing. And so began the tales of Shelock Holmes.
I wonder what would have happened if he had taken better advice on how to proactively promote his services to the general public rather then hide behind a term that was not commonly understood.
david cummins // Oct 6, 2007 at 3:38 am
Jane
You are correct to point out that a name is important. Over the last 15 years the public have accepted the term ‘optometrist’ and I think the term is symbolic of how far we have travelled as a profession. (Sadly, I suspect that there are still many who are unsure exactly what we do.)
Personally, I like the abbreviation ‘optom’, as optometrist is long-winded if you have to say or write it all the time. I would however never use ‘optom’ to a patient. This term (optom) makes me feel ‘all global man’, as it was first coined by the Ozzies in the early 90s.
I practice in Barbados. Of the dozen or so optometrists on the island, 50% are US educated and 50% are UK educated. Hence, we are called ‘eye doctors’ a lot by patients. At first I used to say “no I’m not a doctor” to which the patient appeared dissappointed. I’ve stopped doing this now, and just let the term ‘doctor’ pass (neither confirming nor rebuking). I am often asked “What is the difference between the two eye doctors: optometrists and ophthalmologists?”. My answer is as follows: ” An ophthalmologist treats patients with eye diseases which are sight threatening or who need eye surgery, whereas an optometrist deals with those with healthy eyes, in addition to patients with eye problems which do not endanger sight.” This seems to work pretty well. Anyone got anything snappier?
The term ‘eye doctor’ is used in the US by optoms (ODs) and it is a term I am getting more comfortable with, even though it is only ‘on loan’.
Should we be seen as eye doctors?
Finally, I like the word ‘optometrist’ as it sounds like ‘optimist’ and therefore has a real feel good factor! Imagine if we had elected to be called ‘pessimetrists’!!!
Jane Macnaughton // Oct 8, 2007 at 3:26 am
Barbados! And here’s me thinking you were a Scot, too.
But Pessimetrist - hmm! Interesting notion.
Having worked in the Hospital Eye Service for years, where the white coat was the uniform for all clinical staff, whether doctor, orthoptist or optometrist, the public thought that we were all ‘eye doctors’ in one form or another. After a while, it was not worth explaining the difference as you could be doing so several times a day.
Interesting now, how in that same hospital, I notice that the clinical staff are no longer wearing the white coat at all. I wonder how the patients now tell themselves apart from the clinicians!
david cummins // Oct 8, 2007 at 5:56 am
Jane
You WERE right, a Scot in Barbados.
I’m trying to get a couple of case sudies together which would hopefully be interesting AND illustrate how things are done out here.
Would this be useful?
DC
Mike Nurden // Apr 9, 2008 at 1:18 pm
David Cummins- I would like to get in touch with you; please forward your e-mail address to me.
Mike Nurden
Gerry Sondh // Apr 10, 2008 at 6:19 am
I love the “OCULIST” so much I decided to call my practice THE OCULIST. The general public seem to love the fact that the name has some meaning. I frequently get referred to as THE OCULIST which is quite cool!
Jane Macnaughton // Apr 10, 2008 at 11:41 am
Hi Gerry,
Glad to see things are going well since City days! Good luck in your practice venture - Great name. I hope that you have more patients over the threshold than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle! - Jane
Gerry Sondh // Apr 16, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Hi Jane, City days? Work or College?
Business has been good so far. The practice is six months old and has had a cracking start. The name is actually quite an attraction. Occasionally we get referred to as the Occult - I tend to book these people in for a test as they are obviously struggling to read!
Tanya // Jul 16, 2008 at 11:22 am
Hi David,
I’m looking to move to Barbados for a year. Would you mind if I got in touch to ask some advice re optometrist jobs. Many thanks
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