Read more from the Q&A issue

• How can optometrists efficiently schedule ocular disease patients in light of the COVID-19 pandemic?
• How can optometrists create a successful dry eye disease spa?
• How can an optometrist include the patient’s opinion when it comes to glaucoma treatment?
• How can O.D.s differentiate the neovascular form of AMD from similar diseases?
• How can an optometrist obtain diabetic patient referrals from a primary care physician?
• What should optometrists know about effective management of myopia?
• What is the value optometrists can provide and communicate for the fee charged?
• How can optometrists set up an appropriate fee schedule for specialty contact lenses?
• How can O.D.s get more engaged in luxury frame sales?
• How can optometrists get more new patients?
• How can an optometrist create a successful practice sans third party health plans?
• How do O.D.s create a system for quick and efficient coding?

The 2021 Optometric Management “Q&A” survey asked our readers to report their top practice management questions in a number of critical areas, including medical eye care, contact lenses, optical, billing and coding. These survey responses were the inspiration behind the articles that appear in the following pages.

ABOUT THE RESPONDENTS

We owe OM readers a debt of gratitude for the impressive interest in the survey, which yielded more than 500 responses for the second straight year. About three quarters of respondents report they have practiced for more than 15 years. In addition, 64% report annual revenues of $500,000 or more, with 13% of them reporting practice revenues of more than $1 million.

THE NUMBERS ON QUESTIONS

Similar to last year, a substantial number of readers responded to the medical eye care portions of the survey, which breaks down as follows:

Contact lens-related issues again ranked high in the survey, with 222 respondents providing questions. Whether addressing the typical contact lens patient or a specialty lens wearer, top questions centered around communicating the value for the fees charged for the contact lens fitting. 

Practice expansion was a theme that ran through many of the survey responses. This included questions about the optical, many of which concerned adding luxury frame lines. In addition, respondents asked for advice on attracting new patients.

DETAILS ON QUESTION COLLECTION

An invitation to this year’s survey was sent to readers in two waves beginning in mid-February and mid-March, respectively. As an incentive, the respondents were entered into a drawing for one of two $100 American Express gift cards.

To help identify the questions to answer, we considered popular question(s) in each category, eliminating those answers that would be brand-specific or too general and, therefore, require a lengthy answer. We also excluded popular questions that were answered in the previous Q&A issue and recent issues of OM. See a sampling of these questions in "Questions Answered," below

The questions provided, the results of other reader surveys and your feedback help shape our content. In this respect, we welcome your questions anytime. OM