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By Rick E. Peterson, OD
Jan. 13, 2021
Eyeglasses with prism can transform the lives of patients struggling with eye misalignment and the resulting eye strain and headaches. In addition to finding the ideal lens for these patients, I have also found and adopted a highly accurate and objective measurement system that ensures success. Patients receive symptom relief and improvement in their vision, while my practice receives satisfied patients who return and refer their friends and family. The accuracy, reliability and objectivity of neurolens technology has enabled this success in my practice.
Improved Patient Care
We added neurolens technology to our practice to better diagnose and treat binocular vision problems. Our clinic treats many focusing problems in adults and children, and we have been prescribing prism daily for over 15 years. The neurolens Measurement Device—combined with the neurolenses with contoured prism technology—enables our practices to simplify sophisticated prescriptions consistently. This system helps us provide even better care for our patients.
Prior to adding the neurolens Measurement Device, all four of our doctors measured and prescribed prism solutions using differing methods, including trial and error and “gut” feelings. The neurolens Measurement Device allows for a more accurate eye alignment in a binocular world. What I mean by that is the results are more closely related to the real world rather than looking through a phoropter or holding multiple prism amounts over the eye and asking patients to describe what they are experiencing.
The amount of misalignment the device measures is far more accurate and provides a better representation of how our patients’ eyes behave in their everyday lives; for instance, when looking from near to far, driving, working on a computer, in school and in other visually challenging situations.
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Marked Progress for the Most Difficult Cases
Many of our patients are ultimately identified as good candidates for neurolenses; however, we use the entire neurolens process—including the neurolens Lifestyle Index questionnaire and the neurolens Measurement Device—with every single patient in order to ensure we identify any symptomology and maximize our ability to serve their needs. This simple, standard, and consistent process allows us to offer services and treatments for a variety of issues, such as dry eye sensation and headaches. It also allows us to better determine the need for vision therapy.
We have even seen an improvement in patients who have previously suffered severe diabetic changes, stroke and other neurological disorders after they started wearing neurolenses. We are continually pleased at the variety of improvements that patients post or tell us after receiving neurolenses. In a majority of patients, their symptomatology has greatly improved or has been eliminated entirely.
New Source of Profitability
In addition to being an outstanding solution for patients with binocular/fusional issues, neurolens technology allows for a new source of practice profitability. The initial concern was how to present this to patients who have vision insurance, but a steady flow of successful patient stories and the availability of patient payment plans quickly eased this concern.
Increasing the percentage of private pay sales of neurolenses in my practice has obviously had a highly positive impact on overall profitability; but another reason the neurolens Measurement Device was attractive to me is that neurolens provides reimbursements to the practice based on the number of neurolenses sold. Once you achieve a baseline level of lens purchases, these reimbursements can easily cover or exceed your monthly payment for the neurolens Measurement Device.
With this reimbursement program covering equipment costs and allowing me to realize full profitability on the sale of neurolenses, it was an easy decision to invest in the neurolens system. In fact, a study performed in the offices of Gary Lovcik, OD, demonstrated an 18 percent increase in gross profit and a more than 31 percent increase in net profit for his practice after adopting neurolens technology. This result is amazing, especially given that Dr. Lovcik’s practice is 85 percent managed care.
Simple, Efficient Solution for Patients and Doctors
With over 200,000 measurements taken throughout the U.S., not only does the neurolens Measurement Device evaluate the misalignment of the patient’s eyes, but it provides a simple measurement known as the “neurolens value” which the clinician can then prescribe to the patient based on their clinical expertise. The neurolens value standardizes and simplifies the prescribing process because it provides the practitioner a consistent starting point.
The data from the number of measurements performed and collected has guided algorithms that are accurate, reproducible, simplified and lead to a streamlined lens prescription process. Most importantly, prescribing neurolenses using this neurolens value has led to 93 percent of patients reporting positive outcomes after wearing.
Based on surveys of over 800 patients wearing neurolenses, over 83 percent experienced relief from headaches, 78 percent from neck pain, 84 percent from tired eyes and 81 percent from dry eye sensation. Over 89 percent also experienced relief from dizziness. Eighty-two percent of neurolenses wearers indicated that they would recommend the lenses to other patients. This allows for absolute confidence of staff, doctors and patients.
Once you get the neurolens process integrated into your office protocol, neurolens quickly becomes an integral part of your practice’s process for treating patients. Utilizing a simple three step process—the neurolens Lifestyle Index, the neurolens Measurement Device and prescribing neurolenses—leads to an experience that patients rave about!
Rick E. Peterson, OD, is the owner of Absolute Vision Care, with three locations in Illinois. To contact him: drrickavc@absolutevision.com
