Truth is one of those things they often refer to as an “absolute.” There’s no in between and it’s either a fact or it’s not. Which is true? Number one or number two?

Hmmm, that sounds right. We refract in search of the truth, or at least something that makes the patient see better.

The Truth is Murky 

But if it’s that simple, why do patients pick number one and later return wanting number two? It’s because truth is not always absolute. At one point in history, the truth was that the world was flat. Later, that was disproven, and it was believed that the world was round and the sun rotated around us, which is oddly not the truth. That led to astronomy, the loss of Pluto as a real planet (it’s now a dwarf planet, as we all know) and finally the physics of light, which led to us learning how to adjust glasses in school. 

The truth set optometrists free to wear golf shirts on Fridays and to join the right country club. Amazing what getting rid of a flat earth can accomplish, unless you are a member of the Flat Earth Society or you accept crappy vision plans. 

Yes, there are still people who believe that the earth is flat. They also believe you can put a multifocal contact lens on someone and they can clearly see distance and near with no concerns. They all work in the marketing department for multifocal contact lens companies. 

Truths ODs Live By 

But despite the “truth” that there actually may not be such a thing as truth other than as a fundamental quality of the Great Creator, we have to hang our hat on something. Maybe instead of truth we should be talking about what we truly believe. 

I believe that:

  1. The most important thing I can do is not be the stupidest employee. This has led to some interesting hires along the way, because sometimes it’s hard to avoid being the stupidest employee. My employees often prove I actually AM the stupidest employee sometimes. 
  2. If you smile you can almost say anything to a patient and they will still like you. Almost is the salient word here, so don’t push your luck unless you first refer to #1 above. 
  3. A patient actually wants the doctor to examine them and not via video chat from the golf course. Am I naïve?
  4. Every time a patient calls you on Saturday, his eye was injured last Wednesday.
  5. Not every patient really cares if they can see. 
  6. Every time a newborn baby cries, he’s sitting on the lap of my next patient. 
  7. There is something bigger than “I cannot see through my new contact lenses.” For example, “I also cannot see through my new glasses.”
  8. Worrying about your practice won’t make it better, but adding cannabidiol oil to your patient’s water bottle might. 
  9. No doctor should ever worship money unless, of course, you have bills to pay. 
  10. Your brothers and sisters should get the best eye care that money can buy; therefore, they should go see somebody who actually makes them pay for stuff. 

The truth will set you free! Any day now…