Mindsight, the blog from COVD/OVDRA, features a series titled Member InSIGHTS. In this series, we highlight the perspectives, personal and professional achievements of current members. Want to share your InSIGHT? Contact info@covd.org to set up an interview time.

This week we are talking to Dr. Richard Laudon. Dr. Richard C. Laudon retired on his 70th birthday as an Associate Professor of Optometry after 42 years of service at the New England College of Optometry (NECO).  His expertise was in the realm of binocular vision, vision therapy and learning problems.  He had the opportunity to share his knowledge both in and outside of the United States.  In retirement, he has changed his career path.   Dr. Laudon has become a writer for Medium (rlaudon.medium.com) with articles that focus on both health and behavioral finance.   His goal is to eliminate financial illiteracy so everyone can achieve an appropriate work/life balance especially in retirement. AND finally, as a 72 year old rookie, he returned to another one of his passions, softball.  He is actively involved both as a player and as the coordinator of the Metro Division in EMASS Senior Softball.

What was your original attraction to Developmental Optometry? 

My involvement with Developmental Optometry was accidental.  There is both a long and short version of this evolution.   For this interview, I will simply highlight some key junctures.

  • I entered optometry school to become a contact lens specialist. (My last contact fit was during my State Board in 1975).
  • I was hired by Jerome Rosner to work in the Pediatric Clinic at NECO in August of 1975 (Vision therapy was geoboards and dot to dot patterns).
  • I became the Director of the Pediatric Clinic at NECO in 1977 when Jerry Rosner abruptly left for the Houston College of Optometry (I was initially overwhelmed and unqualified for this position).
  • I became involved in a number of private practices on a part-time basis with special emphasis on binocular vision problems and vision therapy (Learned how to integrate an in office and out of office therapy program in the real world).
  • I struggled throughout my clinical/academic career at NECO with a faculty that favored a medical model of eye care (My students and patients were my guiding light).

      In retrospect, you need to be hard skinned to succeed in the realm of Developmental/Functional Optometry.   I did move my status from a snake oil salesman to a competent professional over the course of a four-decade career.
 
Can you list one major contribution in your career which you are most proud of? 

I have written on many topics ranging from issues related to refraction to evidence-bias medicine. The importance of visual hygiene in our overall treatment plan, especially in dealing with myopia (prevention and/or control) is my most significant contribution.   My original article “Visual Hygiene – An Under-Used Concept in Optometric Care” published in Optometry & Visual Performance led to the publishing of a different article, “Visual hygiene: A misunderstood concept” under the heading of Perspective in the Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology.   For someone who had been tormented by the medical profession throughout his career, this specific article published in a medical journal was a moment to remember.

An article in Medium entitled “Four Key Components of Wealth Building – And Three are Free” was well received.   From where does your passion for behavioral finance originate? 

I have written articles on finance as well as health on Medium.  One article, “Some Misperceptions Regarding Vision – Our Sight Dilemma” has also been well received.   Although you need to be a member to read my articles on Medium, you can review my complete list at my site (rlaudon.medium.com). My passion for behavioral finance was a response to my negative experiences with two financial planners.   I realized that it was our responsibility to manage our own financial destiny.   I also became aware of the vast number of individuals who were struggling with similar problems, including my parents!  My mission has become to address this issue by helping others understand the basics of money management and investing.   I have been lecturing and writing on this topic for many decades.  Since 1987, I have been a member of the American Association of Individual Investors (AAII) and was the past President of the Boston/New England Chapter.  I also ran their Mutual Fund Special Interest Group for thirteen years. I am currently the treasurer for the New England Chapter and have been a Board member for over twenty years.  I was recently appointed to the AAII National’s Chapter Leader Executive Committee (CLEC).

What can you tell us about Vision Fund?

The creation of my grant was inspired by my interactions with students throughout my career at the New England College of Optometry (NECO).   Most students entering my clinical rotation were very skeptical of developmental/functional optometry and vision therapy.   After twelve weeks (maximum of two days a week), they began to realize its value in the realm of optometric care.   They even spoke of integrating this type of intervention into their own practices.   This reality was short lived due to their debt load and limited job opportunities after graduation.

My goal is to create an incentive for a graduating fourth year student to become involved in this area of optometry.   I also know that five thousand dollars is not the solution for their loan problems but hopefully it will help them reach their dream.

I had the honor to present with a grant D’Anne Harp with one of the two Vision Fund for 2024 while Dr Gary Etting acknowledged Leah Thompson, who was the second recipient.   In truth, we struggled to reach a five thousand-dollar matching grant from the COVD (now OVDRA, Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation Association) community.  I want to share with everyone my personal THANK YOU to Dr. Etting who made the second grant a possibility.

For 2025, I want to propose another challenge.   It will be called the Ten Dollar a Month – Personal Challenge.   Members can simply have ten dollars deducted from their favorite credit card account to fund the Vision Fund or any other fund sponsored by our COVD/OVDRA organization.  It is critical to support our younger generation of optometrists.  

To date, the Vision Fund has had five recipients and has distributed a total of twenty-five thousand dollars.

A note from the writer: to learn how to set up a reoccurring donation or what other funds are available visit https://www.covd.org/donations/. In one click and about three steps you can be on your way to accepting this challenge.
 
Any advice for students who may be thinking of attending the Annual Meeting
for the first time?  

I have attended my share of conferences during my career.  The COVD/OVDRA Annual meeting is a family affair.   Members leave their egos at home.  It is about sharing information and supporting colleagues regardless of their level of expertise.  During my career at NECO, I was often given only one conference choice per year. In the early part of my career, the Academy Annual Meeting was my preference. In the latter phase, the choice was always the COVD/OVDRA Annual Meeting. I have continued this tradition even in retirement. 

What can you tell us about your Networking Event, which was held at the
Conference?

Pat Pirotte and I have been sharing our personal views regarding practice management and money management at COVD/OVDRA conferences for decades.   As a workaholic, Pat has taught me the value of world experiences outside of my professional life.  I have given Pat better methods of dealing with financial decision-making, especially related to funding his retirement.  Ironically, this type of information is taboo in the realm of academic and/or continuing education programs. With the ongoing changes in our profession, we needed another voice.   Megan Kirkpatrick was that individual.   She is an inspiration for the younger generation of optometrists.   Megan, a mother of two young children, has a successful vision therapy – only practice, which allows her to be both independent and financially prosperous. There is obviously a delicate balance in managing our professional and personal responsibilities.   We hoped that by sharing our insights, participants could benefit from our different life experiences.  I had personally failed in achieving an appropriate work/life balance during my own career.  This program has inspired me to write an article, “Life’s Journey – From Beginning to End” which focuses on some of my personal regrets.   I am hoping to have this article published on my Medium site very soon. Our primary objective was to have an interactive rather than lecture-oriented program.  To reach this goal, we wanted participants from all stages of their optometric career.   In looking back, we are pleased to announce that we had 84 members of the COVD/OVDRA community in attendance. Hopefully, we can make this program an annual event.   In the final analysis, everyone can benefit from learning about the importance of finding the proper balance in dealing with their own work/life dilemma.

What are your thoughts when thinking back about attending the 2024 Annual
Meeting in San Francisco?  

It was a wonderful opportunity to listen to outstanding continuing education and learn about the trends within our profession.   There was also the presentation of cutting-edge research from the speakers as well as poster participants.   The Exhibition Hall gave me the chance to view the latest technology and innovations within our field.  It was also a chance to see members of the COVD/OVDRA community both old and new and establish better relationships.