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Optometry news

Taking your practice revenue to the next level

Diana Canto-Sims, OD

The average capture rate for optometric practices is around 50% to 55%.1 In our practice, we have been able to maintain over 80% capture rate for the past year despite a global pandemic and inflation.

As optometrists, we graduate from optometry school feeling confident about caring for our patients’ vision and eye health; however, we sometimes need more help on the retail side of our practice. As a practice owner, you must balance your eye care clinic and a retail dispensary. Some may say this is running 2 separate businesses.

Here are 3 steps my practice took to achieve a high capture rate in our optical.

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EyeCon 2023 brings the fast pace of innovation to today’s ophthalmology practices

Sheryl Stevenson, Eye Care Group Editorial Director

In December, The Optometry Times EyeCon 2023 will gather the nation’s leading eye care professionals to share new data and practical strategies that clinicians can apply in their practices. The dual tracks for optometry and ophthalmology foster greater communication among eye care professionals about the latest technology, best practices, and patient care. The conference will take place from December 1 to 2 at the Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort and Spa in Fort Myers, Florida.

Cochair Peter J. McDonnell, MD, director of the Wilmer Eye Institute at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, recently spoke with Group Editorial Director Sheryl Stevenson about what is uniqueatthis year’s EyeCon 2023.

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Bausch + Lomb launches MIEBO (perfluorohexyloctane ophthalmic solution) in US

David Hutton, Managing Editor, Ophthalmology Times

Bausch + Lomb Corp. announced the US commercial launch of perfluorohexyloctane ophthalmic solution (Miebo) for treatment of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED).

According to the company, perfluorohexyloctane ophthalmic solution is the first and only prescription eye drop approved for DED that directly targets tear evaporation.

In a news release, Andrew Stewart, president, Global Pharmaceuticals and International Consumer, Bausch + Lomb, pointed out that more and more Americans are suffering from dry eye disease, due in large part to today’s multi-screen lifestyles.

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The FDA issues warning letters to 8 companies for manufacturing/marketing unapproved ophthalmic drug products

Martin David Harp, Associate Editor, Ophthalmology Times

The FDA has issued warning letters to 8 companies for manufacturing or marketing unapproved ophthalmic drug products in violation of federal law.

These warnings come amidst an increased amount of complications and issues caused from unapproved eye drops, as the FDA states they are trying to “protect Americans from potentially harmful ophthalmic products.”¹

As stated in a press release from the FDA, the products being addressed in these letters are “illegally marketed to treat conditions such as conjunctivitis (pink eye), cataracts, glaucoma and others.” While some of the letters also cite certain companies for quality issues related to product sterility.¹

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The ins and outs of fitting multifocal contact lenses

Kassi Jackson, Editor; Jessica Crooker, OD

Jessica Crooker, OD, sits down with Optometry Times to discuss common pitfalls optometrists run into when fitting multifocal contact lenses and how to avoid them.

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Dry age-related macular degeneration: The second city of AMD

Leo P. Semes, OD, FAAO

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) represents a considerable burden with many facets. Considering the epidemiological, public health, fiscal, and individual impacts, AMD may be the most devastating ophthalmic disease. Despite recent developments for management of both wet (neovascular) and dry (non-neovascular) AMD, as well as geographic atrophy (GA), vision preservation remains the holy grail for practitioners and patients.

AMD is more than twice as prevalent as Alzheimer disease, and outstrips the prevalence of both diabetic retinopathy (DR) and glaucoma.^1-3 Currently, AMD affects at least 20 million adults (> 40 years of age) in the United States.⁴ This includes those living with both vision-threatening and non–vision-threatening types of the condition, but does not include those affected as caregivers or employers, for example, according to the CDC.⁴ Prevalence increases exponentially with increasing age, especially over 80 years. According to projections from the National Eye Institute,⁵ the problem is not expected to abate.

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