Alumni Focus on Robert Dittoe (OD'80)

DR. DITTOE'S STORY

Hometown

I grew up in Somerset, Ohio—a tight-knit Perry County village of about 1,200 people where our family had deep roots and everybody knew your name.

As a kid, I used to get my hair cut at a barbershop on the town square. One day, the only policeman we had came into the shop and told me I was going to be late for my grade-school basketball game if I didn't hurry up. He waited for me to get finished and then drove me to school in the police car so I could play. It was that kind of town.

Somerset is famous for being the hometown of Civil War General Philip H. Sheridan, but I just remember it as a nice little town where not much happened.

Education

I attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where I majored in Chemistry and Zoology. After three years of undergraduate work, I was granted early acceptance to the College of Optometry and graduated in 1980.

Several instructors at the College had a significant influence on me, both in the classroom and in the clinic. Dr. Mike Polasky made learning the art of refracting fun and interesting. As a contact lens wearer myself, I especially enjoyed my clinic time with Dr. Joe Barr. Dr. Greg Good was very personable and always willing to help. And Drs. Arol Augsburger and Kevin Alexander taught me a great deal about the medical aspects of eye care.

DR. DITTOE'S CAREER IN OPTOMETRY

Career and Practice

As graduation approached, I contacted both optometrists practicing in nearby New Lexington, the county seat and the city where my dad owned a lumberyard. I asked each one about potential job opportunities, but neither doctor was interested in hiring me or selling their practice. But visiting their offices made me realize that the local standard of care didn't quite match the advanced clinical environment I had experienced at the College. I decided to start my own practice in New Lexington and bring modern medical eye care to the community. 

I started with one employee. She answered the phone, made appointments, and handled the finances while I did everything else. Within two years, I had hired more staff and built my own office. Over the years, I expanded the building twice to accommodate our growth. By the time I retired in 2020, the practice included two associate optometrists and eight full-time staff members. To this day, it is the only optometry clinic in Perry County. 

Because I practiced in a rural setting, I became "the eye doctor" for the area, which meant my days were rarely limited to routine vision examinations. I saw a wide variety of pathology—everything from acute infections and red eyes to emergency care for eye injuries. That variety was one of the things that made practicing there so interesting. 

I was usually the first to arrive and the last to leave, but the key to keeping things running smoothly was having a team I could trust. I served on the advisory board for the Opticianry Program at the New Lexington branch of Hocking College. That connection helped me hire skilled graduates with strong backgrounds in optics and dispensing, many of whom I trained to become optometric technicians. 

I had a “dream team” of opticians, technicians, and front-desk staff members. They were exceptionally good at what they did, and I never had to worry about how our patients were being helped. Their work allowed me to concentrate on what I had been trained to do. 

Of course, clinical work was only part of the job. I used to joke that being in the exam room was like being on vacation. The tougher part was dealing with HR issues and sometimes being a part-time psychologist, friend, referee, and hand-holder for my staff and patients. But it was all good. 

Outside the office, I looked for ways to support the community through civic organizations, local business associations, and charity events in Perry County.

Which optometric issues concern you the most?

One concern I have is that, as the profession becomes increasingly dependent on technology and efficiency, we don’t lose sight of why the patient is in the exam chair. Not only do we need to be sure their eyes are healthy, but we must also consider each patient’s individual visual needs. It is our responsibility to educate them about what is available to make their lives at work and at home more comfortable. 

The way to do that is by getting to know your patients. 

In my practice, after my technician completed the pre-testing and patient history, she would meet with me in my private office to review her findings. I would enter some of the information into the record and make any necessary changes at the end of the exam. That allowed me to spend more time in the exam room talking face-to-face with the patient and less time with my back turned toward a computer. Those were important conversations. 

Getting to know your patients also builds trust, and that trust is important to the success of a practice. Optometry is certainly a profession, but it is also a business. A successful practice needs both a healthy optical and a well-trained staff. When patients trust you, they support your optical, and that allows you to hire, train, and retain good people. 

For me, it always came back to relationships. My philosophy with my staff and associate doctors was always simple: patients first, staff second, doctors third.

Why did you choose a career in optometry?

Science and math always interested me, and my high school chemistry teacher suggested that optometry might be a good fit. I needed glasses just before starting high school, and I found them to be a real burden while playing sports. Getting my first contact lenses—PMMA lenses in 1968—was a real game-changer for me and made me think about optometry as a career. 

I also worked at my dad's lumberyard from the time I was in grade school through college. It was a great experience. I learned a lot about lumber, hardware, plumbing, and home building, along with a little bit about running a business. Those lessons served me well later when I owned my own practice. 

Working for my dad taught me one other very important lesson: I knew I didn't want to work in a lumberyard for the rest of my life!

What is one piece of advice you can give to fourth-year optometry students as they prepare to graduate and begin their optometric careers?

Consider practicing in a small town. There is a real need for good optometric care in many rural areas, and the people will appreciate having you there. Work to earn the trust of your patients and get involved in the community. 

I would also encourage new graduates to practice to the full extent of their training. I practiced full-scope optometry and developed excellent relationships with ophthalmologists in neighboring communities. I referred patients when specialty or surgical care was needed, and they returned to our practice for their ongoing care. 

So my advice would be: Find a community that needs you, become part of it, and practice to the fullest extent of your licensure.

What do eye health and eye care mean to you?

To me, eye health and eye care are related, but they aren't quite the same thing. Eye health means thoroughly examining patients for ocular disease as well as signs of systemic disease that may be detected through an eye examination. Eye care goes a step further. It means looking beyond eye health and considering the patient’s visual needs at work, at home, and in everyday life. 

For example, I discussed prescription sunglasses with virtually every patient I saw. I explained the benefits and told them, "If you get them and don't like them, bring them back and we'll give you your money back." In more than 40 years, I never had anyone ask for a refund.

DR. DITTOE'S OHIO STATE EXPERIENCE

What were your most memorable moments at Ohio State?

Not surprisingly, many of my most memorable moments at Ohio State happened outside the classroom. A lot of them involved sports and the friendships that went along with them. 

For those of us new to life on campus, it didn’t take long to get bitten by the bug that is Ohio State football. The rest of the world seemed to cease to exist on Saturdays in the fall as we got revved up for a game in the ‘Shoe. We spent most of the morning dodging traffic on Ninth and Highland as we played football in the street. Our class must have been an afterthought when it came to tickets because our seats were folding chairs on pallets right behind the team. We got to see Woody’s sideline antics up close and personal. After the game, the march to the south campus bars was on. My favorite was the Bier Stube—sticky floors and all. RIP. 

One year, some friends and I slept outside near St. John Arena so we could be first in line for basketball tickets. We woke up the next morning absolutely freezing and covered with frost. It seemed like a good idea at the time. 

The AOSA golf tournament was always a fun event, and I was part of a team from our class that won the all-campus basketball tournament one year. Along the way, we beat a team made up largely of then-current Ohio State football players. 

And, of course, there were plenty of weekends spent on High Street, at 400 King Avenue, or at the E Psi E fraternity house. 

Looking back, what I remember most isn't a single event. It's the friendships, camaraderie, and experiences I had at Ohio State.

What do Ohio State and the College of Optometry mean to you and your family?

Ohio State and the College of Optometry gave me far more than an education. They provided the foundation for a profession that I enjoyed and found rewarding for more than four decades. What I learned there and the relationships I formed helped shape my career. 

My family has shared in that journey and understands how much Ohio State means to me. Supporting future students through this endowment is simply one way of giving back to an institution that has given so much to me.

How do you stay connected to the College of Optometry?

I enjoy reading the College's quarterly magazine. It keeps me connected to what is happening at the College and to the people who have been part of it over the years. I also enjoy attending optometry alumni gatherings and reconnecting with former classmates. 

I missed our 45th reunion last year, but I had a pretty good excuse—my wife, Cynthia, and I were on an Ohio State alumni trip to Croatia. We'll be back on campus this year for the Alumni Weekend tailgate and football game. 

We’ve also tried to support the College when opportunities arose. Many years ago, we participated in the "Raise the Roof" campaign to help expand the College's facilities. One of the examination rooms used to train students bears our names, and it means a great deal to us knowing that future optometrists are learning their profession there. 

Now, through this endowment, we're fortunate to have another opportunity to stay connected by supporting the next generation of Ohio State optometrists.

DR. DITTOE'S FUN FACTS

What are your current hobbies, volunteer work and interests?

Golf has always been a big part of my life. I was a member of Lancaster Country Club for more than 40 years, so when we moved to Dublin after I retired, I needed to find some new places to play. I was fortunate to find Kinsale and Scioto Reserve Country Clubs, where I now play two or three times a week with a group of other retired guys. We have a lot of fun, and it's been a great way to get outside, stay active, and meet new people. 

On days when I don’t play golf, I typically walk four to five miles. We’re fortunate to have 29 miles of walking paths in Muirfield Village, many of which wind through really beautiful wooded areas. 

Volunteer work is important to me as well. I'm a regular volunteer at the Dublin Food Pantry and participate in many service projects through the Knights of Columbus at St. Brigid of Kildare Catholic Church in Dublin. I’ve also volunteered at The Memorial Tournament every year since we moved here in 2021, and there’s never a dull moment being president of our HOA.

What is a fun, random fact about you?

I've had some pretty memorable experiences over the years. At the 25th Anniversary Vision Source meeting in San Antonio in 2016, the grand prize was a new Mustang GT. I changed our flight home so we could stay for the prize drawings. I jokingly told Cynthia, “Maybe I'll win that car.” I did. 

We also enjoy going to concerts and feel fortunate that many of the performers we grew up listening to are still around. At an Elton John concert in Las Vegas, we had the opportunity to be on stage while he performed "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting." In the middle of the song, I was standing right next to him when he turned toward me. Without really thinking about it, I stuck out my hand and he high-fived me.

What's the best eye pun you've ever heard?

I used to have a great eye joke, but I just couldn't focus on it.

If not an optometrist, I would be...

Maybe an anesthesiologist. After more than 40 years in practice, I sometimes thought it might be easier to deal with unconscious patients than those who refused to have their pupils dilated!