Optometry in 2035. Does it exist?

[Chris Ryser]

the winners are the ones that find out how to make it work for them.

Changes are coming, and the winners are the ones that find out how to make it work for them. Unlike the big companies, we cant choose what the game is, but we can certainly have the best strategies for the new playing field.

nice post on a different idea...........and it seems to work.

[drk]

Chris, the professional associations are just as much to blame for this debacle by allowing it to happen for so many years and accepting bribe sponsorship money at the same time.

Whether the associations knew it or not at the time, the sponsorship funds were more of a pay off to turn a blind eye and pave the road for the future to where we are today.

Now the associations bit the hand that fed them, and tried to take them to court, which is even more ludicrous. The lawyers on both sides have to be laughing their asses off on this one - do I want my new yacht in white or beige?

+1

[drk]

Computers may replace manual objective and subjective refraction... in fact they already have. But deciding what to prescribe so that the patient will be happy with their Rx, and not come back complaining, has not yet been mastered by the AI people. In fact, it has not yet been mastered by many people holding licenses that allow them to refract.

FJP, you are of course correct.

I think the best way to conceptualize it, however, is that you aren't going to get a machine to practice optometry.

The difference in concept being, what "optometry" is.

I know you're an old guy, and so am I. I've done this forever. The concept that was promulgated on the front end of the thread "at the core, optometry is just refracting" is way, way, way off the mark. We "solve eye problems". All damn day long.

Nothing more, nothing less.

I'm irritated when those outside the profession think of optometry that way, but they're ignoramuses. But for "optio" to say that makes me cry. Maybe she's a newbie?

[fjpod]

You're right except for one thing.... I'm not old...lol.

FJP, you are of course correct.

I think the best way to conceptualize it, however, is that you aren't going to get a machine to practice optometry.

The difference in concept being, what "optometry" is.

I know you're and old guy, and so am I. I've done this forever. The concept that was promulgated on the front end of the thread "at the core, optometry is just refracting" is way, way, way off the mark. We "solve eye problems". All damn day long.

Nothing more, nothing less.

I'm irritated when those outside the profession think of optometry that way, but they're ignoramuses. But for "optio" to say that makes me cry. Maybe she's a newbie?

[Chris Ryser]

So lets put on our seatbelts and be ready for some major changes.....................

Computers may replace manual objective and subjective refraction... in fact they already have. But deciding what to prescribe so that the patient will be happy with their Rx, and not come back complaining, has not yet been mastered by the AI people. In fact, it has not yet been mastered by many people holding licenses that allow them to refract.

I would just like to add that in many or all professions there are superb specialists and also some that are not and minimal.

It is a fact that there are many brains, even being funded by major corporations that are working on simple and automatised solutions to measure the optical error of the human eye and neutralize it with a perfectly valid prescription.

By the year 2035 all of you will be used to purchase glasses online and have them adjusted and serviced by an optical service outlet of the online seller, or a dispensing optician that has survived the change, and that adjustment or service will be against a fee.

The first such change will most probably be introduced starting in the year 2018, when the LensCrafter stores will very probably, also become service centers for Essilux online owned opticals, of which there are now according to my own calculations at:

http://optochemicals.com/web_listing.htm

near the bottom of the page.
Some twenty of them on a worldwide basis are Essilux owned.

These corporation opened online opticals are for sure not turning out crappy quality as being owned by the opticals
largest corporation, and lens and frame manufacturer and suppliers.

So lets put on our seatbelts and be ready for some major changes.

[Golfnorth]

I would just like to add that in many or all professions there are superb specialists and also some that are not and minimal.

It is a fact that there are many brains, even being funded by major corporations that are working on simple and automatised solutions to measure the optical error of the human eye and neutralize it with a perfectly valid prescription.

By the year 2035 all of you will be used to purchase glasses online and have them adjusted and serviced by an optical service outlet of the online seller, or a dispensing optician that has survived the change, and that adjustment or service will be against a fee.

The first such change will most probably be introduced starting in the year 2018, when the LensCrafter stores will very probably, also become service centers for Essilux online owned opticals, of which there are now according to my own calculations at:

http://optochemicals.com/web_listing.htm

near the bottom of the page.
Some twenty of them on a worldwide basis are Essilux owned.

These corporation opened online opticals are for sure not turning out crappy quality as being owned by the opticals
largest corporation, and lens and frame manufacturer and suppliers.

So lets put on our seatbelts and be ready for some major changes.

Yes and I predict that major changes will come in the optical chemical market too.
Sorry Chris but you will be out of business soon at Opto Chemicals.

[optical maven]

Recent studies show, for Canadians, there still is an overwhelming percentage that prefer in person shopping. Online hasn't penetrated as much as US. Perhaps our cold climate means going to the mall is better than staying home. For sure online shopping is there and one day may be the only avenue for sales. But so far people still like to put something on in person and then buy. Exceptional service will still retain customers.

[Chris Ryser]

I predict that major changes will come in the optical chemical market too. ..........

Yes and I predict that major changes will come in the optical chemical market too.

Sorry Chris but you will be out of business soon at Opto Chemicals.

Thank you Golfnorth.......................... for your prediction.

However your prediction is just about 9 month late, I am out of business since August 31, 2017 when my lease ended, which I made after I sold my 15,000sq foot building a few years back.

In the meantime I have sold the OptoChemicals company to McCray, just about next door to you.

[Chris Ryser]

Exceptional service will still retain customers................................

But so far people still like to put something on in person and then buy. Exceptional service will still retain customers.

........good point.

However the generation of the older non web savvy people
is currently dying off. and most of them will be gone in a couple of years.

An old tool shed in Florida house which I converted into a modern office that had a floor model air conditioner which broke down after 5 years of use. some 5 years ago.

I went back to Home Depot were I bought it originally. They did have non in stock and the temperature was hot.

So I went on AMAZON on the internet. and they had one floor model with also a heater included for 300.00 less that the one in the store, and I ordered it.

Ordering was Wednesday afternoon at 3pm and Thursday morning at 11 am a UPS truck stopped and rolled the 2 boxes right to my office door.

The saving was the $ 300.00 and another $ 30.00 to rent a Van at Home Depot if they would have had the air conditioner.

[optio]

Somewhat tangentially related to this thread.

Amazon's US sales to match Walmart's within three years, JP Morgan predicts
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/15/amaz...-predicts.html

That is quite the forecast.

[Chris Ryser]

will they compete with the present players or our established B&M market ?

Somewhat tangentially related to this thread.

Amazon's US sales to match Walmart's within three years, JP Morgan predicts

That is quite the forecast.

.......................yes that is quite a forecast and will probably happen.

However it does not tell us who is losing that amount of sales increase ?

If they start to sell eyeglasses will they compete with the present players or our established B&M market ?

[Chris Ryser]

I just had another experience with Amazon........................

I just had another experience with Amazon. I ordered last Thursday an electronic collar dog training system.

They emailed that it would be delivered on Sunday.

At 1pm a US Post Office Van stopped by the house and delivered the small box. (I am still in Florida)

I am wondering how Amazon can get the US Post office to work and deliver on a Sunday.

[rbaker]

I just had another experience with Amazon. I ordered last Thursday an electronic collar dog training system.

They emailed that it would be delivered on Sunday.

At 1pm a US Post Office Van stopped by the house and delivered the small box. (I am still in Florida)

I am wondering how Amazon can get the US Post office to work and deliver on a Sunday.

So are we taxpayers wondering about the USPS. The U.S. Postal Service lost $2.7 billion in fiscal 2017 while delivering packages at greatly reduced rates. I am not to thrilled with Cliff Flaven picking my pocket so you can get your package on Sunday.

Stop wasting tax payers money. Privatize the US Mail. And, while you are at it, privatize the Veterans Administration.

[Chris Ryser]

Only 13 days left .....................................

There are now only 13 days left before the deadline of June 1, 2018, for the worlds biggest event to happen any day in the optical eyeglass industry of wholesale as well as retail.

As Canada is an easier test market than the USA, and directly run by the French head office, the changes will very probably be felt faster, than across the border in the USA.

They will start advertising their by internet sold glasses, to be serviced by the LensCrafter and the Essilor owned "New Look" chain stores. That will provide them with some over 700 stores to start with, and become internet products sold service stations, besides their regular activities.

Opticians could be competitive by starting a similar system.

[CNG]

Optometry and Opticianry will embrace telemedicine and it will be an important part of their practices. The industry will turn into thumprint technology in which refractions and lenses will be based on computer generated maps that are unique to each practice. Refractions that only work with in-house printed lenses and frames will be the norm. Eyeglasses will still be around as these new maps will allow to compensate the minute changes that are related to aging. Surgery will be the done remotely by big centers for the masses but aging preventing will not stop changes in refraction. Contact lenses will still be fitted but they will be high tech lenses that connect social media, work and leisure that must be fined tune by opticians. Cell phones are a thing of the past. Your connectivity to the world will be paid to opticians instead of phone companies. Ophthalmology will eventually disappear as surgery will be done totally remotely and optometrists will be in charge of any disease. Life will be back to being Rose color for everyone in the optical field. Ah opticians still do not refract...they now have A.I. Refractors.

Enjoy.