Progressive brand list

[L.A.B.]

Looking for a list of progressives and when they were first manufactured (going back to inception). Most that I have found do not state the date it became available.

[Fezz]

The search function works great!

http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...light=ultravue

http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...ight=omnifocal


These may help. They don't list the exact day or time, but it is a starting point!

[L.A.B.]

Thanks, One of those things my Doctor asked me to compile!

[Fezz]

Curious.........how will the doc use the info?

What is the thought process?

[L.A.B.]

Actually, he is going to use it in the exam rooms to demonstrate the differences of older vs. newer designs. It's just going to be another visual to help educate patients about the differences in product choices that we offer vs. the retail settings around us.

[scriptfiller]

Shouldn't the optician be doing that, not the OD/OMD?

[L.A.B.]

No, I believe that educating patients comes from the Doctor and the optician. Most patients are going to complain first with the Doctor so it is best that a Doctor understands product differences. It's important to work as a team and important the doctor knows how his product differs from the competition. This doesn't mean that the Doctor spends 15 minutes making recommendations and discussing product, it is our job as opticians to give more detailed information to the patient.

[Fezz]

Thanks for the response! I appluad you and the doc for taking a proactive role and stepping up!

[sharpstick777]

No, I believe that educating patients comes from the Doctor and the optician. Most patients are going to complain first with the Doctor so it is best that a Doctor understands product differences. It's important to work as a team and important the doctor knows how his product differs from the competition. This doesn't mean that the Doctor spends 15 minutes making recommendations and discussing product, it is our job as opticians to give more detailed information to the patient.

Although its good for the OD to start the discussion of the products in the exam room, I have seen capture drop if the Dr. takes to long. The patient usually has a time need to leave the practice. In my most successful practices ($2 million a year or more) the Opticians do most of the work. Products change too quickly for OD's to keep up on all the Meds, contact and then lens information as it changes every month. I don't even recommend OD's do contacts anymore in busy practices because of the chair time is so enormous.

Delegation is your friend. A good optician will pick on up on subtle thing the Dr. misses in the exam room. Drs are speakers, a good optician is a listener first. I can't tell you how many times I would discuss what products the patient choose with the Dr., and the patients lifestyle needs, and he would simply respond "I didn't know they did that".

OD look at the eyes, but good Opticians look at the lifestyle and pick up subtle clues, such as brand of purse and watch, shoes, and brands on hats they are wearing, etc.

[MakeOptics]

OD look at the eyes, but good Opticians look at the lifestyle and pick up subtle clues, such as brand of purse and watch, shoes, and brands on hats they are wearing, etc.

The part from subtle clues forward is what a good salesman does. If opticians can call themselves salesmen they would reach a whole other plane of practicing this profession. Sales is the biggest weakness I see in many opticians.