Re: Optometry School choices and funding

On Oct 24, 7:27 am, Scott Seidman <namdiestt...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
"Dr. Leukoma" <d...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote innews:1193186118.856511.5380@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:

On Oct 23, 4:47 pm, Scott Seidman <namdiestt...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

So do the chains, except the "we" is the corporation. You haven't
selected a few lines of contact lenses that you prefer to stick with?

Of course, but based upon my criteria, which I suppose you assume to
be mostly about what's good for my pocketbook as opposed to the
satisfaction of the patients needs. That's kind of like me making the
assumption that your research and publishing is all about the grants.

Now, now-- I never said "all", or even "most". The only idea I want to
get across is "some". If a contact lens line made absolutely no sense
for your pocketbook, you wouldn't consider it. I suspect that an OD just
can't have experience with every line out there, and can serve their
patients better by choosing a select few and getting really good with
them.

My hackles get a bit raised when I hear OD's knocking those in their own
profession who opt, for some reason or other, who choose to work in an
optical chain. I've had private OD's and chain OD's through my life, and
I've found good people and jokers in both areas. I suspect the private
OD's meet many patients who have had bad experiences with the chain OD's,
so the opinion gets a little colored. The tens of thousands of patients
who are very satisfied with the chain OD's fall right out of the picture,
because they don't migrate to the private OD's.

Sort of like MD's-- secondary and tertiary care providers meet patients
that their Primary Care providers couldn't handle-- but the specialists
don't necessarily think that all primary care providers aren't fit to
practice, they just realize that the practices are set up different
ways-- and in this case, the training is different as well.

If there's something particularly evil about the nature of the chain
OD's, by all means, police your field. I know its possible-- look at all
the ethical discussions that arose in optometry surrounding comanagement!

--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

I prefer the "freedom" of private practice. I do have the option of
prescribing any lens. My preference is for new and better
technology. I wear contact lenses, and I wear progressive spectacle
lenses. I get vouchers for free lenses for my personal use, and I try
them. I can easily perceive differences in contact lens materials,
and in the vision quality of the progressive lenses. I then make
recommendations based upon my experience, and listen for patient
feedback. Often, the feedback reinforces my own experiences with the
products. If I get too many non-adapts to a particular type of
progressive lens, I simply quit using it.

I also see patients who take my prescription and make a purchase from
one of the chains, but who return dissatisfied. They don't know if it
is my prescription or the product. More often, it is that the product
has been improperly fitted, or else the optical aberrations are
annoying because the lens is old technology. Newer technology in
contact lenses has provided an unprecedented leap forward in ocular
health and comfort. The same thing is happening in spectacle lenses
where better quality equals fewer aberrations and a more natural
visual experience, as opposed to always fighting with the eyeglasses.
The AR coatings no longer flake, and you can rely upon scratch
resistant coatings to do what they claim.

It is usually the case in the chains that the OD has control over (a)
the exam, and (b) the selection of contact lenses, but not (c) the
brand or type of spectacle lens, lens measurement, etc., unless
specifically stated on the prescription. I personally have nothing
against ODs who practice in chain settings, but I do know the
experience of not being able to control the "merchandising" aspects of
the business and it would be frustrating for me.

It is pretty much an axiom that profit margins as a percent of costs
are always greater on low-price optical goods. Those frames that
don't get sold wind up getting returned and resold at a deep discount
where they can be marked up many times over cost. The same goes for
inexpensive polycarbonate lenses. You just have to make it on volume,
and volume is increasingly the name of the game because of insurance.

.

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