WORD FOR THE DAY – “cared-for” (adj.) “having needed care and attention, as in ‘well-cared-for-children.” (dictionary.com)

Click on the title of this blog to reach a comment screen. I appreciate your feedback.

Optometrist focuses on cared-for clients

The eyes have it. Dr. Sally Jackula’s eyes, that is.  They’re intense, intent on focusing in on her patient’s care. Dr. Sally operates Iris Vision Care in St. Cloud. She’s my eye doctor. I’m impressed with her efforts to make me – and her other patients – feel very cared-for. “Cared-for” is the descriptive word I associate with Dr. Sally.

Dr. Sally says that her goal of making all patients feel cared-for is her compassion for people. (I’m a believer.)

“I try to be at my best and give an added personal touch to the (patient) experience,” she told me at our last visit. In my case, she was extremely calm and methodical as we worked to get my prescription just right. It was a delicate process, since I have progressive lenses. As Dr. Sally told me, when you adjust the prescription for distance, it affects the bi-focal. In my case, it took us three go-rounds with the glasses manufacturer. (Yes. I presented a challenge for Dr. Sally, one that she handled with aplomb. No, I was not being difficult.)

It’s difficult for a busy professional writer, wife, mother, grandmother, and caretaker of an elderly parent to take care of myself. I’m sure you can relate. That’s why Dr. Sally’s attention to my care is so important.

Dr. Sally does all sorts of testing for eye conditions, some that I’ve never heard of: glaucoma, retinal detachment, retinitis pigmentosa, cataracts, macular degeneration (for those of us over 40), even computer vision syndrome. “Computer Vision Syndrome describes a group of eye and vision-related problems that result from prolonged computer use,” according to the American Optometric Association. For a complete discussion, go to the website at: http://www.aoa.org/x5253.xml

We discussed at length my choice of glasses frames. Some worked with my face shape; others did not. Some were better for my prescription; others had lenses that were too narrow. Dr. Sally patiently walked me through the many choices. She really cared that I would make the right choice and be pleased with my selection. In addition, I did not feel rushed by her, which further convinced me that I had her full attention.

Dr. Sally also paid great attention to my granddaughter, Erin, who came to see her about color blindness. The two worked through the testing, which consisted of recognizing colored numbers against a colored background. The illustrations were created from many colored circles, no straight lines. Erin is red / green color blind. However, there is such as thing as yellow / blue spectrum color blindness. Dr. Sally explained that there are actually glasses and contacts made to help patients with color-blindness. So, we learned something new during that visit.

Bottom line? Dr. Sally Jackula’s attention to my specific needs – prescription, testing, and frame selection –  and to my granddaughter's color-blindness, demonstrated to me her compassion for her patients and her efforts to make them feel cared-for. “Cared-for” is the word I associate with my eye doctor at Iris Vision Care. http://www.irisvisioncare.com/

(Dr. Sally Jackula is also a member of River City BNI.)