I had a patient relay to me their interaction with what appears to be an optician with a paternalistic bent.
We have heard some unusual things about this group for some time, but some of it appeared to be so out there that I wasn't sure anyone took it seriously, until now.
Apparently the patient (who knows quite a big about optics, they have an engineering background) was asking as bunch of questions regarding the lens designs, the AR stacks, the optical resins, etc... they offered, and apparently the optician basically said they has discussed it enough with the patient, and if they wanted to know all of this, and then "dictate" what they wanted, they should go somewhere else. The optician went on to explain that patients are welcome to provide "some" input on the frame, and lens options, but the optician had "spend thousands of dollars and many hours" on understanding their job so ultimately the decisions regarding lens design used, AR, lens materials, etc... are exclusively theirs to make since it is "their name" on the final product.
I have to admit, I was kinda floored. I've never heard of anyone telling a patient to pound dirt because they didn't want to explain something to them. In this day and age, I don't know of any optician that is unwilling to explain about the lenses they offer, where collaboration on finding the best solution with the patient was unwelcome, and that the optician ultimately decides all aspects of what is dispensed for the patient.
For the most part, isn't opticianry about working with the patient? It's essentially unavoidable as far as I see it since they and/or their insurance are paying for the final product.
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