Don Getz, O.D.

Don Getz was a class act... a consummate vision therapist and a very engaging presenter and master of ceremonies, who intentionally incorporated humor with an acute sense of timing...

He was a showman...

Whether in the clinic or presenting on stage.

He was so smooth and practiced that he made his routines appear totally natural and effortless...

Like he was always having as much fun as he was serving up for us...

But he was in full control of the journey he was taking us on.

He was a benevolent monarch.

When I externed in his office, he put me up in his guest house behind the pool...

When he was home, he would listen to comedy for hours to develop ideas he could use in his presentations...

And when he was off on a speaking engagement, he loaned me his silver Mercedes!

I got to drive Ventura Highway in the sunshine...

Of course, while singing the eponymous song.

Working in his office was doubly fascinating.

He was well known for his writings and lectures on rehabilitation of strabismus and amblyopia...

His book Strabismus and Amblyopia was part of the Introduction to Behavioral Optometry curriculum along with my father's book on Vision Therapy, both published by the Optometric Extension Program, the largest post-graduate continuing education program in the profession, started by A.M. Skeffington, and headed by my father following Skeff's passing.

He was equally known for his interests in nutrition, learning abilities, myopia and sports performance.

In his office, I learned that a professional athlete could miss otherwise easy plays when off balance, due to suppression of vision in one eye that would not show up on testing in a seated or balanced standing posture...

Vision is dynamic.

Don he was also known to take care of the eyes of many stars in his Van Nuys office, not far from Hollywood...

On many days, there were patients in the VT room with his therapist Laura McGraw, who were considerably more famous than the doctor...

Don was also amazingly gracious in allowing me free reign in his business office, so I could type up articles and reports as I was serving as President of the American Optometric Student Association at the time of my Externship there...

I also owe him my introduction to a healthy drink at the bar: Campari and Soda...