Celebrating Valentine's Day optometry style

Valentine’s Day-the universal holiday associated with love, chocolates, and sappy greeting cards.

Though people’s opinions about Valentine’s Day vary, we thought it would be fun to see how ODs plan to spend the day.

Related: Balancing work and home as an OD during the holidays

We checked in with our Editorial Advisory Board to see how they will be celebrating Valentine’s Day both in the office and at home.

Take a look!

Click here to see how ODs are celebrating Valentine's Day

Marta Fabrykowski, OD, FAAO

New York City

Optometry Times Editorial Advisory Board member

Favorite tradition:

My husband and I say what we are each thankful for!

In the office:

We approach each patient with love (while wearing pink or red, including the technicians who have festive scrubs).

Related: 6 things that drive ODs crazy during the holidays

Whitney Hauser, OD

Memphis

My favorite Valentine’s Day tradition was waking up in the morning to see the treats that my dad put at my spot at the kitchen table. I do the same thing for my three kids now. My dad will always be my only Valentine.

In the office, nothing says V-Day like staff meeting!

Related: 13 holiday dos and don’ts for ODs

Melanie Denton, OD

Salisbury, NC

Optometry Times Editorial Advisory Board member

In the office, I get a few dozen roses and hand them out to our patients. I like to think we save a few men from forgetting about the day! But seriously, it brings a smile to everyone’s face. 

Alan Glazier, OD, FAAO

Rockville, MD

Optometry Times Editorial Advisory Board member

Favorite tradition:

Price-fixed fancy dinners 

In the office:

Getting a bunch of flowers for the staff

Related: 10 holiday dos and don’ts for ODs in 2017

Diana Canto-Sims, OD

Chicago

Optometry Times Editorial Advisory Board member

In the office, Valentine’s Day is super special for us. We opened cold…and literally cold on a snowy Valentine’s Day in 2005.

Every year we chose 10 to 20 of our favorite patients and send them chocolates or candy with a handmade and handwritten note telling them how much we appreciate and love that fact that they trust in with their vision. This year we are gifting champagne gummy bears.

We make a display with our pink and red frames with Valentine décor and offer gift cards as options for Valentine gifts.

This year we are raffling heart-shaped sunglasses to the patients who check in on our social media. We will give a raffle ticket when they comment on a specific video or give us a spectacular review.

Barbara Fluder, OD

Merrillville, IN

Optometry Times Editorial Advisory Board member

Favorite tradition: Wearing purple and red to work along with a scarf with hearts on it.

We don’t do anything in the office for Valentine’s Day.

Related: 15 things that drive ODs crazy during the holidays

Dori Carlson, OD

Grafton, ND

Optometry Times Editorial Advisory Board member

Every Valentine’s Day I make heart-shaped waffles for breakfast for my boys. My youngest is a senior this year, so I may have to just make them for my husband next year. 

Ben Casella, OD, FAAO

Augusta, GA

Optometry Times Chief Optometric Editor

Favorite tradition:

Sitting across the table from my bride and best friend (same person, of course) at dinner.

In the office, I’ll celebrate hopefully by seeing patients.

Related: Create brand loyalty through holiday awesomeness

Richard Frankel, OD

Somerset, NJ

For the office this year, we will make a donation to the American Heart Association for each patient seen on Valentine’s Day.

Take a look at how ODs celebrated Valentine's Day last year here