The intersection of technology and healthcare has birthed essential tools such as virtual try-on which allows patients to try glasses before ordering them. Patients can also use eye-specific websites to research options and products. Lens manufacturing companies, like HOYA and Signet, and labs like Walman, often provide digital dispensing tools to encourage patients to buy their products.
One recent startup, introwellness.com, which launched in September, uses videos to illustrate eye health. It films, edits and posts original content online. The site gets on average 8,200 page views a month. ThinkAboutYourEyes.com is another site that raises public awareness on the importance of annual eye exams and it lists over 18,000 eyecare professionals on its doctor locator. Today’s patients are more informed about their eyes and will often first search online for advice about their symptoms and recommended remedies. So, if you’re not already leveraging technology as a sales tool in your practice, perhaps you should.
1. Spectangle, HOYA Vision Care, (972) 221-4141, hoyavision.com
2. Patient education pamphlets, American Optometric Association, (800) 365-2219, aoa.org
3. Introwellness.com, Introwellness, introwellness.com
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4. OWIZ Street, Fitting Box, (646) 982-1135, fittingbox.com
5. SpecTech, Walman Optical, (612) 520-6058, walmanoptical.com
6. Interactive educational software, Rendia (formerly Eyemaginations), (877) 321-5481, get.rendia.com
7. KODAK Lens ids, Signet Armorlite, (800) 759-4630, signetarmorlite.com
Melanie Jenkins
Spring Hill Eyecare, Spring Hill, TN
Our doctor devised a lens menu that shows different types of lenses, coatings and progressives and he initially goes over these options in the patient lane. The optician then fills the RX. This lens menu goes home with the patient so they can consult it throughout the process. Our doctor also uses interactive educational software called Rendia to demonstrate different eye diseases. In the optical, we’ve been using SpecTech by Walman on the iPad for three years. This shows the patient different lens thicknesses and lens materials, scratch-resistance and blue light protection and it can compare multifocal lenses. With SpecTech we take pictures of patients trying on frames. They can then put their glasses back on to see the pictures. We also do our measurements on SpecTech. We have fewer remakes this way.
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Dr. Ryan Corte
Modern Eye Care, Concord and Salisbury, NC
I think the most effective tools are those that are delivered at a level the patient understands. Eyecare professionals can’t assume patients are educated about their eye health so they need to keep things basic. Most patients can’t tell the difference between one type of progressive to another or one lined bifocal to the next. Comprehension drives compliance and compliance drives loyalty to the practice. Doctors can connect with their patients so as to build revenue for their practice. At the point of care, there are good resources available. ODs can give their patients pamphlets or printouts or even show them a quick video about glaucoma. You can tell a patient something in the office but when they get home they may be perplexed about what you said. We provide tools that people can reference at home, for example, they can check out www.introwellness.com and allaboutvision.com.
This article originally appeared in the April 2017 edition of INVISION.
