what does it mean when a doc claims to have an "interest" in ocular surface disease?

[poppy]

Is an eye doctor who claims (via a web site etc) to have an interest in "corneal and ocular surface disease and surgery" and who also operates a corneal and external eye disease unit at a hospital, likely to be interested in helping patients manage dry eye?

Or are they only likely to be interested in a patient after their dry eye has been neglected for so long that the patient now requires surgery or is in danger of losing their vision etc?

[Rebecca Petris]

Is an eye doctor who claims... to have an interest in "corneal and ocular surface disease and surgery" and who also operates a corneal and external eye disease unit at a hospital, likely to be interested in helping patients manage dry eye?

Absolutely. Ocular surface disease = dry eye.

But the kicker is... what form their interest takes and what they have to offer (and whether they will be helpful to YOU) is more or less a crapshoot no matter what their website says unless you've got some real skinny on the doctor from insiders. I would never make any assumptions from their own claims. Anyone can hang a dry eye sign in their window regardless of their skill, knowledge or compassion. The proof's in the pudding.

[gz9gjg]

The term "have an interest in" may also mean they receive financial compensation for promoting it.