New This Week
Incorporating the OCT into a Wellness Exam
Paul Klein, OD, of Broward Eye Care in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., incorporates optical coherence tomography (OCT) in an eye wellness exam. While the OCT initially was employed primarily in detecting retina disorders, it now is integral to an eye wellness exam, in which the patient pays an overall fee for testing with the OCT and a fundus camera. The purchase price of an OCT can be daunting for an optometric practice, but leasing the instrument on a per-use basis makes it affordable. This arrangement also allows you to have an OCT as a high-tech, retinal diagnostic tool. >>READ MORE>>
Practice Management
Serve Growing Number of Seniors with People Skills
By Peter Shaw-McMinn, OD
The senior population is growing fast, and this presents growth potential for your practice. Doing well in serving the senior segment requires a new perspective—and a new set of people skills. >>READ MORE>>
Sunwear
15 Tips for Winter Sunwear Sales Strategy
By Mark Hinton
Now is the time to show patients how to protect their eyes from the damaging effects of winter sunlight. These 15 tips will get your staff on target with a successful winter sunwear sales strategy. >>READ MORE>>
Office Environment
Reduce Wait Time Perception with iPads
By Oliver Lou, OD
Giving patients an iPad to explore while they wait for an exam may not shorten their wait time—but it makes the experience more enjoyable. Having iPads in your practice also promotes a positive, high-tech image. >>READ MORE>>
ROB Fast Fact
Percentage of Adults Choosing Independents for Eye Exams Virtually Unchanged for Third Year
Some 66.9 percent of adults getting annual comprehensive eye examinations chose independents over chains this year, but that figure is mostly unchanged from the past few years, according to the Vision Council’s June 2011 Vision Watch Member Benefit Report. Last year, 67 percent chose independents versus chains; in 2009 66.5 went with independents over chains and 65.8 percent chose independents over chains in 2008.
Click HERE to read more from Review of Optometric Business professional editors Carole Burns, OD, FCOVD, and Mark Wright, OD, FCOVD, on successfully competing with chains to increase number of annual examinations.
Transitions Optical Introduces New Multicultural Consumer Course
Recognizing an opportunity for eyecare professionals to grow their businesses by focusing on these growing populations, Transitions Optical is introducing a new continuing education course providing insights into the New Multicultural Consumer. >>READ MORE>>
Highlighting Relationship Between Vision and Performance in Sports 
In the newest edition of the Healthy Vision podcast series with Dr. Val Jones, sponsored by Vistakon, optometrist and researcher Graham Erikson, OD, talk with Dr. Jones about the relationship between vision and sports performance, and Olympic champion sprinter Allyson Felix explains how good vision helps her cross the finish line ahead of the pack. >>READ MORE>>
ROB Poll: Equipment Investment and Transition to EHR Most Substantial Recent Practice Improvements
Asked what the most substantial recent change was made to their practices, 27 percent of ROB readers said they recently invested in new equipment, while another 27 percent pointed to their recent transition to electronic health records. Twenty percent said their most substantial recent change was relocation to a new office and seven percent said their most significant recent change was the addition of new medical eyecare and other services.
