CLINICAL

  CONTACT LENSES

PLAN FOR EFFICIENCY IN ‘16

STREAMLINE CONTACT LENS FITTING

JASON R. MILLER, O.D.

AS 2015 wraps up, take a look at how your practice served contact lens wearers well, and evaluate areas in which to improve. For example, it is evident that our patients (and us for that matter) are living busier lives. Follow up visits can be a burden to the patient — and convenience is an important consideration.

So for 2016, I am going to focus on my practice’s efficiency with contact lens fits. To do this, our office must change some of our traditional thoughts and continue to improve our use of technology.

Here are some ideas on how to increase the efficiency of the follow-up process:

ANTICIPATE THE UNAVOIDABLE

The modality and type of lens the patient needs often determines the number of follow-up visits. Evaluate each patient’s case closely to determine whether either could change your plan.

For example, reusable contact lenses may feel and look very different at the end of their wearing schedule. Therefore, a follow-up visit near the end of that schedule allows you, the eye care practitioner, to see how the lenses are performing functionally and visually.

Whenever a follow-up appointment is necessary, take the time to educate your patients as to why the additional visit to your office is important so they understand its usefulness.

ASSUME SUCCESS

If you are upgrading the patient to a new lens in the same family of lenses (varying the modality, wear schedule, etc.) with little to no change in prescription, consider providing the patient with a diagnostic lens and then making the order.

A patient who had a stable refraction and is interested in changing to a newer design lens is a good example.

Check her vision, fit and over-refraction before she leaves your office. As long as she likes the comfort of her new lenses, submit the order.

MAKE A GOOD OLD-FASHIONED PHONE CALL

When you are changing your patient from one modality to another, consider the option of a phone follow-up prior to submitting the contact lens order. (If you don’t have time in your schedule to make a phone call, utilize your contact lens staff.)

This patient has probably changed from a reusable contact lens to a daily disposable modality, with very little change in his prescription.

Again, check his vision, fit and over-refraction prior to him leaving your office. Give him a phone follow-up four to five days following his initial appointment to make sure he likes his new lenses.

If he does, make the order over the phone, and ship his contact lens supply directly to him. If he does not, schedule an appointment for a contact lens follow-up, where you can address his concerns.

UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY FOR PATIENT MESSAGING

For complicated fits, consider providing an avenue where patients can send you a message about their lens experiences. Many EHRs have secure messaging capabilities; taking advantage of this technology can help minimize the number of follow-up appointments performed.

For example, if you are changing a patient’s multifocal lenses, ask for her feedback after a few days using the secure messaging capabilities of your software. If she reports that she is struggling with her near vision, give her the lenses that provide that vision, and schedule a follow-up visit for five to seven days later.

LOOK AHEAD TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY IN 2016

I understand there are many new innovations hitting the contact lens market next year. With new opportunities in every category and most modalities, use the aforementioned tips to streamline the fitting process for a successful 2016. OM

DR. MILLER is a partner at Eyecare Professionals of Powell, in Powell, Ohio, a member of Vision Source and is an adjunct faculty member for The Ohio State University College of Optometry. To comment on this article, visit tinyurl.com/OMcomment.