New This Week
Tap Profitable Opportunities
with Specialty Contact Lenses
Paul Klein, OD, of Broward Eye Care in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., points to substantial profits for doctors willing to refresh their knowledge of fitting oxygen permeable lenses and invest in inventory. Other underutilized opportunities: fitting toric contact lenses on patients with astigmatism of 0.75D and higher, and multifocal contact lenses for presbyopes. Patients understand that specialty contact lenses are premium products and are willing to pay more for them, provided you make a good presentation. >>READ MORE>>
Software Solutions
Use EHR System to Data Mine Your Patient Base
By Anne C. Murphy, OD
Use your electronic health record software to extract information about your patients and refine your marketing efforts. >>READ MORE>>
Contact Lenses
Eliminate Two-Week Contact Lens Prescriptions: Boost Compliance, Decrease Dropouts
By Rajeev K. Raghu, OD, FAAO
Switch patients from two-week contact lenses to one-day replacement or monthly replacement contact lenses to improve compliance and lessen the chances of lens discomfort and dropouts. >>READ MORE>>
Staff Management
Develop an Internal Communication System for Efficiency
By Brian Chou, OD, FAAO
Establish an internal staff communication system–spoken or electronic–to diminish appointment bottlenecks and staff misunderstandings and to keep patients moving. >>READ MORE>>
Do Refractive Surgery/ LASIK Patients Buy Eyeglasses?
Yes, of the 66.8 million pairs of Rx eyeglasses purchased in the US during the 12 month period ending in March 2011, about 570, 000 pairs were purchased by consumers who had a refractive surgery / LASIK procedure in the past, according to The Vision Council’s 2011 Eyewear Habits of Refractive Surgery /LASIK Patients report. The Vision Council estimates that 11.1 million adult consumers have had refractive or LASIK surgery to date, and that 5.4 million of them wear some form of vision correction.
Click HERE to read more from Review of Optometric Business professional editors Carole Burns, OD, FCOVD, and Mark Wright, OD, FCOVD, on how best market to post-LASIK patients.
Eyefinity Business Essentials Rebrands to “eyeVantage”
Eyefinity announced that it has rebranded its Business Essentials solution to eyeVantage. The solution is a collection of online educational assets, proprietary tools and best practices intended to lay the foundation for the success of independent eyecare practices. Part of OfficeMate clients’ annual software maintenance agreement, eyeVantage is available on a complimentary basis and provides exclusive access to best-in-class training courses, ranging from basic optics to business management. >>READ MORE>>
Vistakon Helps Educate Patients on Improving Nighttime Driving Vision
When you are behind the wheel of a car, your eyes are constantly on the move–looking at vehicles ahead and to the side, reading road traffic signs, checking your rear view mirrors, and shifting your gaze inside and outside your vehicle to check the speedometer, look at your global navigation system, or change a radio station. During darkness these tasks can become even more difficult for some drivers. On the new podcast edition of “Healthy Vision with Dr. Val Jones,” sponsored by Vistakon, two experts join Dr. Jones to talk about what happens to your eyes in the dark and how you can take better care of your eyes–and your car–to improve your nighttime driving. >>READ MORE>>
Reminder: Send Us Photos of Your Holiday Optical Displays 
Review of Optometric Business editors are interested in how you are decorating your optical this holiday season. Please send us photos of your optometric nutcrackers, garland, silver bells, roasting chestnuts and any other holiday decorating flourishes adorning your dispensary or storefront windows. The top photos will be published in ROB’s special Dec. 20/Dec. 27 double issue. Doctors with top optical window decorations will be acknowledged and asked to serve as 2013 contributing authors to ROB. Send all submissions to mweinstein@jobson.com by Friday, Dec. 16.
ROB Poll
ODs Most Need Help to Improve their Practice Marketing Strategy
Asked what they would ask for help with if they were given one free day with an optometric or business consultant 43 percent of ROB readers said they would like help improving their practice’s marketing strategy. Twenty-nine percent say they need help organizing practice finances, including creating a practice budget. Fourteen percent said they would like help reviewing and improving insurance and billing procedures, and another 14 percent would like help with staff training.
