Over the past several months, I have run into a few of you around town. Don't be offended if I don't remember your name! Keep in mind I see a lot of patients every year. In 2016, I saw over 1,500 patients in one year. I tend to remember faces better than names, so even though I may recognize you, I may not recall your name. I purchased this practice not too long ago, so it will still take some time to get to know everybody's names to the point where I remember them on a moment's notice. Also keep in mind that I do live in this area like yourselves, so you will probably eventually see me around town somewhere. Just keep the above facts in mind if you run into me!
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I just want to wish a Happy New Year to everybody! 2017! It's unbelievable how fast time goes. It doesn't seem that long ago that the new century began, and now we are 2/3s of the way through its second decade! It seems like just yesterday 2016 started, and now it's 2017! It is true that time goes by faster as we get older.
It has been roughly one year since I purchased the retinal camera for the practice! Many of you have chosen to have retinal photos taken, some of you have not. Probably the most common question asked about them is how necessary is it to have them taken? After having taken photos for the past year, here is my professional answer to that question: I feel that everybody should have photos taken once, for baseline documentation. This will allow us to use them as a reference point in the future in case there are changes in the back of your eyes.
Once you have baseline photos, then how often you should have them taken after that depends on if you fall into any of the high risk categories. If you have any of the risk factors, then I recommend that photos be taken on a yearly basis. The risk factors include: diabetes, either yourself or a family member; glaucoma, either yourself or a family member; macular degeneration, either yourself or a family member; any existing retinal condition. If you fall into any of these categories, then I recommend retinal photos every year. If you do not fall into any of these categories, then a rough guideline that I recommend is retinal photos every two to three years. Another factor when considering the importance of retinal photos is age. As we get older, more things break down in the body. So for example, if you're over the age of 65, and you don't have any of the risk factors, I would still recommend retinal photos every 1 to 2 years; conversely, if you're 10 years old, every 3 years should be fine. One other very important point to mention about why I recommend photos for everyone: retinal photos are an advancement in 21st century health care record documentation. You've heard the saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words." This adequately describes retinal photos. When a doctor does not take photos of the back of your eye, how the back of your eye is described in your medical record is based on what he/she writes/types into your record, which always contains less information than can be gotten from a photo image. So above all else, retinal photos are a significant improvement in the quality of medical health care record documentation when dealing with the back of your eye. This past Saturday, October 1st, was the 3 year anniversary of my acquiring the practice from Dr. Blake! It's hard to believe that it has been 3 years! It has been a pleasure getting to know all of you. I have come to learn that many of you are very loyal, as you have been coming to this practice for years, even decades! Over the past few years, our number one source for new patients have been referrals from our current patients! Thank you for those referrals. I want you to know that we appreciate your loyalty, and I intend to reward your loyalty by giving you a first class optometry/optical experience. Since I took over this practice, it has been my goal to provide a first class experience for my patients. In 2014, I upgraded the visual acuity system that we use to the same system that is used by NASA on the international space station. In 2015, I implemented a retinal camera that allows us to more accurately document the findings in the back of your eye. More improvements are on the way. Very soon in the near future, we plan to remodel the optical and the office in general into a more modern design. More professional and medical services will be offered for some of the more common ocular problems encountered--such as dry eye and color vision deficiency--that will give you, our patients, the latest technology and treatment options available in the rapidly changing landscape of vision care. Check back here often, as you can be assured I will keep you updated when we have added these services.
Thank you for your loyalty for all of these years! It is appreciated and I intend to reward your loyalty with even more improvements that will make your time with us an even more positive experience! Dr. David Butchert, O.D. This optometric practice has something that no other practice in the area has--a purse drop! I know this because I came up with the idea. There is a story behind this....it all started many years ago when I was working in other doctors' offices. Certain parts of the exam needed to be done with the lights off, and I sometimes stumbled in the dark over the patient's purse which was on the ground in a completely dark room. This was a problem. I decided that when I got my own practice, I would correct this problem. One day I was at a golf course when I drove up to the entrance and I noticed the bag drop. Suddenly a moment of inspiration hit me--a purse drop! A place where a woman can put her purse that is out of the way, and also creates a safe environment for the doctor to maneuver around the room while the lights are off. It's down and out of the way but not on the ground, creating an ideal solution for this problem.
Some of my patients have figured it out and have used it without explanation, while others have not. So hopefully my patients will read this and start using the purse drop for their convenience--a Dr. B. exclusive! We now have the Gwen Stefani eyewear collection, GX and L.A.M.B.! Stop by and check out our latest addition!
This past week there was major news in the medical eye care field as a new treatment for dry eye was announced. The new medication is called Xiidra, and will be the first new prescription medication for dry eye in over a decade. Currently there is only one other prescription medication available for dry eye. Those of you who have dry eye are probably familiar with Restasis, which has been available for about 10 years. The makers of Xiidra state the new medication will be available within the next 3 months. If you suffer from dry eye or know somebody who suffers from dry eye and are interested in this new medication option, please contact us or stop by the office.
Earlier today, my optician Michelle made me aware of something--this optometry practice is the second happiest place on earth(second only to Disnelyand)! OMG--she's right! I never realized that!
We have re-designed our website, into a cleaner, more mobile responsive one! We hope you enjoy the more professional look to it. #cerritosoptometry
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Dr. David Butchert, O.D.Optometrist for 28 years. Contact lens wearer for 39 years. Glasses wearer for 41 years. Archives
June 2021
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