of manpower and funds has prevented their adoption in all communities. In many instances, optometric societies have spearheaded such projects, and have volunteered the services of their members. Most optometric societies will assist in any good vision program that provides general benefit to the aged.

RESEARCH

Basic research into new methods and techniques in vision care for the aging is at an all-time high. Many public and private organizations are conducting projects or clinical studies to improve and retain the vision of our most valuable generation

citizens.

our senior

For the past several years, The American Optometric Foundation has sponsored research fellowships in major colleges of optometry. It has been estimated that at least 30 per cent of the Foundation's research has been directly related to the study of vision of the aging patient. Among the projects of major importance now under way is an investigation of motorists' vision, part of which is devoted to the problem of night vision of the aged driver.

The American Academy of Optometry has also been quite active. Each year it conducts a program devoted to encouraging the presentation of research papers by practicing optometrists and faculty members of optometric colleges.

In a recent program, over 20 per cent of the papers presented related to vision care of the aging patient. Subjects of research were varied, ranging from a longitudinal study of refractive changes with age, to a discussion of special refractive techniques for decreased vision problems in the aged.

The National Health Institute has issued grants to some optometry schools in order to further research. As in most other professional fields, the big problem still remains - attracting sufficient numbers of well-trained persons to conduct studies in the field of aging. This is not an easy task, and is greatly dependent on our newly awakened public interest. The stimulation of additional funds for use by qualified teams of researchers in optometric colleges is a big step.

Each new year brings great strides of accomplishment and new hope to the aging, thanks to research in vision. Past research has given optometry a fruitful beginning into understanding the prob lems of vision; current research will serve as the road to complete understanding. Gratefully, the aging person may look forward to several more decades of productive, "seeing", alert years - all because of the vision progress being made through research.

SUMMARY

America has entered into a new phase of social development. Greater life expectancy and a rapidly increasing older population has created new problems, more challenges, far greater potential for national growth and development.

Since 1900 the number of men and women over 65 has increased 41⁄2 times, while our total population has little better than doubled. Approximately 1 out of every 12 people are over 65, a total of about 15 million. By 1975, it is estimated the total will reach 21 million people. Another 40 million men and women are between the ages of 45 and 65. This means that almost 50 per cent of our population is over 40.

Our country's great strength lies in our aging and aged. Here lies a vast and growing reservoir of energy and experience. Harness this power through unhandicapped vision .... give it expression, dignity and independence, and it becomes an asset. Allow it to degenerate, vegetate and become dependent, and it becomes a liability.

Our age of mechanization and automation has afforded a rise in our standard of living, but it has also increased the amount of leisure. Work has become more specialized requiring greater visual efficiency, leisure time has become broader, requiring better visual acuity for true enjoyment. The frequency of retirement has increased, while age of retirement has decreased, requiring adequate visual acuity to keep the older person occupied. With these newfound "leisures", many older people are making use of their freedom from family and work responsibility. But many find themselves having the desire, but being hampered by visual defects. The un

fortunate part of it all, is that this is a period of life when the person has the experience, knowledge and desire to enjoy life to the utmost, and offer more to humanity.

Perhaps one of the most tragic aspects of old age is feeling dependent, lacking a sense of self-sufficiency, feeling as though not wanted. Much of this lack of confidence is the psychological results of physical handicaps, often those in the vision category. Through research and development, optometry has surged forward to find new ways and means to keep the visual facilities comfortably active longer. Optometrists discovered long ago that they must prescribe not only for the task but also for the mode of life. This is being done more and more in order to aid the senior citizen. Bifocals, multifocals, coated lenses, light and environment studies, hardened lenses, microscopic lenses and contact lenses, among other optical aids, are serving to prolong the "seeing" life of the aging person.

There is much more to be learned ... much more that the senior citizen of tomorrow can look forward to and see than those of today. But the effort is a worthy and compensating one, because in the senior citizen, you have humanity at its highest level of mature judgement.

In "Federal Responsibilities in the Field of Aging", President Dwight D. Eisenhower said:

"In considering the changed circumstances presented by lengthening the life span, we must recognize older persons as individuals not a class and their wide differences in needs, desires, and capacities. The great majority of older persons are capable of continuing their self-sufficiency and usefulness to the community if given the opportunity. Our task is to help in assuring that these opportunities are provided."

Vision is the precious sense that stimulates opportunities, and fulfills them after they have been established. We are looking forward to even a better life for the senior citizen through improved vision.

YOUR OPPORTUNITY AS A LADY O.D.1

It was hard to believe it seemed impossible that such a complete change could be accomplished with such dramatic suddenness. But it happened just that way, before your eyes—and his.

As a woman optometrist-a "Lady O.D."-it is only natural that many of your patients are youngsters, with seeing problems much the same as those of adults, except that they take a little more understanding, patience, and a softer approach.

This young man of 9 was brought to you by his parents because of some troubles he'd been having. His high intelligence and his mediocre grades in school didn't match up. He was backward in sports, although he tried hard. He was shy and had few playmates. He frequently bruised himself by running into things-accidents which always seemed to occur in strange, poorly lighted places.

The school nurse suggested that his parents bring him to you. Upon examination, you found his problem was not seeing properly, a serious problem if left alone, but one easily corrected with professional care.

You recommended. The parents consented. The wheels turned. A few days later you put a couple of small pieces of optical glass before his eyes, and the transformation took place. His eyes lighted up behind those bits of glass like the bright and shiny Christmas tree that he would see clearly this year for the first time.

All this, because you are a woman optometrist who works with sight, the most precious of all senses. You are trained to practice the scientific miracle of helping people see the things that are around them. This is your chosen profession. It has been rewarding-has given you the satisfaction of serving fellow men.

Before you became a Lady O.D. and hung up your license, you had many decisions to make. You wanted a career where a woman's opportunity would be on par with a man's; you found this in optometry. If you were to enter a profession, you wanted one in which its members and the public accepted the woman: you found optometrists actually were inviting more women to join their profession. You wanted a profession where many women are already making their way, one affording specialties or areas of work particularly opportune to a woman and in which she can be as equally adept as men. In optometry you found that you could.

It's thrilling to practice optometry in your own office and build your own professional identity. The opportunity to work in a consulting and advisory capacity with psychologists, regular and special teachers, and guidance clinics offers a constant challenge. There is particular excitement in rendering the optometrist's unique service to a child with learning problems.

Such a career was chosen by the Lady O.D., Dr. Anita Eberl of Milwaukee, Wis., who says: "There are few professions in which women are accepted on a par with men, and still fewer in which a woman can be absolutely independent. For me, optometry has met these goals."

Establish your own practice. Or, join others in an already established practice.

Many young optometric graduates wish to join other professionals in an established practice. Opportunities exist in this direction for the Lady O.D. Across the country, successful practitioners are reaching out for young optometrists to join them, preparing in many cases for successors in the years of retirement. Another outlet for the young lady professional is an entry into a growing realm of activity-group practice. She might join other optometrists to serve the public from a single group of offices, or join with other health service practitioners in a clinical setting to treat many physical problems.

Or, specialize in vision care for children.

Optometrist like her father and proud of her professional heritage is Dr. Ruth Winkler. This Lady O.D. of Tulsa, Okla., says her life assumes great importance when she works with "young eyes that need visual help and visual training." Among outstanding child specialists is Dr. Lois B. Bing, consulting optometrist for public schools in Euclid, Ohio. “Working with children has been a goal of mine since early life. It provides a real satisfaction, for, through vision tests and care given each day to schoolchildren, I know I am helping many youngsters

1 Doctor of optometry-profession with a future for women.