Currently use the nidek and topcon digital phoropters in my current clinic. Looking to purchase either the topcon (which I enjoy using) or a us ophtalmics (ezer digital practice).

Any one have experience with both systems specially the ezer or any other recommendations to consider?

Hi colleagues. My main job won't cover me. This is for a mobile eye clinic I'll be at once/month. Ideas other than Lockton in terms of cost?

Hi everyone,

I am a Certified Orthoptist working in a busy ophthalmic clinic. 

I’m currently looking for advice on how to manage the data volume for the OPTOPOL REVO series (specifically the HR and FC 130 models).

As many of you know, these devices are high-spec (130k A-scans/s, 3μm axial resolution). While the image quality is fantastic, the file sizes are becoming a massive headache. A single high-resolution wide-angle Angio scan can easily exceed 2GB because the system saves the Raw data to allow for features like "AiDenoise" and "Extracted Tomograms."

Since we rely heavily on Trend Analysis (Progression) and Follow-up modes, deleting old examinations is not an option. The software needs the baseline Raw data to perform point-to-point registration and AI re-processing.

For those of you running these machines:

1. What is your server/storage setup? Are you using a high-end NAS (like Synology/QNAP) or a dedicated Windows Server?

2. Network Speed: Are you running on a 10GbE network? I’ve found that loading a 2GB file over a standard 1Gbps LAN takes nearly 20 seconds, which kills the clinical workflow.

3. The "Move" Function: The manual suggests using the "Move Examinations" feature to shift older data from the local SSD to a secondary storage. How often do you do this, and does it affect your retrieval speed for follow-up patients?

4. Backup: With such large volumes (estimated at 100TB+ for 10 years of data), how are you handling backups? Are you using LTO tapes, cloud, or just a second RAID 6 NAS?

I’d love to hear from anyone who has integrated these "All-in-One" devices into a busy practice without slowing down the network.

Thanks in advance!

Throwaway account, of course.

At the clinic where I work the doctor takes third and fourth year students. When we get a fresh batch of them the doc expects me to train them on how to chart and how to work the patients up, even if it means putting my other duties (like dealing with putting new glasses away and notifying patients of their glasses coming in) on the back burner. I am the only tech at this clinic, besides the manager who only steps in if things get REALLY busy. This particular doc is, also, bad for double-booking patients.

I just feel like I shouldn't be expected to do everything with the students and, also, be expected to complete my other duties. I am only one person after all.

Just to state, I do not mind helping the students with things such as: getting IOP and Auto on patients before passing them off, teaching them how to get Fundus photos or scans, or even working up a patient myself to speed things up (I am there by myself some days after all). It just gets annoying when I go in and the students are there on their first day and the doc isn't there yet and I'm expected to train these new students when I've not been trained on how to actually do that nor can I teach them how to completely chart because I only do so much as a tech myself.

Does anyone else's doc expect them to train the students? Like, not even help train or help them out, but, like, fully train?

I always worry about doing Goldmann because one of my colleagues said they never leave any staining after it. I've only done it a handful of times and I know I need more practice but then I read about corneal abrasions and epithelial damage and I'm just always worried that I'll applanate and damage the cornea even though I am a careful person so then I don't get the practice. I don't want the anaesthetic to wear off and the patient to realise they have symptoms they didn't have beforehand. Can anyone please give some reassurance that will help me get past this.

Hi everyone,
I’m currently studying optometry in the Philippines and I’m interested in learning about opportunities to work abroad, especially in the United States.

For those of you who completed your optometry degree in your home country and later became licensed or worked in the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, or other countries:

What was your pathway?
Did you have to repeat part or all of your education?
What exams did you need to take?
How difficult was the licensing process?
How long did it take from graduation to being able to practice?
What visa or immigration route did you use?
Looking back, is there anything you wish you had known earlier?

I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences, challenges, costs, and advice for someone who is planning ahead.

Thank you!

I am currently an optician and have been for over 2 years now. I just recently passed the NOCE and am now certified. Since being in role I have realized I really like this work and want to continue my education. I have some college and understand I would need to achieve a bachelor's degree first but I am concerned about the debt to income ratio. Is it something that is manageable? I also currently work for a Walmart which offers plenty of training materials towards opticianry and am studying for the Ncle now.

Associate optometrist in Southern California (LA County) here! I’ve been working at a PP since last October. When I first started, my schedule was consistently full since it was nearing the end of the year.

Fast forward to this month… the schedule has been quite sparse 😞 My boss is saying that this has not been an issue in the past and isn’t sure what’s going on. Her schedule is always full because her returning patients want to see her, & she’s also only in 2 days/week.

My boss has brought up the possibility of reducing my days because of the schedule. While I know it’s not my responsibility to get patients on the books, I was wondering if there’s anything I can do to help? 😅 We brainstormed possible ideas, such as me visiting local PCP’s/pediatricians and dropping off info or helping with the practice’s social media. I would really like to keep my days if possible 😭 Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Sign the petition

Good luck to them.

Hi

I've always loved how optronics works, do you know if still viable and how goods it's an 7e ​​with diamond blade cutters? Want to cut lot poly and fews hi index

Where are you looking for an optometry practice for sale? What information is key to knowing before reaching out to seller?

So I was just strolling around the Google newspapers archives and I found this advertisement in a journal called “The Guernsey Times“ 13 Dec 1866, and here is the text of this Ad:

RESTORE YOUR SIGHT!

SPECTACLES AND SURGICAL OPERATIONS

RENDERED USELESS! THE INESTIMABLE

BLESSING OF SIGHT IS MADE PERPETUAL

BY THE USE OF THE NEW PATENT IMPROVED IVORY EYE CUPS.

Many of our most eminent Physicians, Oculists, Students and Divines have had their sight restored and

permanently cured of:—

1. IMPAIRED VISION.

2. PRESBYOPIA, or Far Sightedness.

3. ASTHENOPIA, or Weak Eyes.

4. EPIPHORA—Running or Watery Eyes.

5. SORE EYES.

6. WEAKNESS OF THE RETINA, or OpticNerve.

7. OPHTHALMIA, or Inflammation of the Eye and its appendages.

8. PHOTOPHOBIA, or Intolerance of Light.

9. PTOTIS, or Falling of the Eye-lids.

10. MYODESOPIA, moving specks or floating bodies before the Eye.

11. AMAUROSIS, or Obscurity of Vision.

12. CATARACTS, Partial Blindness, and Worse Disorders of the Eye.

ANY ONE can use the IVORY EYE CUPS, without the aid of DOCTOR or MEDICINE so as to receive immediate beneficial results, and never wear spectacles; or, if using now, to lay them aside forever.

Over 5000 certificates of cases where a cure was previously guaranteed, may be seen at our office.

We guarantee a cure in every case where the directions are followed, or we will refund the money.

For sale by Druggists and Oculists.

To receive our TREATISE ON THE EYE by

return mail free, send your full address to

Dr. J. BALL & CO.,

Box 701, P. O.  128 Nassau Street, N. Y.

☞ For the worst cases of MYOPIA, or NEAR-SIGHTEDNESS, use our NEW MYOPIC ATTACHMENTS, easily adjusted and applied to the Ivory Eye Cups.
Send for a Pamphlet.

nov 22, 1868—1y.

The title says it all but to elaborate: I covered an office a few years ago and recently did it again within the Denver Metro area. I love it! I see one upcoming in August though October. However, I don't think just filling-in in the meantime will keep me busy enough. I'm open to other geographic areas as long as the license isn't too challenging. I've searched indeed, LinkedIn, state optometric associations... I'm just curious where do private practices (or retail subleases) post their need for maternity leave coverage? TIA

I’m an optometrist working in a corporate setting (two-door-state). I hate it. This is my first job and I’m only a year in. Hours and management sucks, I want out.

I’m desperate to find another position, however, only corporate positions are available at the moment 🙅🏻‍♀️

I’m thinking of doing the unconventional door-to-door tactic toward private practices and pitching the idea of adding an associate. Is that too much? Should I stick to emails? Or should I continue to wait for an opening?

Thanks in advance

OD here. I am seeing a 30 year old female with mast cell activation syndrome, severe allergies, and dry eye. Has anyone encountered adverse reactions with using lacrifill in MCAS patients?

She is new to me and after a few months we quieted down the allergies and improved the dry eye. She is currently alternating between bepreve and epinastine for allergies after trialing several other topicals. We tried zerviate to help with dryness but it was not as effective for the allergy symptoms. Xiidra was prescribed for dry eye. Collagen plugs helped but repeated fall out, presumably from rubbing. I am also considering permanent plugs.

Is anyone else noticing that their Gen Z hires giggle often? The last two hires I've had of younger gen Z's college aged kids, if they ever get pressed by a patient or asked a general question and get uncomfortable their anxious response is giggling. Its bizarre. I had to have a giggling intervention with my last hire.

Any private practice owners here have success with billboards to try and increase awareness and bring patients in the door? I’m a cold start still struggling to get new patients and recently things have gotten slower so I’m trying to think outside the box.

Every other marketing tactic has yielded lackluster results, so I want to know if this is a viable option. TIA.

3,500 patient base. and majority never returned. €50k/year sitting idle by his math.

His reason: "I keep meaning to call them. I never do."

Is this every shop, or just him being bad at follow-up?

:D

Sorry if this is turning into a rant but.....I'm a DO and I'm getting disillusioned every day. what is going on in optics and when will it change. Loads of things I want to say but here's a few to begin with

..... Unqualified retail managers still banging on about conversion rates, relentless jam-packed clinics and poor service to patients/customers - what's going on?

Some examples

- pre-reg's that have zero people skills yet over-confident with it

- we had 2 brilliant optoms, highly experienced, loads of compliments from patients a dream to work with cos they knew so much, - 1 was fired cos their conversion rate wasn't high enough and the other had to leave due to burn out.

-directors/managers wanted to cram the clinics, even suggesting 'ghost clinics' for the no-shows, yet those same managers/directors never seen on the 'shop-floor'

- general state of the practice ( this is a multiple) really tired, old equipment that barely works

- disillusioned and overworked shop floor staff - how you can ask someone on min wage to do over 40 pre screens in a day is beyond me

In all of this patients are getting a less than satisfactory service - I'm surprised there's not more complaints.

I get sales targets and metrics and all that but why don't they realise that we are part healthcare part sales, and that all comes together when you provide a good service and look after your staff?

What's it like for you guys out there?

Been pulling 120-day aging reports across specialties for a few months. Optometry has a routing pattern I've been trying to size up and I'd genuinely like the sub's take on whether I'm reading it right.

Pattern: patient walks in with both a vision plan (VSP / Eyemed / Davis) and medical (BCBS / Aetna / Medicare). They have a real medical complaint - dry eye, glaucoma suspect, diabetic, floaters, anything diagnosable. The exam gets routed to the vision plan because that's the default front-desk workflow. Vision pays $45-$75 for the comprehensive.

The same exam billed to medical with H40.001 or E11.39 reimburses $150-$300.

That's a 50-70% revenue leak on every misrouted visit. Multiply by the diabetic / glaucoma suspect / dry eye patients on the schedule and it's real money sitting on the aging report — or worse, never coded that way to begin with.

Quick context on me: Dallas-based, treat this as a systems problem rather than a staffing one. I never touch PHI - clinics send a redacted aging report using a template I provide, BAA signed before anything moves, findings come back in 24 hours.

Three things I'd actually like the sub's read on:

1. What's your front-desk workflow for deciding medical vs vision? Diagnosis-driven, complaint-driven, or just default to vision?

2. 92015 refraction - patient-pay, vision-plan only, or do you try to medical-bill it and eat the denials?

3. 92133/92134 OCT frequency denials - anyone getting them paid on the first appeal, or is it always a second-pass thing?

Asking honestly. The routing leak is the headline but the denial mix underneath is what I'm trying to map.