41% Still Will Make a Substantial Tech Investment This Year

question: Do you or don’t you plan on making a substantial investment in technology this year?

Yes: 41%

• Possibly… doing research to obtain an app for our business. — Kim Hilgers, Akre & Clark Eyecare, New Ulm, MN
• We’re expanding our office and going from two lanes to six. We’ve needed more space for a while and can support two full-time doctors now. We are getting new automated phoropters in all the lanes to improve efficiency, patient perception of the exam experience, and allow for physical distancing since that is likely here to stay for a while. — Amber Fritsch, OD, Precision Eye Care, Mt. Juliet, TN
• Purchased an Eaglet Scleral Profiler to expand my capabilities regarding difficult to fit contact lens patients. Looking at expanding dry eye treatments like LLLT (low-level light therapy). — Paul Pascarella, Pascarella Eye Care & Contact Lenses, Newtown, PA
• We may be starting in-house edging. It may solve some of the issues we are having with our current lab. — Pablo E Mercado, Optima Eye Care, Alpharetta, GA
• Topographer, new myopia management opportunities. — Deb Jaeger, Eye Center of the Dakotas, Bismarck, ND
• We’re in Massachusetts which FINALLY got the approval for ODs to treat glaucoma, so we’re looking into getting an OCT. — Christine Howard, Attleboro Vision Care, Attleboro, MA
• I am planning on adding a doctor. — Dorothy Reynolds, Eyes on Fairfield, Fairfield CT
• Telehealth capabilities. — Verbelee Nielsen-Swanson, Oxford Eyes, Orlando, FL
• Changing over to a new software system, our current one just isn’t a good fit for my business. — Paula Hornbeck, Eye Candy & Eye Candy Kids, Delafield, WI
• Already did! We have new edging equipment. — Angel Miller, Cynthiana Vision Center, Cynthiana, KY
• An OCT machine. — Rick Rickgauer, Vision Associates, Girard, PA
• Doctor purchased an OCT end of 2020. — Betty Aretz, The Eyecare Boutique, Wexford, PA
• Auto-refractors and an OCT upgrade. — Jen Heller, Pend Oreille Vision Care, Sandpoint, ID
• Lane equipment for new exam room and OCT. — Scott Keating, OD, Vision Trends, Dover, OH
• New computer system Mod Med with Flexsys Optical program. So much easier than our current one. Also remodeling our front office and optical department. — Miguel Rodriguez, Fava & Maria Eye Associates, Lebanon, PA
• Just brought new auto refractive equipment. — Danielle Doniver, Heritage Optical, Detroit, MI
• Updating computers. — Pam Peters, Midwest Eye, Downers Grove, IL
• New OCT… why not? — Richard Frankel, OD, Atlantic Cape Eyecare, Wildwood, NJ
• We try and make at least one purchase each year on some type of technology that will improve patient outcomes and satisfaction. — Mark Perry, OD, Vision Health Institute, Orlando, FL
• New Visual Field Technology, time to replace the 90’s version that still works. — Robert M. Easton Jr. OD, FAAO, Oakland Park, FL
• We really need to up our game. I am not a techy girl, so please feel free to advise me fellow Squadders! — Susan L Spencer, Council Eye Care, Williamsville, NY
• We plan to invest in an edger for same day or next day service. — Nikki Griffin, EyeStyles Optical, Nakdale, MN
• We are looking into moving to a new software for the business. — Jon Ducote, Reimbold Eye Group, Alpharetta, GA
• I just finished laying the foundation for a two room addition to my current office and then I plan to put in a digital refracting lane or potentially a new refracting system the tech can run easily. — Marc Ullman, OD, Academy Vision, Pine Beach, NJ

No: 59%

• Building the war chest for an office move in the next two years. — Kevin Count, Prentice Lab, Glenview, IL
• Have everything we need. — Jill Schnurer, Village Eyecare Co., Clarkston, MI
• After the pandemic you realize even a stable practice can get hit with a problem. I’m waiting to be sure everything stays stable for a while. — Cynthia Sayers, OD, EyeShop Optical Center, Lewis Center, OH
• We had a large investment in technology last year. It did seem risky to that in the midst of a pandemic. — Sonja Franklin, OD, Modern Eyes, Austin, TX
• Need to see how much the new administration is going to make us pay for their giveaway programs first. — Dave Goodrich, Goodrich Optical, Lansing, MI
• Playing it safe for a while. — Ann-Marie Weaver, Optimal Eye Care, Lewis Center, OH
• We don’t have the time to train and we’re old. No new tricks, please. — Jennifer Leuzzi, Mill Creek Optical, Dansville, NY
• We have plans to invest heavily in our bespoke frame making in office, but the big stuff won’t happen this year. Hopefully next year. — Travis LeFevre, Krystal Vision, Logan, UT
• Enough for the moment. — Steve Burek, Metro Eye, Milwaukee, WI
• Trying to rebound from COVID and am watching the budget much more closely this year. — Laura Miller, Northwest Hills Eye Care, Austin, TX
• Already have maximum tech for patient care. Probably a good time to keep your cash in the bank. Shaken uncertain times ahead, but it is what it is. — Texas L. Smith, OD, Dr. Texas L. Smith & Associates, Citrus Heights, CA
• There is so much stuff coming out right now relating to optics, I am waiting it out to see what sticks. Just like with the Transitions Style Colors, you guys can show me which colors are working. — David Greening, Astorino Eye Center, Newport Beach, CA
• We have already upgraded. — Melanie Jenkins, Spring Hill Eyecare, Spring Hill, TN
• We did that last year. — Don Stahl, Bixby Eye Center, Peoria, IL
• No toys I need… may find something though. — Douglas Holle, OD, Sunset Eye Care, San Angelo, TX
• I’m not sure that most of the technology out there nets big productivity gains, and often times, tech feels impersonal and only waters-down the service component of selling. We already have newer diagnostic equipment, and I just don’t dig the gimmicky dispensing stuff. — Becky Furuta, Avenue Vision, Golden, CO
• We are pretty much up-to-date with current technologies and trying to pay off some of the recent investments. — Sarah Montes, Hockemeyer Family Eye Care, New Haven, IN
• We’re good. Need to update for Spring. Direct emails to patient base currently. — Steve Whitaker, Whitaker Eye Works, Philadelphia, PA