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The renowned American Optometrist, Dr. Marc Taub, is an Associate Professor and Director of Visual Therapy and Rehabilitation Services at the Southern College of Optometry. He also teaches Visual Therapy, is an active clinical researcher and the supervisor of the Pediatric and Vision Therapy Residency.
Dr. Taub has great recognition in the editorial field and is the Editor-in-Chief of the scientific journal ‘Optometry & Visual Performance’ and the publication ‘Optometry Times’. He has also written numerous scientific articles and has given a wide variety of lectures at different professional meetings. He is the principal editor and author of multiple chapters in the book ‘Visual Diagnosis and Care of the Patient with Special Needs’.
Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and the College of Optometrists in Vision Development, Dr. Taub will be one of the international speakers who will participate in the VI International Congress of Behavioral Optometry and Visual Therapy, organized by SIODEC in Granada from March 27 to 30 2019.
Dr. Taub Will present two lectures on Saturday, March 30: From 4:15-5:30 PM, he will present Visual Care and Treatment of the Patient with Special Needs, and at 18:15-19:30 on Lens Based Management of Complex BV Cases.
In this interview, Dr. Taub discusses different aspects of his career and gives us an idea of content of his presentations, as well as providing interesting information for research professionals in Optometry.
[Registration for Dr.’s seminar and all other information regarding the International Congress of Behavioral Optometry and Visual Therapy can be found at this link: http://www.siodec.org/en/siodecgranadacongress/]
1. Why did you decide to study Optometry?
I was diagnosed with a learning related vision problem as a kid and always knew I wanted to help others through VT like I was helped. I was the typical all over the place kid in school and luckily I got to the right doctor that worked with me to get me on a better path. This is me paying it forward in my mind.
2. You are also a ‘Fellow’ of the American Academy of Optometry and the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD). What has this specialization meant for you?
I enjoy learning so that was what those processes mean to me. It show my colleagues and the public that I have attained a certain level of skills and knowledge and that I am comfortable working with this population.
3. As an active clinical researcher, how would you value research in Optometry? Do you think it is necessary to encourage the access of optometrists to research? In what way?
As I stated above, we should always ask why we do what we do. We should always question each other but we cannot get hung up on waiting for research to catch up with our clinical intuition. As Editor in Chief of Optometry & Visual Performance, I strive to get research into the hands of optometrists. Research can take the form of cases, literature reviews and experimental studies. All are valid forms of research. We must write up what we do in journals related to optometry as well as other professions in which we interact.
4. You are also linked in a relevant way to scientific publications such as ‘Optometry & Visual Performance’ and ‘Optometry Times’. What does it bring you?
I am thrilled to be the Editor in Chief of OVP. It is open access and peer reviewed. We don’t charge for publication and we cannot he bought to publish anything. That is so crucial for science to advance. Supporting organizations like OEP that back the pursuit of science is a no brainer. The ability to work with so many amazing authors from all over the world is an amazing experience. We can all learn from what others are doing!
5. You have dedicated your career and life to study and teaching of Behavioral Optometry and Visual Therapy. Even you claim that you “eat, breath and sleep behavioral optometry”. Could you tell us the most amazing cases of specific patients you have worked with?
I have detailed a few of the amazing cases in a Review of Optometry column I write with Paul Harris. I think there is something to be learned from every patient to be honest. I learned not to doubt the healing abilities of my patients, less is often more, don’t be afraid to question and change what other clinicians have done previously, and it is ok to take a break from therapy.
These are probably my 3 favorites:
6. At the 6th International SIODEC Congress you will present two conferences. The first one is ‘Visual Care and Treatment of the Patient with Special Needs’. Is there a need for optometrists to treat patients with special needs? Why?
I think we need to treat every patient and should be able do so with ease. Every patient is special and you need to meet them where they are to treat their visual system. Simply saying I can’t is not an excuse to not try. Many of the exam and therapy procedures are not going to be new for the audience but being able to adapt them for this patient population is the key!
7. The second one is ‘Lens Based Management of Complex BV Cases’. Could you speak us a little about the objetive of this presentation?
As optometry advances medically we cannot leave behind the vast majority of clinical care…refractive management. This lecture will focus on that aspect of patient care. We will cover some of the published guidelines but mainly focus on interesting cases.
8. How is the work of SIODEC perceived in the United States? How would you evaluate behavioral optometry in Spain?
Within my circles, it is very well thought of. It is advancing the profession in amazing ways and I am thrilled to be catching the SIODEC wave.
