By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
CALEDONIA—Dr. Annette Delio, an optometrist based out of Caledonia, has retired following a 42-year career helping her patients with issues large and small.
Dr. Delio was the third in her family to practice optometry following her father and grandmother. But at 18, she had a very different goal in mind: “I wanted to be a horse trainer so I spent two years studying equestrian science at a small school in Missouri.”
It wasn’t long before she shifted courses, entering the family profession, earning an Associate of Science degree and moving to Houston, Texas where she ran the contact lens department for the School of Optometry during the mid-1980s.
During that time, her father visited and was so impressed with her skills that he asked her to run his office, leading her to return to school for her Doctor of Optometry degree in 1988. She eventually moved to Canada in 1995 when she married her husband.
“I wanted a career where I could help people,” said Dr. Delio. “I like people, all people! My patients have truly been the highlight of my career. My father always said that the hardest part of retirement was not seeing the people, some of whom he had cared for their families for generations. I agree! I will miss talking with all of them.”
The field of optometry, like many other medical professions, has changed dramatically over the years as technological advancements have grown in leaps and bounds. Dr. Delio reflected, “The profession as a whole has seen more technology and more responsibility, which is good. We are trained to handle eye diseases and recognize systemic diseases often before they become symptomatic.”
Dr. Delio
She shared her thoughts on the ongoing underfunding issues optometrists have faced in Ontario, which led to a recent job action that saw optometrists across Ontario refuse to perform OHIP-funded services.
“The government still does not respect what we do,” said Dr. Delio. “The government settled the job action as they do everything – starve the system and they will be grateful for the scraps we give them. You only need to look at education and healthcare as a whole to see daily examples of this. The other big challenge is the commercialization of the profession. Optical retailers from other countries coming in and pushing cheap low quality eye wear while they force their doctors to give quick, limited examinations.”
Despite the ongoing struggles facing the profession, she looks back on her career very fondly, encouraging the next generation of optometrists to carry the torch: “It is a wonderful profession where you get to make a meaningful impact in people’s lives. Just recently, two of my young staff have told me that they plan to pursue Optometry school. I hope they both succeed as they are bright young minds that would be an asset to the profession.”
She shared the philosophy that carried her through a successful career, “I always tried to provide good value … (and) always with an emphasis on health first…. In my practice the patient was first, then the staff, with my own needs last. That is the way my father was and I guess I inherited my attitudes from him.”
On some of the most rewarding moments of her career, she reflected, “There was the patient who had seen double for literally years after a head trauma and no one had tried to help her – I was able to make it so she didn’t see double anymore…. Several cases where I diagnosed brain tumours and probably saved a patient’s life. Those kinds of out-of-the-ordinary cases where you know what you do is worth it. The little things, too, though. Being a child’s first eye doctor, seeing them walk in scared and leave like they own the place.”
Dr. Delio is not planning on simply kicking her feet up in retirement, noting, “I will likely volunteer in the community. The problem will be deciding what of the many causes I am passionate about to put my time into. That is once I adapt to retired life. My husband assures me he can teach me to sit still.”
She plans to fill the rest of her time pursuing her passions, including reading, gardening, and travelling, and most importantly, spending time with her husband “living our best lives.”
Dr. Delio has been succeeded by Dr. Rob Struk, who brings 20 years of experience with him to the practice.
“I am confident you will find him to be a congenial and capable doctor,” said Dr. Delio.
She left with some parting words for the community, whom she has served loyally for so long, “Thank you for supporting me for so many years. It has truly been a privilege. I feel very fortunate that I could do a job that I love for so many years.”
