Questions

[Tulane]

Hello I'm new to this forum. Forgive me if my format is incorrect.

I am currently the office manager for a group of Optometrists and I have a few questions that I thought this would be the prefect place to ask.

First off does anyone know the legality of not having an optician in an optical. My doctors have informed me that everyone in the building is practicing under the constraints of their liscense and that we do not have to have an optician. While a few other people have told me that we must have an optician to dispense.

Secondly, I have no clue how to recommend a lens for a patient with an extremely high sphere like a -16. I currently have two that we put in polycarb, but the center thickness in 1.5 and the edge thickness is about half to 3/4 an inch on a small frame. The patient's current lenses are much thinner, but the doctor wanted polycarb because the other eye is blind. Any suggestions?

Thirdly, does anyone have any experience with Marmore for used edgers in Miami? I am trying to update our office and get a new edger and this company seems to have the best prices, but I'm worried about the quality.

I think that about covers the major questions that have been bothering me as of late. I'm trying to bring my office into the modern era, but it seems to be a real struggle. Almost every optician I've meet seems to genuinely offer help to me and you all also seem to be perfectionists which is I guess necessary for this profession.
thank you

[Fezz]

You have a mess on your hands.

I suggest that you contact a fellow Optiboarder, OpticLabRat. He is a very well respected member on here. His company, Vision Systems, Inc. is top notch.

Contact:

Leo Hadley Jr.
Vision Systems Inc.
727-365-7934
866-934-1030

www.ODMarketplace.com

[gemstone]

Hello I'm new to this forum. Forgive me if my format is incorrect.

I am currently the office manager for a group of Optometrists and I have a few questions that I thought this would be the prefect place to ask.

First off does anyone know the legality of not having an optician in an optical. My doctors have informed me that everyone in the building is practicing under the constraints of their liscense and that we do not have to have an optician. While a few other people have told me that we must have an optician to dispense.

Secondly, I have no clue how to recommend a lens for a patient with an extremely high sphere like a -16. I currently have two that we put in polycarb, but the center thickness in 1.5 and the edge thickness is about half to 3/4 an inch on a small frame. The patient's current lenses are much thinner, but the doctor wanted polycarb because the other eye is blind. Any suggestions?

Thirdly, does anyone have any experience with Marmore for used edgers in Miami? I am trying to update our office and get a new edger and this company seems to have the best prices, but I'm worried about the quality.

I think that about covers the major questions that have been bothering me as of late. I'm trying to bring my office into the modern era, but it seems to be a real struggle. Almost every optician I've meet seems to genuinely offer help to me and you all also seem to be perfectionists which is I guess necessary for this profession.
thank you

What experience do you have? An optician would know the answer to these questions.

[Chris Ryser]

Close by...............

Actually they are only about an hour south on HWY 75 from you

[Tulane]

What experience do you have? An optician would know the answer to these questions.

I have no expreience! I'm not an optician, I'm not an opthalmic tech. That's why I'm asking you wonderful people. The only opticains I normally interact with are sales reps who cannot answer my questions.

thanks

[Fezz]

I feel the office is needing a well qualified Optician...PRONTO. If you could get a knowledgeable Optician in, your job of managing would be much easier. Why worry about edgers, high minus lenses and such? Get the correct *tool* for the job, then yours will become much easier! Good luck!


PS. Welcome to Optiboard!

[jediron1]

Hello I'm new to this forum. Forgive me if my format is incorrect.

I am currently the office manager for a group of Optometrists and I have a few questions that I thought this would be the prefect place to ask.

First off does anyone know the legality of not having an optician in an optical. My doctors have informed me that everyone in the building is practicing under the constraints of their liscense and that we do not have to have an optician. While a few other people have told me that we must have an optician to dispense.

Secondly, I have no clue how to recommend a lens for a patient with an extremely high sphere like a -16. I currently have two that we put in polycarb, but the center thickness in 1.5 and the edge thickness is about half to 3/4 an inch on a small frame. The patient's current lenses are much thinner, but the doctor wanted polycarb because the other eye is blind. Any suggestions?

Thirdly, does anyone have any experience with Marmore for used edgers in Miami? I am trying to update our office and get a new edger and this company seems to have the best prices, but I'm worried about the quality.

I think that about covers the major questions that have been bothering me as of late. I'm trying to bring my office into the modern era, but it seems to be a real struggle. Almost every optician I've meet seems to genuinely offer help to me and you all also seem to be perfectionists which is I guess necessary for this profession.
thank you

First question: It depends on your state. In some states as long as the OD OMD are in the establishment at the same time they can have anyone fit glasses. But don't get me started on that.

Second:If they don't want to hire a qualified optician who knows what he is doing then you've got DOC's who are greedy and are not looking out for their patients. It sounds like your trying to be ethical and honest and because of that I will tell you contact your local lab and ask them for info
explain to them the situation and most labs will help you out.

Third: I have no experience with this line. I would check on line, it all depends what you want to do. You can get an edger finisher that would be basically for what is termed a finishing lab. You order the lenses finished and edge them yourself but you would need some one who knew what they doing before that. As I have said before here is just one more example of OD's trying to save a couple bucks because they are too cheap to pay a qualified optician. My recommendation would be to tell the greedy DOC's you need a qualified optician,stop trying to cut corners and do it the right way. Just another example of DOC's not wanting to pay, they would rather try to get by with the receptionist doing the opticians job! UNBELIEVABLE!

[Tulane]

First question: It depends on your state. In some states as long as the OD OMD are in the establishment at the same time they can have anyone fit glasses. But don't get me started on that.

Second:If they don't want to hire a qualified optician who knows what he is doing then you've got DOC's who are greedy and are not looking out for their patients. It sounds like your trying to be ethical and honest and because of that I will tell you contact your local lab and ask them for info
explain to them the situation and most labs will help you out.

Third: I have no experience with this line. I would check on line, it all depends what you want to do. You can get an edger finisher that would be basically for what is termed a finishing lab. You order the lenses finished and edge them yourself but you would need some one who knew what they doing before that. As I have said before here is just one more example of OD's trying to save a couple bucks because they are too cheap to pay a qualified optician. My recommendation would be to tell the greedy DOC's you need a qualified optician,stop trying to cut corners and do it the right way. Just another example of DOC's not wanting to pay, they would rather try to get by with the receptionist doing the opticians job! UNBELIEVABLE!

Thank you.
They had an optician for 20 years who retired and they've never wanted another one, but I agree we need to have one.

[chip anderson]

If you must use Poly, don't use it in powers over about -4.00. Distortion becomes intolerabe beyond this point.
As to what's available for high powers , Frames Fax puts out a lens catalogue which I am fairly sure you office has. It lists almost all lenses available and powers to which they can be applied.
Chip.

[jediron1]

Thank you.
They had an optician for 20 years who retired and they've never wanted another one, but I agree we need to have one.

Just from my experience a good optician is worth his weight in gold ( unless he or she weights 400 ) ha ha. But all kidding aside I would gather my facts and confront the DOC's and tell them the office will run much smoother,profit wise (that should get their attention) and he or she should be able to do the finishing work unless your office is so busy you might need two. If your grossing over a mill you need two opticians. One could be dispensing while the
other runs the finisher and vise versa. Just my take

[THE MEB]

agreed, you have to give them a plan that will show them that they are going to make more money, or at least stop the seive from running as your patient load decreases because of lack of expertise. It is disheartening that they don't want an optician after having one for 20 years. They must have seen less benefit, either financially, or in need of controlling their business. Sometimes we opticians that are worth our weight in gold need to show the OD'S we work for the neccesity of having us, as opposed to not.
So, if you can show them with numbers especially, that you have been losing money since the optician left, added with the fact that you rightly so, are uncomfortable with acting as an optician with virtually no experience, they hopefully will come around and understand the error of their ways. It won't be easy, especially if they are skin flints, and if the former optician was actually making what they were worth.

[cocoisland58]

I have no expreience! I'm not an optician, I'm not an opthalmic tech. That's why I'm asking you wonderful people. The only opticains I normally interact with are sales reps who cannot answer my questions.

thanks

Oh my God. No optical experience. Are you interacting with the patients?Does anyone there have an optical background? You can learn on the job for sure but without a mentoring optician or very experienced dispenser you are in for a heap o trouble. The sales reps cannot answer your questions because they are no doubt not opticians either. Your lab is a good source of information. Find someone who knows what they are talking about and make them your "go to guy". And of course this forum is invaluable. Don't be surprised if the retail end of this practice goes quickly down the tubes. It probably won't be your fault.

[hcjilson]

I can't believe no one reported this post.....

The poster is not an eyecare professional.He or She is an office manager, and not qualified to ask, much less understand the plethora of answers here. They are just wasting your time which was evident when you saw what the occupation was , versus the statement that the poster was an office manager.
Thread closed!

[hcjilson]

After further thought and ......

After some further thought and some input from a member I have reopened this thread. Bear in mind Tulane represents a multi doc practice with enough resources to have a practice manager but not enough to hire an optician.They expect office personel to reccomend lenses to their patients. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE??

How can optometry wonder why opticians get a little upset at this sort of thing?

[NavyChief]

Tulane, You never did say what state you're in.