What are people willing to pay for? -optometry

[mmarin]

Hi,
at the moment we offer basis refraction exams and charge very little for them. In big parts of Europe exams are usually free when customers buy their glasses in the shop. I've been thinking about giving two services, a basic refraction one just for the prescription and a bigger more expensive one that has more things in it. My question is what to put in the "more"?

For sure we will measure the IOP with the tonometer and do the Schirmer's test. What else?

Thanks, Marin

[KrystleClear]

When I worked for a chain, our routine exams included the following:
-Autorefractor test for all patients
-Visual Field test for all adult patients
-Non-contact IOP test for all patients 15 years old and up and for children as needed
-Dilation & Fundus Exam and brief check of the eyelids and external bits. If there were any diagnoses, this would be discussed with the patient.
-Color vision test when needed
-Refraction and checking of visual acuities with and without correction for distance vision and near vision.

All patients who paid for a refraction would leave with a copy of their script.

Now, if a patient wanted contacts, the contact lens exam and fitting was considered an addition service. Medical visits for "acute" issues like conjunctivitis, ulcers, etc. were not considered routine and would be billed differently.

None of the doctors I worked with have really ever done just a refraction - they always check the health of the eyes as well just to be sure there isn't anything going on medically that needs to be addressed. Like if a patient had a branch retinal vein occlusion and you just do a manifest refraction, you'd never know, but in the US we have a culture of suing, especially suing doctors for malpractice. Most doctors err on the side of caution and do thorough exams even for patients who really only care about updating their glasses or contacts.

Not sure if that helps you or if that was even what you were asking, but that's my two cents. :)

[mmarin]

Thank you very much for your input!

[Uncle Fester]

Try this site below and remember our crazy insurance system encourages more procedures for greater reimbursements. Our Doc's offer a wellness scan on an OTC (Ocular Coherence Tomography) machine for $40 that is not covered by insurance providing a "base line" for any future issues. Most opt for it. If an issue is discovered that becomes a separate billable event.

https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/car...ye-exams?sso=y