instrumental strategies
A Total Eclipse for Your Exam Room
Finally, a lighting system that patients love and that eases your work day. 

GREGG OSSIP, O.D.

While technology seems to have taken over the entire optometric office, we still find ourselves constantly reaching across the room to flip light switches. Reliance Medical wants to put an end to that paradox with its Eclipse Room Light Control System. It's one of those technologies meant to address the simple things in life and in doing so revolutionizes your examination.

Undergoing a change of heart

Let me begin by saying that I always thought that an optometrist who would buy a technology just to eliminate the need to flip light switches must be plain lazy. Recently, however, we remodeled our main office and the electricians disconnected the fluorescent lights above my exam chair.

Being a creature of habit, I kept flipping the light switch that I knew was disconnected for four weeks. So when Reliance called and told me about their Eclipse Room Light Control System, I was eager to evaluate it. And having done so, the idea of laziness is now completely gone from my mind.

I appreciate the joy of turning on the slit lamp and having the room lights dim without making another motion, though it may sound minor. After all, calculate how many times a day you reach over to switch the lights on and off!

You're in control

As I've indicated, the Reliance Eclipse Room Light Control System lets you control your exam room's incandescent and/or fluorescent lights without changing position, thus allowing you to remain in eye contact with the patient. The Eclipse infrared system allows you to program a maximum of 16 different lighting combinations or scenes according to your individual working habits.

In addition to this convenience, it also provides a "fun factor" -- my patients said the system creates a space-age effect.

How the system works

The Reliance Eclipse Room Light Control System consists of three components: A wall receiver; a control console, which fits on your Reliance stand; and a transmitter ring that attaches to your instrument stand pole. An outside electrician installs the receiver into the wall. Reliance claims that little or no office rewiring is required; the Eclipse System will easily retrofit to any low-voltage stand.

To adjust your exam room lighting to the pre-programmed setting, just touch the control panel of the stand and move an instrument. The three rechargeable instrument wells, slit-lamp arm and indirect hanger are all equipped with electronic sensors that trigger lighting scenes when the instruments are moved -- a space-aged effect indeed!

The Reliance Eclipse Room Light Control System also allows you to adjust fade rates of your lighting (dual system only). Its dimming function allows you to fade fluorescent lights to one percent of output without the noise or flickers associated with conventional technology.

To find out if your current equipment is compatible with the Reliance Eclipse system, contact your nearest Reliance dealer or go to www.Reliance-medical.com.

Don't miss out

The Reliance Eclipse Room Light Control System can simplify your life by eliminating a lot of extra motions -- examinations become much more efficient. Try it yourself and see what the Eclipse has to offer your practice.

DR. OSSIP IS IN GROUP PRACTICE IN INDIANAPOLIS. HE'S LECTURED EXTENSIVELY AND HAS WRITTEN NUMEROUS ARTICLES ON PRACTICE MANAGEMENT. YOU CAN REACH HIM BY E-MAIL AT GOSSIP2020@AOL.COM.