Effective marketing achieves two goals: attracting new customers and retaining new ones. Many businesses work their way toward the first goal by raising brand awareness through traditional and digital advertising channels. But, not all put the same level of effort on developing brand loyalty, which is imperative for reaching the second goal. Those businesses may not realize that loyal customers are more than customers, but can also serve as brand advocates who increase profits from not only patronage, but referrals.

The eye care industry is no exception. According to Michael Rothschild, OD, in his article on Optometry Times, the relationship between patient loyalty and referrals is a strong one. The idea is that satisfied patients may share their positive experiences with not only with their family and friends, but also to the public by posting their feedback on blogs, social media pages, or review sites. Of course, the question is, do people pay attention to these? The answer is yes.

“There are endless opportunities to research and learn about choices available,” Rothschild writes. “But people still want a recommendation from someone who has been there.”

Potential patients can “Google” for reviews before making a decision on whether or not to go to …

According to Dr. Esplin, Daytona has had an immediate and improved impact on patient flow, data, and profitability. Dr. Esplin has said that the Daytona provides better clinical information and patient care and is easy to use without interrupting office flow. From a financial standpoint, in his first month, Dr. Esplin covered nearly triple the monthly cost of the Daytona, and that was before he and his staff refined their messaging and approach.

When it comes to patient care, Ophthalmologists that Dr. Esplin has referred his patients to have reported back that his optomap findings could be missed and that they are impressed with the technology.

Dr. Esplin has noticed a new level of enthusiasm from his staff when using the Daytona to image patients. It’s more than just an extra fee to them, the images provide the doctor with valuable clinical data for quality patient care.

Dr. Esplin runs a two-doctor private practice in Spanish Fork, UT.

A detached retina is a serious eye condition which can cause blindness if not treated by medical professionals. According to the Kellogg Eye Center, symptoms of a detached retina include seeing flashing lights and floaters, or a grey veil which moves across your field of vision.

About Detached Retinas

The retina is essential for vision, as it is the vehicle that sends visual images to the brain. In normal conditions, the retina lies smoothly against the eyeball wall and functions like the film inside a camera. Many millions of light-sensitive retinal cells are responsible for processing and developing optical images and transmitting them to the brain. When a retina becomes detached, vision is blurred and immediate treatment is critical, as any form of detachment results in some loss of sight.

What Causes a Detached Retina?

As people age, the vitreous gel situated between the retina and the lens of the eye may begin to pull away. This is a normal occurrence in most cases, however, some people experience slight tears to the retina as the vitreous gel moves, eventually causing retinal detachment.

Although a detached retina can occur at any age, it is more common in middle-aged people and older. People …

According to Lighthouse International, several aspects that separate women from men contribute to greater risk factors when it comes to some areas of health. In fact, two-thirds of people in the U.S. who suffer from vision loss are women. This brings to the forefront the importance of women and eye health.

According to Vision Aware, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts are all common diseases that can be exacerbated or caused by the aging process, especially in women. Any or all of these diseases can cause permanent, uncorrectable vision loss if not diagnosed early and treatment started in the onset. Only 9 percent of women realize they are at greater risk for eye disease, and by the time changes in vision are noticed and an exam is done, the damage is usually permanent.

Another factor affecting women and eye health are hormones, according to Vision Aware. Synthetic hormones are used for birth control in earlier years and for control over symptoms of menopause in our later years. While both applications have positive health benefits, they can also affect your vision. Synthetic hormones bring with them the risk of vascular complications such as blood clots and stroke, both …

Caused by excess fluid in the eye, glaucoma results in increased pressure in the eye that may eventually damage the optic nerve, according to The Glaucoma Foundation. Unfortunately, by the time vision loss is noticeable, it is also permanent. A regular comprehensive eye exam incorporating optomap^®, which can help with early disease detection, is critical to prevent vision loss. For patients living with glaucoma and low vision, there is help. A low vision specialist can help you redesign your life so you can be safely independent.

Although there are many forms of glaucoma, the following four, according to The Glaucoma Foundation, are some of the most common:

1. Primary Open-Angle: Generally found in patients over 50, this is the most common form of glaucoma in the U.S. This form is characterized by blind spots that form first in the peripheral vision.

2. Normal Tension: Without the detection of higher-than-usual pressure in the eye, this form is thought to be caused by poor circulation of blood to the optic nerve. Vision damage can occur anywhere in the visual field.

3. Angle-Closure: Affecting nearly half a million Americans, this form of glaucoma affects those of Asian descent and far-sighted …

Sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, March is National Nutrition Month®. The theme for 2015 is “Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle” and aims to educate people on the numerous benefits of eating healthy, maintaining physical activity and developing lifestyle habits. While a healthy diet and exercise program can help you lose weight, it is not just beneficial to your waistline. Because your eyes are complex organs that depend on healthy cells and numerous blood vessels, eating for eye health is important for your vision. Be sure to include these three tips when adopting a healthier lifestyle:

1. Increase Antioxidant Intake

According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), antioxidants can help reduce the risk of developing a variety of visual impairments. Foods rich in Vitamins C and E work to create and maintain healthy cells, and there is evidence antioxidants such as these can help prevent glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Vitamin C is best found in fruits and vegetables while Vitamin E is found in nuts, sweet potatoes, and fortified cereals.

2. Eat your Greens

Lutein and Zeaxanthin are vital nutrients that protect the eye against blue light and act as antioxidants. The two nutrients, known …

Scott Schachter, OD added optomap to his practice in 2004 after his patients started saying that automatic dilation was keeping them away.  optomap, which is complimentary to dilation, provides him with clinical data for those patients who want an alternative or want to schedule dilation for a different time.

Over the years, optomap has enabled him to diagnose and treat a variety of diseases and to utilize optomap as part of a year-over-year treatment tool. He says, “The more images I see, the more I realize that I might not see them if I wasn’t using this technology.” Patient education and quality of care has helped him maintain a high acceptance rate, even after eight years.

The images provide the doctor with valuable clinical data for quality patient care and patients who have conditions such as diabetes can see the impact of the disease and understand the need for compliance better. Dr. Schachter says, “You can say the words, but without patients seeing what you’re talking about, it’s not the same.”

Practice Information

– Advanced Eyecare and the Eyewear Gallery – Pismo Beach, CA – Single doctor, private practice

Reason for Purchase

– Patient education …

In order for our organs, such as our heart and lungs, to function well and remain healthy, we must take care of them. However, we often neglect our eyes until we have a problem with our vision. In order to protect your and your family’s eyesight, the following basic eye care and health measures were suggested by the Center for Disease Control.

Regular Comprehensive Eye Exams

Regularly scheduled comprehensive eye exams are paramount to protecting vision. Eye diseases and problems that damage vision often start before you notice any symptoms. Unfortunately for many, once problems are noticeable, treatment is unable to restore lost eyesight. Be sure to provide the doctor with a complete family history, and stick to the schedule they provide for you and your family members. Ask your doctor if they use optomap® in addition to dilation.

Diet and Weight

Maintaining a healthy weight is very important. If you are overweight or obese, you are more susceptible to diabetes, which can lead to diabetic retinopathy, as well as an increased risk of developing glaucoma. Stick to a diet that bolsters eye health and your whole body will benefit.

Protective Eyewear

Whether …

History

A 60 year-old male visited the Retina Institute of Hawaii complaining of poor central vision in the right eye. He began to notice vision loss inferiorly one week prior, which progressed to central vision loss two days prior to exam. The patient was CF with eccentric viewing.

Examination 

Upon a dilated fundus examination, there was a macula-off superior Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment with a superotemporal horse-shoe tear. optomap® plus images were captured to document the retinal detachment and horseshoe tear and assist in explaining the treatment plan to the patient. A pneumatic retinopexy was immediately performed which reattached the macula.

The patient laid in the office in a face-down position for 30 minutes and was instructed to maintain the face-down position overnight. On the second day, his vision was 20/400 and the optomap revealed that the macula was reattached, and much of the subretinal fluid shifted inferiorly. It was likely he alternated between the face-down and head-up position. Laser retinopexy was performed to seal the horseshoe tear found in the superior temporal quadrant (one day after pneumatic). The patient was then asked to maintain head tilted to left, so that the pneumatic retinopexy would continue to …

Optos really appreciates the positive feedback we receive from our clients. Our customers are successful using our ultra-widefield retinal imaging technology and we love sharing their successes.  This customer spotlight will focus on Eberle Eyecare, a private practice in Anchorage, Alaska.

When Dr. Eberle attended the Pacific University College of Optometry, she had used optomap technology and looked forward to offering it to her patients when she opened her practice in 2010. Later, when Dr. Eberle attended the Vision Source Exchange meeting in 2013, she used that opportunity to purchase a Daytona for the benefit of her patients.

Since we had added to the modalities since she had last used optomap, Dr. Eberle took advantage of her membership with Vision Source and traveled to Scotland to learn all the nuances of using Daytona’s autofluorescence (AF) capabilities. Dr. Eberle found the training valuable and remarked, “With AF, I have the ability to isolate the cell where changes start in the disease processes,” Dr. Eberle says. “When we can pick it up earlier, the outcome is much better for the patients.”

Having purchased the Daytona for image clarity, clinical decision-making and as an aid in patient education, Dr. Eberle said she noticed the …