Dr. Krista Bruni has been an optometrist for 11 years

 

By David Goldberg

 

When Dr. Krista Bruni got into optometry, she knew it would be a rewarding career.

But, what she didn’t foresee is the profound effect her skills as an eyecare professional would have on one patient in particular.

When Bruni was just a child, she had her heart set on becoming a veterinarian. She still loves animals, but some soul searching revealed that it might not be the best fit for a professional career and she decided to try something different.

“I shadowed a local optometrist and knew that this was something I would love to do. It has been 11 years now and I haven’t looked back,” recalls Bruni.

She graduated from the Michigan School of Optometry in 2010. Now she’s an independent optometrist at Sault Optometry Clinic in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont, and loves every minute of it. 

“With the variety of patients I get to see every day, no day is ever the same in regards to patient demographics and ocular status.”

But one particular patient in need will stick with her forever. 

“Recently, I had a family who had just arrived as refugees. The teenage boy had never had his eyes checked and his father noted he tended to be shy and withdrawn. He had a significant prescription and when he put on his glasses for the first time, his whole face lit up. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to make such a positive impact on patients in meaningful ways on a daily basis.”

The majority of Bruni’s patients are seniors, so she deals with a lot of macular degeneration and glaucoma.

“Helping these patients see their best and navigate life with decreased vision always has an impact on my patients and brings me happiness knowing I am helping them in a very real way.”

And if Bruni has any advice for up and coming optometrists, it’s this:  “Always be ready to learn new things…that’s why they call it practice!”

Plus, Bruni credits her success to her amazing support group of colleagues across Ontario.

“The support from a community of doctors who are practicing in the same jurisdiction with the same obstacles is a great resource to tap into. No matter what difficulty I may be having with general office questions, patients or insurance, there’s always someone available with an answer.”