Review of Optometic Business

Some 52.1 percent of ODs have an account or profile on Facebook while 21 percent have an account on LinkedIn, according to Jobson Optical Research's Internet Usage Study. Some 11.1 percent have a page on MySpace; 11.3 percent have a Twitter account; 12 percent have a SightNation profile; 1.6 percent have a Foursquare account while 5.7 percent have a profile on Yelp. Another 14.5 percent have no profile or account on any social network and 0.5 percent have an account on an "other" social network not listed on the survey.

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Asked how they motivate staff, 57 percent said they use a combination of strategies including monetary bonuses, yearly merit-based salary increases, gift cards and other rewards, non-monetary recognition and employee discounts on products and complimentary eyecare. Twenty-nine percent rely on monetary bonuses; 7 percent rely on gift cards and other rewards while another 7 percent depend on non-monetary recognition such as acknowledgement by the doctor at staff meetings. Continue reading >>

What is your main competitive advantage to patients?

1. Cost of services and products?

2. Level of care in exam room and in optical?

3. Well-educated, efficient, patient-friendly staff?

4. Wide range of eyewear styles?

5. Generous warranty policy on eyewear and ability to return unopened boxes of contact lenses?

The average TOTAL compensation reported for employed OPTOMETRISTS was $103,924, according to the 2011 ECP Compensation Study conducted by Local Eye Site in conjunction with Jobson Optical Research. The average total compensation of optometrists who are owner/partners for 2010 was reported as $146,631.

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Asked how often they change their optical merchandising displays, 33 percent of ROB readers said they change the displays once a month. Twenty-eight percent change these merchandising materials once every three months while 22 percent said they have no system for changing optical merchandising displays and don't keep track of how often they happen to switch out these materials. Six percent change the displays every two weeks while another six percent change the displays every six months. Yet Continue reading >>

How do you motivate  staff?

Monetary bonuses

Yearly merit-based salary increases

Gift cards and other rewards for specific achievements

Non-monetary recognition such as acknowledge by doctor at staff meeting

Quality work environment including perks like ability for flexible schedule

Employee discount on products and complementary eyecare

Asked about their 2012 new instrumentation wish list, 35 percent of ROB readers said a retinal camera topped their list. Another 35 percent would most like to add an OCT to their office this year. Twelve percent are hoping to add a corneal topographer while another 12 percent would like to add an instrument for measuring macular pigment to their practice. Six percent would like an automated visual field machine.

Some 38.2 percent of consumers say wait times of five to 10 minutes in the doctor's waiting room are appropriate, while 35.2 percent think waiting up to 10 to 15 minutes is appropriate, according to Jobson Optical Research's The Waiting Game survey.

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How often do you change merchandising displays in your optical?

1. Once a week

2. Once very two weeks

3. Once a month

4. Once every three months

5. Once every six months

6. Once a year

7. Have no system; don’t keep track

Sixty-seven percent of consumers used insurance to cover both their eye exam and eyewear, according to Jobson Optical Research's Eyewear & Eye Care Consumer Patterns Insight Survey. Nineteen percent used insurance just for their exam. Six percent used their benefit to purchase eyeglasses and sunwear while another six percent did not use insurance at all. Three percent of those surveyed said they don't know whether they used insurance.

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