Is online refraction a game changer for optometrists?
This is apparently becoming a bigger and bigger issue in the U.S. First, some background. The main player is currently Opternative. My understanding is that they are the refraction service that one gets at 1-800 contacts.
$50 for a DIY test.
https://www.opternative.com/
1-800. But the (opternative?) test is currently free. (for a limited time)
https://www.1800contacts.com/online-...s-prescription
$40 at Lens.com
https://www.lens.com/vision-test/
Then there's things like this (Bottleneckers):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNBChmJUIvs
And this (Huffingtonpost):
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry...6697224d7e?f6r
And lobby groups like this:
https://americansforvisioncareinnovation.org/
And cool videos like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKibAhsDQg8
So is this the end? Will patients will stop coming to us becaue they can do it at home for half (or less, or none) of the cost?
Call me a bit skeptical, but I don't see THIS being the end. Can it move the needle? Perhaps a bit. For the 20 year old college student who is out of CLs, and whose Rx expired last year, and whose Rx hasn't changed in 3 years, will certainly prefer doing it at home, rather than forking out $90 for an eye exam. But for a 45 year old fully-employed person wanting an Rx update... Eye exams just aren't THAT inconvenient (in terms of time and cost) for people to find any means possible to circumvent it. And it's not as though the DIY is super-duper convenient either. My computer room as set up right now, doesn't allow me to step back 20 feet (or whatever) from my computer screen without having me bump into things. And you have to figure out how to do it also, even if it is "easy". The alternative is the patient pays $80, and has to find time to run to the mall for the eye exam, a trip that'll take maybe 1 hour out of their day. And there's no need to figure anything out. And they can do shopping at the same time. The gain/efficiency of DIY just doesn't seem that significant to me.
Again, will some people opt for this? Absolutely. But I don't see any 20-somethings doing online DIY indefinitely. Some of them will every few years check in at an optometrist "just to make sure" everything is OK. And certainly no "elderly" people will DIY. So I don't see onine refraction causing optometrists to end up on breadlines. But I think it's unfortunate this has to actually be discussed.
We will have to wait and see when the initial fog clears up..........................
We will see a little clearer starting somewhere within the next 6 to 12 months after the official Essilux merger .
They two together own hundreds of optical manufacturing companies world wide.
They also own at least between 6- 7,000 optical retail outlets at this time already, between opticians and optometrists.
They also will have the largest pack of online optical's on a worldwide basis.
They will continue to acquire others through already owned subsidiaries of other names.
We will have to wait and see when the initial fog clears up.
..Service service s....................
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lab Insight
Service service service.
One thing the on-liners or BIG BOYS are unable to provide.
....................correct
However you will have to charge for the service when giving it and not at the point of sale way ahead.
What is the difference between vision tests and an eye examination? .................
I found a website by Essilor to explain the subject:
FROM A VISION TEST
TO EYE EXAMINATION
What is the difference between vision tests and an eye examination? What are their benefice and which one choose? Find out all the answers to your questions.
See all of it:
https://www.essilor.com/en/vision-tests
Essilor commits to community development..........................
Quote:
Originally Posted by
drk
Essilor commits to community development
April 27, 2018
Essilor announced a partnership with the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust on a $1 billion Vision Catalyst Fund intended to provide viable eye health solutions to global populations.
The trust was established in 2012 and serves communities across the Commonwealth, which comprises 2.4 million people in 53 countries.
Essilor stated in a press release that access to improved vision care is an essential building block to generating a more equitable society.
“A simple pair of glasses has the power to change a person’s life and create positive ripple effects on the social and economic development of their community,” chief executive and chairman of Essilor, Hubert Sagnieres, said in the release.
Continuing its dedication to underserved communities, Essilor intends to elevate vision care infrastructure and provide free ophthalmic lenses to 200 million people in the Commonwealth living below the poverty line by 2030.
source:
https://www.healio.com/optometry/bus...ty-development
provide free ophthalmic lenses to 200 million people ...............................
Quote:
Originally Posted by Essilor
...................by that time Warby Parker will be owned by Essilor and fully participate.
Not sure why you feel the need to launch personal attacks .........................
Quote:
Originally Posted by
throughalensdarkly
Not sure why you feel the need to launch personal attacks when someone presents a view you disagree with.
Just wondering who made that so called personal attack, could not see any.
Goollly, I wonder where they will get all............................
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Don Gilman
Goollly, I wonder where they will get all the frames????
.....................very simple, from the frame manufacturers they already own by that time.
