Every year at this time, I write to invite you to the upcoming Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS) (Jan. 22-25, 2020; www.gslsymposium.com). I am not sure that it does much good, however, as many of you bypass it anyway. In reality, with our readership as high as it is, most of you skim over this section, as you have already made up your mind as to whether or not you will attend. I am sorry, but I must attempt to convince you to attend.
The GSLS meeting is a major highlight of my year. It sets the stage and gets me prepared for what is to come. I get to hear about the latest and greatest things happening in terms of technology from our industry partners. Additionally, no meeting that I have ever attended does its vendor time like GSLS. Rather than forcing you into a time with a company that you would never dream of using, GSLS creates an atmosphere for vendors and attendees to verbally “partner” and to discuss how they can benefit our patients. I don’t feel the tug from the vendors. Rather, it seems that the vendors are legitimately looking for ways to partner with me and see whether their services or products might be helpful for what I am trying to accomplish. Should we decide to move forward with their help, a special relationship is established that seems mutual.
The education is also global. Attendees get to hear about experiences from around the world. Sure, there are things said from the podium that do not apply to me, but it is still interesting to hear how others are practicing. Other times, the words said relate to a patient I had seen the day before. The experience of being there is incredibly inspiring.
Most of all, I love being in a large room with people who are trying to accomplish the same thing as me—the use of a custom piece of plastic to completely alter patients’ lives. When we get together and share, reflect, and commiserate, a special bond is established. I realize that I do not know it all, I understand that there is an elusive better way of doing things, and I get to interact with a group of people who will always get together in January, share what they have learned, and help to make me better.
READ MORE: https://www.clspectrum.com/newsletters/contact-lenses-today/december-15,-2019
