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Thread: Is online refraction a game changer for optometrists?

  1. #1
    Rising Star
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    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.

  2. #2
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    Redhot Jumper 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.

  3. #3
    What's up? drk's Avatar
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    Not a game changer.

    Because it's fake.
    Last edited by drk; 03-16-2018 at 10:41 AM.

  4. #4
    Master OptiBoarder OptiBoard Silver Supporter
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    Quote Originally Posted by drk View Post
    Not a game changer.
    AND digital will never replace film !

  5. #5
    What's up? drk's Avatar
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    HAHAHAHAHA!!

    Because that analogy applies to everything, everywhere, right, Don?

    Do you know the first thing about refracting and how this (doesn't) work?

    Thought not.

  6. #6
    Eyes eastward... Uilleann's Avatar
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    The FDA isn't super hot on it either it seems...

    http://invisionmag.com/news/headline...ternative.html

  7. #7
    What's up? drk's Avatar
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    The FTC is a horrible organization on this issue.

    The FDA is actually good on this issue.

    However, the cease and desist had been issued last year, and we don't see much change in their behavior, do we?

    It's OK. I can buy anything on the internet from anywhere. Online refracting is a misnomer...it's not refracting. It's just some dumb dog-and-pony show dressed up as telemedicine so that some remote OMD can sign off on the same old/same old CLRX.

    As if you need an Rx in the first place!

    It's just 1-800's sad attempt to act like they aren't the public health menace that they are.

    Buyer beware, but that's OK.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by drk View Post
    HAHAHAHAHA!!

    Because that analogy applies to everything, everywhere, right, Don?

    Do you know the first thing about refracting and how this (doesn't) work?

    Thought not.
    Nope, nope and nope but I do know to not ever say never.

  9. #9
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    Do a good job and people will come. Some people leave and some return. Eventually all businesses will change (except for big box toy retailers. They're safe).

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by optical maven View Post
    Do a good job and people will come. Some people leave and some return. Eventually all businesses will change (except for big box toy retailers. They're safe).
    Service service service. One thing the on-liners or BIG BOYS are unable to provide.

  11. #11
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    Blue Jumper ..Service service s....................

    Quote Originally Posted by Lab Insight View Post

    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.

  12. #12
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    Redhot Jumper 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

  13. #13
    What's up? drk's Avatar
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    Gee, thanks, essilor!

  14. #14
    OptiBoardaholic OptiBoard Bronze Supporter
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    Its basically just an at home visual acuity test. Does anyone know what they pay OD's to sign off on their prescriptions? Has anyone here had to fill an opternative RX?

  15. #15
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    Blue Jumper Essilor commits to community development..........................

    Quote Originally Posted by drk View Post

    Gee, thanks, essilor!
    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

  16. #16
    What's up? drk's Avatar
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    200 million people in the Commonwealth
    ???

    The US has 350 million. Where are there 200 million impoverished in the "Commonwealth"?

    Oh, I get it...not all at once.

    So, get the press NOW for helping 200 million people on the installment plan over 10-15 years.

    Yep. That's essilor marketing, all right.

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by drk View Post
    ???

    The US has 350 million. Where are there 200 million impoverished in the "Commonwealth"?

    Oh, I get it...not all at once.

    So, get the press NOW for helping 200 million people on the installment plan over 10-15 years.

    Yep. That's essilor marketing, all right.
    Here's a better idea for them - since Warby Parker already claims to give a free pair of glasses to impoverished people with each pair sold to less impoverished people, that part is covered. WP is ont track to make 200 million pairs available to the poor much quicker than essilor. What essilor should really do to help these folks is make them shareholders - give them each a share of EssiLux and reap some dividends. Nothing like an income stream to help people in need. I mean if they want to help and all.

  18. #18
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    Blue Jumper provide free ophthalmic lenses to 200 million people ...............................

    Quote Originally Posted by Essilor

    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.

    ...................by that time Warby Parker will be owned by Essilor and fully participate.

  19. #19
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    Not sure why you feel the need to launch personal attacks when someone presents a view you disagree with. Ad hominem remarks are counterproductive to useful discussion. And as it happens you're wrong about this - technology is moving forward and refraction will be affected sooner or later. Might not be perfect or game changing yet - just give it some time. Hopefully you'll be retired by then:)

  20. #20
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    Blue Jumper Not sure why you feel the need to launch personal attacks .........................

    Quote Originally Posted by throughalensdarkly View Post

    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.

  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Ryser View Post
    ...................by that time Warby Parker will be owned by Essilor and fully participate.
    Goollly, I wonder where they will get all the frames????

  22. #22
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    Referring to DrK's response to Don earlier in the thread.

  23. #23
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    Redhot Jumper Goollly, I wonder where they will get all............................

    Quote Originally Posted by Don Gilman View Post

    Goollly, I wonder where they will get all the frames????


    .....................very simple, from the frame manufacturers they already own by that time.

  24. #24
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    great info

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