"There Oughta Be a Gizmo/App For That…"

question:

“There oughta be a gizmo/app/device/invention for that”… What’s the most glaring eyecare/ eyewear task for which there is not a sufficiently effective or efficient tool?

• Putting screws in frames. — Richard Frankel, OD, Atlantic Cape Eyecare, Wildwood, NJ
• An app to eliminate No Shows. A device that would let me know that a patient will have a remake or not be able to adapt to progressive add lenses. — Texas Smith, OD, Dr. Texas Smith and Associates, Citrus Heights, CA
• A multi-lingual bot to find, access, authorize patient vision benefits, explain Covid-19 procedures and send email, texts and phone reminders to patients. — Diana Canto-Sims, Buena Vista Optical, Chicago, IL
• Repairs. — Bob Hillman, Fabulous Fanny’s, New York, NY
• A way to demonstrate the differences among progressive designs. Difficult to explain paying more for a premium free-form design over the big-box/online “I see just fine with” design. You don’t miss what you’ve never had. — David Goodrich, Goodrich Optical, Holt, MI
• Polishing demo lenses. Every time I hit the board I feel the carpal tunnel in my hand flair up! — Jessika Arena, The Eye Center, Asheville, NC
• Cleaning demo lenses! — Ann-Marie Weaver, Optimal Eye Care, Lewis Center, OH
• Technology for dying lenses is the exact same as it was 35 years ago when I started. I get a request for it every so often and cringe. — Jennifer Leuzzi, Mill Creek Optical, Dansville, NY
• A screwdriver that cannot, cannot, CANNOT slip. — Star Taylor, Richens Eye Center, St George, UT
• Something that vets serious customers versus the looky loos. — Steve Nelson, Eye Candy Optical, Westlake, OH
• An electric face mask that goes down when you talk and up when you listen, Bluetooth a plus but WIFI acceptable. — Ken Weiner, OD, Livingston, NJ
• I am an experienced optician and will tell you that locating the etching on digital/progressive lenses is getting more and more difficult. — Amie Robinson, Spring Hill Eyecare, Spring Hill, TN
• Patient compliance. Missing eyeglasses finder … do NOT steal this. — Chris Dudley, Lake Eye/Precision Optical, Wildwood, FL
• Soft contact lens identifier and power verifier. — Robert M Easton Jr. OD, FAAO, Oakland Park, FL
• We’re launching billionaires into space on a random Monday, and somehow no one can invent a slit lamp to accommodate larger chested ladies. — Blake Hutto, OD, Family Vision Care, Alma, GA
• A tool that helps put a screw in a spring hinge. We bought one … but can’t figure out how to use it. — Kathryn Collins, OD, Kissel Eye Care, Lititz, PA
• There is no truly perfect front of house computer system. They’re all either too clunky, too complicated or horribly looking. We need the iPad of POS systems. — Harris Decker, Eye Designs of Westchester, Scarsdale, NY
• Optical inventory tracking. — Bret Hunter, Sports Optical, Denver, CO
• Something to adjust “certain” brands of flexible metal frames. Also, bring back SmartSegs! — Angel Miller, Cynthiana Vision Center, Cynthiana, KY
• Lab integrated patient order tracking for patients. Jason Klepfisz, OD, Urban Eye Care, Phoenix, AZ
• Removing bushings from the prongs on drilled rimless frames. — David Saxton, Kern Optical, Gulfport, MS
• Patient paperwork … nothing electronic is great. VCP billing calculations, a simple consistent app that allows for insurance verification that is understandable to staff. — Zachary Dirks, OD, St. Peter and Belle Plaine Eyecare Centers, Saint Peter, MN
• Measuring the circumference of lenses! The pull to tighten ruler box thing is not the most accurate and it seems like there should be something better by now. — Tiffany Firer, Lifetime Eyecare, Jenison, MI
• Getting glass lenses out of sun frames! — Ann-Marie Weaver, Optimal Eye Care, Lewis Center, OH
• Spring hinges. All of the tools I’ve seen are too complicated to use. — Steve Burek, Metro Eye, Milwaukee, WI
• Putting top liner in a semi-rimless frame; there has got to be an easier way! — Frances Ann Layton, Eye Associates of South Georgia, Valdosta, GA
• Ultimate staff training tool. — Marc Ullman, OD, Academy Vision, Pine Beach, NJ
• Getting frames balanced on the face; right now there is lots of heating and maneuvering by the optician. — Sherry Morgan, Logan Eye Care, Lake Mary, FL
• A card that has all insurance information loaded on it, just scan that card and it all pulls up. You carry one card that contains all that. — Melanie Jenkins, Spring Hill Eyecare, Spring Hill, TN
• I seriously want a lanyard or retractable pocket clip for a pen, PD ruler, and markup pen — like an optical swiss army tool. Every time I need one its inevitably not in the desk I’m at and my co-workers make fun of my optical fanny pack. — Carissa Dunphy, Monroe Vision Clinic, Monroe, WA
• Getting a live view of trying on glasses without contacts. — Travis LeFevre, Krystal Vision, Logan, UT
• Near point testing at phoropter that isn’t a physical card but electronic. Most near point is phone, tablet, computer. Current testing looks outdated. — Elizabeth Atkinson, OD, Atkinson Eye Care, Algonquin, IL
• What will my husband/wife think of these predictor. — Bethany Cassar, Complete Eye Health, Holland, MI
• There oughta be a way to page the staff from the exam room that is effective and easy. — Alissa Irons, OD, BLINK, Albuquerque, NM
• Inline grooved rimless repair. — Rick Rickgauer, Vision Associates, Girard, PA
• Benefits acquisition tool. It’s a time-consuming task to verify vision and medical benefits. Often it has to be done on the phone, rather than online. — Douglas Holle, OD, Sunset Eye Care, San Angelo, TX