Learn Your Lesson: Save Your Data
We were all very sorry to hear of Dr. Tony Hom’s loss when his office literally exploded (Gas Leak Explodes New Jersey O.D.’s Office,” March). What was not mentioned in the story was whether the good doctor had backups for his computer files, including patient records and financial data, stored off site.

I’m happy to see that Dr. Hom is hopeful and optimistic about rebuilding his office and practice, but doing so will be made immeasurably easier if he doesn’t have to remember who’s paid what and which contacts Mrs. Smith wears. A lesson for us all.

Best of luck, doc!
—Linc Service, O.D.
San Francisco

(Editor’s note: For optometrists who experience a catastrophe, such as Dr. Hom, the AOA has set up Optometry’s Fund for Disaster Relief. To make a donation, go to: www.optometryscharity.org/ofdr.)

British Columbia: Good News and Bad News
In response to “ Canadians Won’t Need Rx to Buy Contact Lenses” (April), what’s all the hype about? This is the best thing for optometry in years. We can now finally make some money on contact lenses. I mean, office visits at $80 a pop every day of the week for all those corneal ulcers.

—Jerry Cowan, O.D.
Cape Coral, Fla.

In regard to the situation faced by optometrists in British Columbia, how much longer will it be before this kind of nonsense crosses the border into the United States? Oh wait, it already has—every time an Internet contact lens company fails to confirm a lens Rx and sends the patient their lenses anyway.
—Sheldon Green, O.D.
New York