Physician Referrals

To my fellow eye care doctors,

We know patients receive the best eye care when doctors work together and contribute their expertise. That’s why I’m writing to affirm our commitment to the principles, values and patient co-management practices established by our founder, Dr. John Snead.

That’s why we want to make our values and commitments to referring doctors clear:

• The optometrist is the patient’s primary eye care doctor: We recognize and respect the ongoing relationship with optometrists and their patients. The optometrist’s role in diagnosis, management and long-term care is central to their eye health. We review and respond to all materials sent by optometrists. Our team evaluates the optometrist’s reason for the referral as well as any diagnosis and findings. Then, we confirm how we’re moving forward with the patient.
• We focus on surgical intervention: Our responsibility is to deliver specialized surgical care, such as cataract surgery. After the procedure, we return the patient to the optometrist’s care for follow-up and continued management.
• Our patient co-management practice: Post-surgical examination and care are best provided by the patient’s primary eye doctor. After the procedure, we return the patient to their optometrist’s care for follow-up and continued management. This co-management model is a cornerstone of how we practice, and it’s a core value passed down from our founder.

We recognize and appreciate the work that optometrists do in identifying issues, guiding patients through their care and referring them to an ophthalmologist when surgical intervention becomes necessary.

Future & Further Commitment to the Practice of Optometry

We’re proud to support Snead Eye Group’s own Dr. Nate Etten as he begins his role as president of the Florida Optometric Association. His leadership at the state level reflects our ongoing dedication to advancing the field of optometry and strengthening our partnerships with referring doctors.

As part of this commitment, Snead Eye Group will provide additional resources to the F.O.A. to help support optometrists across Florida in delivering exceptional patient care.

We value your trust and take seriously the responsibility of caring for the patients you refer to us.

Sincerely,
Brad Snead
Medical Director, Board-Certified Ophthalmologist