I really like this approach.
For the exam side of things, we schedule up to a year in advance for future appointments so that patients don't fall through the cracks. Anyone who refuses to schedule their next appointment is put on a recall list.
We have a lot of patients who bring their glasses in for a "tune up," even though they need no adjustments or repair. I will change their nosepads, tighten screws, and give them a spa day in the ultra-sonic cleaner (the glasses, not the patients - it's not that big!). It's a good opportunity to build a relationship with your customers/patient base and forge patient loyalty. If they apologize for "bothering" me, I correct them - it's my job and I am happy to do it! (There are those neurotic patients, though...) This is our edge over buying glasses online or going to a big box optical. I have heard of some big box shops charging for nosepads or adjustments on glasses they made and sold.
I would love to learn to solder because I get many requests and with a more geriatric patient base, we see a lot of long discontinued frames come through the optical. Of course, we want to sell frames but soldering could be potentially worthwhile too. Just have to convince the MD to buy me a kit and teach myself how to do it.
I am going to start letting my patients know during the dispense that we do free lifetime adjustments.
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