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  ODs ON FACEBOOK

IN CONSTANT CONTACT

ABOUT, YOU GUESSED IT, CONTACT LENSES

ALAN GLAZIER, O.D., F.A.A.O.

CONSIDERING THAT contact lens sales and their associated services comprise a significant portion of the primary care O.D.’s practice revenue, it makes sense that they are constantly discussed on “ODs on Facebook.”

THE “GOOD PATIENT” AWARD

While many of our contact-lens-related threads are about patient non-compliance to the prescribed wear and care schedule, one O.D. decided to celebrate a particularly compliant contact lens wearer.

Specifically, the doctor posted about a 56-year-old white male who never skips and is always on time for his annual contact lens exam, brings his glasses, provides a detailed medical history, changes his two-week lenses every two weeks and never complains about dilation. A bonus: The patient is pleasant: “We complain so much in this group, just thought I’d write about a good one [patient]. They exist!” The doctor posted.

This post received 587 likes and 14 replies. Examples of replies:

• “I see one every now and then as well. I think I had one last week and another last month. . . ”

• “True! I have a patient like that who is self-pay, too. . .”

DIRTY IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT

One “ODs on Facebook” member posted a conversation she had with an unnamed female contact lens wearer. The TMI post:

Doctor: “You’ve been wearing the same pair of contact lenses for five months. It’s only good for one month.”

Patient: “Oh. . . ”

Doctor: “[One of the lenses] also has a chunk missing from it.”

Patient: “I know.”

Doctor: “Would you wear the same pair of underwear for five months without cleaning them?”

Patient: “Yes.”

This post received 102 likes and 19 replies from our disgusted members. Examples of replies:

• “If you don’t want to know the answer, don’t ask the question.”

• “I try to use the socks analogy more often. Lol.”

THE APHAKIC BABY

With the parents’ permission, a member of “ODs on Facebook” posted about managing a +32 aphakic baby. Specifically, the child was born with bilateral cataracts, which were removed at 4 months of age. Post removal, she had a constant, large angle right esotropia (RET) and a horizontal, conjugate jerk nystagmus. The doctor prescribed atropine b.i.d., pred forte q.3h, an antibiotic q.h.s. and contact lens wear. Little by little, the baby’s VA, nystagmus and RET improved. “That baby is now a 16-month-old toddler who is walking, talking, reaching for toys and giving me kisses,” the doctor posted. This post received 1,300 likes and 77 comments. Examples of comments:

• “I’m sure you have given her an opportunity to change the course of her future forever. . .”

• “Wow! You are, to me, a God amongst optometrists when it comes to complex pediatric cases and examination techniques!” OM

DR. GLAZIER is founder of Shady Grove Eye and Vision Care, a five-doctor medical-model practice in the Rockville, Md. suburbs of Washington DC. He is an author, inventor, industry consultant and frequent lecturer on ocular disease and Internet marketing. He can be reached at aglazier@youreyesite.com. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @EyeInfo or PM him on Facebook.