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Thursday, July 19, 2012
World Council of Optometry Meeting
Missed blogging for a couple of weeks as I was away in Chicago, then catching up and helping a couple of friends at their practices. Back to normal now!
Chicago was an amazing place - we had a heat wave so temperatures well over 30 each day - and over 100 Fahrenheit one day too. Brilliant museums - didn't have much time in any of them - and the Adler Planetarium and the Shedd aquarium, which I went to when badly jet-lagged so don't remember much. But some brilliant displays (including the Amazon basin - can't believe how high the water comes in the rainy season)and very tranquil admiring the jellyfish.
And the venue for the meeting - the ballroom at the Blackstone Renaissance Hotel on South Michigan Ave - the room was straight out of a fairy tale.
The meeting's theme was "Advancing Optometry Worldwide" and presentations dealt with the levels of practice in various countries, with the aim of improving education and legislation to improve the level of optometric care world-wide. Some countries still have a huge shortage of basic eye care, but the feeling of the meeting was that, to call a person an optometrist, there needed to be a minimum standard of education involving refraction and eye health. The eye health needs to be at the level of understanding, diagnosing and (often) treating, not just "detect and refer" - noticing something out of the ordinary and sending the patient on to someone else.
This has been an issue in NZ over the past decade, because my training (1980's) was at the "detect and refer" level, simply because we were not allowed to use some techniques and drugs that let us diagnose. Now we can, and we are all expected to be able to diagnose eye conditions, then treat or refer to someone appropriate.
Faster, better referrals mean that the patient is served better - seeing an optometrist locally rather than waiting months to be seen at the hospital. And primary eye care, in local communities is the province of optometry. World wide.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Better technology, better outcomes
Better technology, in terms of lenses, coating and frames, leads to better vision. Well, if your optometrist has done her job well! But assuming that, I don't know of anyone who wants to go back to pre-1995 for their glasses technology by choice. Are you still using your VCR? (Transfer your tapes now as you can't buy them now). Are you still using your 1990's cell-phone? Why ask for 1990's glasses?
I'm not just meaning the fashion look of the frame. Modern materials are lighter, cheaper for the features (titanium frames are no longer double the cost of standard nickel alloys), more durable in terms of plating or colours, and there is more choice.
The lenses are better too. It is rare we use glass - it's heavy and can chip, and too heavy for the modern, large, light frames. Coatings to prevent scratching on both standard plastic and thinner plastics work well now. Anti-reflective coatings last well.(Essilor's Crizal family have a 2 year warranty as they are confident that there will be no problems with the coatings).
Modern technology does cost - the lens and frame manufacturers need to recover their R&D costs. But in terms of value for money, features are present that could not be imagined a generation ago. Modern progressive lenses have been designed for optimizing near or intermediate vision (great if you spend a lot of time on your computer) rather than just improving distance. And they don't make people nauseous when moving around or moving their heads - in the last 12 years I have felt happy to recommend progressives to people who tend to get motion-sick - just wouldn't have done that prior to 2000!
We can always provide "basic" standard frames and lenses, for people on a budget or people who are happy with something robust, serviceable but without all the bells and whistles. (My cell phone calls and texts only). But remember that you do get what you pay for - and if the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Transitions lenses are up to generation 6 now. Anti-reflective coatings are on their fourth or fifth generation. And no-one wants to return to thick "milk-bottle bottom" lenses with a high prescription.
Enjoy your eyewear - people look at your face more often than your watch so wear something that you enjoy and that others admire.
I'm not just meaning the fashion look of the frame. Modern materials are lighter, cheaper for the features (titanium frames are no longer double the cost of standard nickel alloys), more durable in terms of plating or colours, and there is more choice.
The lenses are better too. It is rare we use glass - it's heavy and can chip, and too heavy for the modern, large, light frames. Coatings to prevent scratching on both standard plastic and thinner plastics work well now. Anti-reflective coatings last well.(Essilor's Crizal family have a 2 year warranty as they are confident that there will be no problems with the coatings).
Modern technology does cost - the lens and frame manufacturers need to recover their R&D costs. But in terms of value for money, features are present that could not be imagined a generation ago. Modern progressive lenses have been designed for optimizing near or intermediate vision (great if you spend a lot of time on your computer) rather than just improving distance. And they don't make people nauseous when moving around or moving their heads - in the last 12 years I have felt happy to recommend progressives to people who tend to get motion-sick - just wouldn't have done that prior to 2000!
We can always provide "basic" standard frames and lenses, for people on a budget or people who are happy with something robust, serviceable but without all the bells and whistles. (My cell phone calls and texts only). But remember that you do get what you pay for - and if the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Transitions lenses are up to generation 6 now. Anti-reflective coatings are on their fourth or fifth generation. And no-one wants to return to thick "milk-bottle bottom" lenses with a high prescription.
Enjoy your eyewear - people look at your face more often than your watch so wear something that you enjoy and that others admire.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Back at "home" !
No posts for the last couple of weeks, because I have been working for a couple of friends in their practices, so have been out of town.
It's been really interesting - seeing a different group of patients, doing different tests (I have been taking photos for the diabetic retinal screening programme), using different equipment ("Where is the on switch?) and in one case a different computer programme. All a challenge and good fun.
I realised that every practice is different. Most of it is personality-driven - most optometrists have similar skills, so you choose yours because you get on with him/her. Some pracitces just feel "right". Others attract patients for a different reason - perceived price, location, "the only one wh had an appointment to-day and my glasses broke last night". Hopefully, these patients will be happy in their choices, but there should be no embarassment if the patient then decides to return to her previous practice or stay with a new one, if it is a better "fit" for her.
Price isn't everything. But I know that perceived price makes a difference - just ensure that if you want to change practices, make sure you are comparing apples with apples. Feeling at home, knowing that your optometrist welcomes you and is happy to see you (even if you feel that going back for a minor adjustment is wasting her time - it isn't), being remembered and treated as a unique person...all make the experience really what it should be.
It's been really interesting - seeing a different group of patients, doing different tests (I have been taking photos for the diabetic retinal screening programme), using different equipment ("Where is the on switch?) and in one case a different computer programme. All a challenge and good fun.
I realised that every practice is different. Most of it is personality-driven - most optometrists have similar skills, so you choose yours because you get on with him/her. Some pracitces just feel "right". Others attract patients for a different reason - perceived price, location, "the only one wh had an appointment to-day and my glasses broke last night". Hopefully, these patients will be happy in their choices, but there should be no embarassment if the patient then decides to return to her previous practice or stay with a new one, if it is a better "fit" for her.
Price isn't everything. But I know that perceived price makes a difference - just ensure that if you want to change practices, make sure you are comparing apples with apples. Feeling at home, knowing that your optometrist welcomes you and is happy to see you (even if you feel that going back for a minor adjustment is wasting her time - it isn't), being remembered and treated as a unique person...all make the experience really what it should be.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
May Madness
May Madness!
We are having what is effectively a practice-wide autumn (well, it feels like winter to-day) sale! Apart from 2 brands (Silhouette and Convertibles - and we are the exclusive retailers of Convertibles in Kapiti), everything else is $99 or $199.
We are clearing out older stock but much of the $199 product is very new (still current models). So it is a chance to get a good quality frame at a great price. We are happy if you take a frame away for glazing elsewhere, of buy a frame now and have it glazed here in the future. But if you have a full eye exam in May or June, you can go in the weekly draw for Visique's "Quality of Sight" promotion to win one Mystery Weekend each week. So, come in this month, get a quality frame at a bargain price and enter the draw to win a break.
The national Visique promotion carries on until the end of June, but this May Madness is only until the end of May.
It's floor stock only, so if you want another colour or size of a stock frame, we can order it in for you, but it would be at the standard price.
We are having what is effectively a practice-wide autumn (well, it feels like winter to-day) sale! Apart from 2 brands (Silhouette and Convertibles - and we are the exclusive retailers of Convertibles in Kapiti), everything else is $99 or $199.
We are clearing out older stock but much of the $199 product is very new (still current models). So it is a chance to get a good quality frame at a great price. We are happy if you take a frame away for glazing elsewhere, of buy a frame now and have it glazed here in the future. But if you have a full eye exam in May or June, you can go in the weekly draw for Visique's "Quality of Sight" promotion to win one Mystery Weekend each week. So, come in this month, get a quality frame at a bargain price and enter the draw to win a break.
The national Visique promotion carries on until the end of June, but this May Madness is only until the end of May.
It's floor stock only, so if you want another colour or size of a stock frame, we can order it in for you, but it would be at the standard price.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Introducing OPTIFOG
Optifog official website
Winner of the 2012 Lens Product of the Year at the Optician Awards & 2011 Silmo d'Or award in the Vision Category
Optifog with Crizal UV is the most advanced and durable no-glare anti-fogging lens on the market with everyday UV protection.
All spectacle wearers have at some point encountered what we commonly refer to as our ‘glasses steaming up’, or fogging. It doesn’t matter where we are, our glasses steam up or fogg when we move from a cold to a hot environment.
For many, this can be problematic as well as being unsightly. It’s also a major inconvenience as we rely on instant vision at all times.
For many, this can be problematic as well as being unsightly. It’s also a major inconvenience as we rely on instant vision at all times.
Although there are sprays and solutions available to buy over the counter that reduce the effects of steaming up or fogging, there has never, until now, been a total solution that will prevent it.
Optifog lenses deliver unique lens technology that gives long lasting fog free vision to all patients.
Optifog lenses deliver unique lens technology that gives long lasting fog free vision to all patients.
Credit to
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Easter!
A time to relax and contemplate life. Those of us with a Christian faith, if gives us a chance to reflect on and be thankful for the great sacrifice Jesus made for us. Those without, there is still a lot to be thankful for - a time to enjoy family and friends, special treat food (eating Easter eggs before Lent even starts seems so wrong to me), spending a few days in the garden....taking time out from our usual busy routines....
Routines are great as they get you through the ususal day almost on auto-pilot so you can spend mental energy on thinking of the things that are unusal or important. Making school lunches is routine, so you can spend the mental effort in actually checking if your 10-year-old has done her spelling...but having a break from then gives you a chance to reflect, recharge your bnatteries and contemplate seomthing higher than the day to day.
We close the practice on Good Friday, Easter Eve, Easter Day and Easter Monday. A break is good. Enjoy yours.
A time to relax and contemplate life. Those of us with a Christian faith, if gives us a chance to reflect on and be thankful for the great sacrifice Jesus made for us. Those without, there is still a lot to be thankful for - a time to enjoy family and friends, special treat food (eating Easter eggs before Lent even starts seems so wrong to me), spending a few days in the garden....taking time out from our usual busy routines....
Routines are great as they get you through the ususal day almost on auto-pilot so you can spend mental energy on thinking of the things that are unusal or important. Making school lunches is routine, so you can spend the mental effort in actually checking if your 10-year-old has done her spelling...but having a break from then gives you a chance to reflect, recharge your bnatteries and contemplate seomthing higher than the day to day.
We close the practice on Good Friday, Easter Eve, Easter Day and Easter Monday. A break is good. Enjoy yours.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
It's nearly the financial year end so everyone is having stock-take sales - not as many as in the past as everyone seems to be doing deals all the time. Value-for-money has always been our practice belief - and we do special off older frames, still warranteed but we know that there are unlikely to be parts available. Lenses are ordered for a specific patient, so are not "floor stock" so are unlikely to be on "special" unless the wholesaler is trying to promote a particular product or service (for example, Optifog has been added free to some progressive lenses in February and March as a launch benefit).
The other thing about "year end" is that people "forget" about booking eye appointments. Christmas, tax time, "after we get back from our trip", "once the visitors leave" are all reasons that I've heard for people delaying their routine eye exams. I suppose the same thing happens to dentists, and maybe doctors too. But I suppose that people are more motivated to see their GP regularly as the medicines run out! Bit of a hint when there are no more pilss left!
We encourgae patients to return for regular eye exams - and discuss at the time when we would like to see them again. The recall appointment can be anywhere from 6 months to three years - there is no "standard" as it is to benefit each individual. We believe that each person is unique and although many people are happy with generic products, generic service is never the best (even when it strives to be really good). So we can offer packages, but prefer to offer these only to people who would benefit. Ans not everyone wants to be seen in town with the same frame as six others!
The other thing about "year end" is that people "forget" about booking eye appointments. Christmas, tax time, "after we get back from our trip", "once the visitors leave" are all reasons that I've heard for people delaying their routine eye exams. I suppose the same thing happens to dentists, and maybe doctors too. But I suppose that people are more motivated to see their GP regularly as the medicines run out! Bit of a hint when there are no more pilss left!
We encourgae patients to return for regular eye exams - and discuss at the time when we would like to see them again. The recall appointment can be anywhere from 6 months to three years - there is no "standard" as it is to benefit each individual. We believe that each person is unique and although many people are happy with generic products, generic service is never the best (even when it strives to be really good). So we can offer packages, but prefer to offer these only to people who would benefit. Ans not everyone wants to be seen in town with the same frame as six others!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
The races went well!
Well, the weather was lovely, the horses ran well, out 1400m race was excting (and a well-deserved win). The connections said he'd been unlucky before, so it mushr have been his day.
We have had some feedback from having a presence at Otaki. A couple of patients saw our ad, and commented that they didn't see me there (we were in the marquee village) so we had a good chat about the day.
We have had a quieter year with the free-sunglasses-for-new-entrants than ever before. Maybe it's because we had a lot of cloud and parents didn't think of taking up the offer. But the frames on offer were really nice and about 25 local boys and girls are looking sharp in their new shades.
There are always new and excting frames on offer from the reps, and the newest lens techology is Optifog, and we are getting some really poistive comments about that. At your next lens change, be sure to ask about it, as it is a really useful feature to add to the lesn coating. Definitely not a "solution looking for a problem"...mind you, I said that texting was a "solution looking for a problem" and I was wrong.
We have had some feedback from having a presence at Otaki. A couple of patients saw our ad, and commented that they didn't see me there (we were in the marquee village) so we had a good chat about the day.
We have had a quieter year with the free-sunglasses-for-new-entrants than ever before. Maybe it's because we had a lot of cloud and parents didn't think of taking up the offer. But the frames on offer were really nice and about 25 local boys and girls are looking sharp in their new shades.
There are always new and excting frames on offer from the reps, and the newest lens techology is Optifog, and we are getting some really poistive comments about that. At your next lens change, be sure to ask about it, as it is a really useful feature to add to the lesn coating. Definitely not a "solution looking for a problem"...mind you, I said that texting was a "solution looking for a problem" and I was wrong.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Going to the Races
In trying to connect with more people around our local area, and because Tim and I love racing (watched the movie "Secretariat" last night), wehave decided to sponsor a race at the Otaki Maori racing club meeting at Otaki this Saturday 25 February.
If it's sunny (not that the forecast says it will be), everyone will be out in force in hats, sunglasses and sunscreen. If not, inside wearing raincoats and fewer happy smiles. However, binoculars to watch the action will still be the order of the day.
I will have my Transitions lenses, if it's a dull day as they will be clear unless the clouds break, when they will darken. And my Convertibles frame with clipon sunglasses in case the Met Service is wrong. All set.
I know that I am lucky enough to have several pairs of spectacles for different uses, but in many cases, a clear or Transtions pair isn't quite dark enough (especially behind the windscreen of a car) and having just a dark pair is too limiting when you walk inside or at night.
And it's fun to wear something a bit different - high heels, fascinator, racewear, elegant but fun sunwear....or a rain coat and something "practical". And happy smiles if my $1.00 investment comes in!
If it's sunny (not that the forecast says it will be), everyone will be out in force in hats, sunglasses and sunscreen. If not, inside wearing raincoats and fewer happy smiles. However, binoculars to watch the action will still be the order of the day.
I will have my Transitions lenses, if it's a dull day as they will be clear unless the clouds break, when they will darken. And my Convertibles frame with clipon sunglasses in case the Met Service is wrong. All set.
I know that I am lucky enough to have several pairs of spectacles for different uses, but in many cases, a clear or Transtions pair isn't quite dark enough (especially behind the windscreen of a car) and having just a dark pair is too limiting when you walk inside or at night.
And it's fun to wear something a bit different - high heels, fascinator, racewear, elegant but fun sunwear....or a rain coat and something "practical". And happy smiles if my $1.00 investment comes in!
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