As Eye See It: A Time-Pressed Butler and the Value of Taking a Closer Look 

In our profession, we meet people from all walks of life—but one patient I’ll never forget was a butler. I had never met a butler before, and I haven’t since. He came in for a quick eye exam, clearly pressed for time. He didn’t want to dilate, but he mentioned a floater in his vision. I explained the importance of checking his retina, and thankfully, he agreed.

The floater turned out to be nothing. But in the other eye—the one he hadn’t mentioned—I saw something suspicious. A mass. I referred him immediately to a retinal specialist, and it turned out to be a tumor.

That moment reminded me why we do what we do. The few extra minutes I spent explaining the importance of dilation and emphasizing the health aspects of the exam made all the difference. He trusted me, and because of that, we were able to get him on the path to treatment. His eye and life were saved.

As Eye See It, the real reward in optometry isn’t just helping someone see more clearly—it’s knowing you’ve helped someone in a way that truly matters. That patient is doing well now, and for most of us in this profession, that’s enough. That’s why we show up every day.