Eight percent of people may have glaucoma. That’s one in 12 customers who visit your optical shop — and half of them don’t even realize they have it. If your shop has an optometrist on staff but you’re not offering medical care, you could be missing out.
Modern eye care is holistic, and an optometrist who conducts exams and prescribes corrective lenses, but stops at diagnosing or treating eye diseases, leaves valuable opportunities on the table. By adding medical services to your optical shop’s offerings, you can have a positive impact on your community’s eye health, build longer-term relationships, and take advantage of key business opportunities you might be missing.
Benefits of Integrating Medical Care
With the right diagnostic tools, your shop’s optometrist can screen for and manage glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, macular degeneration, and many more common eye conditions. Some patients can present with treatable issues like dry eye, infection, or minor injuries that you can treat on demand.
Early Detection Saves Sight
Routine eye exams for corrective lenses establish a solid baseline, but comprehensive examinations can reveal far more. Visual field testing can identify progressive conditions like glaucoma, which often has no symptoms in its early stages. Since about 25% of glaucoma patients experience blindness in one eye after 10 years, and 13% experience complete blindness after 20 years, early intervention can make a tremendous difference in preserving sight.
Improve Access to Eye Care
Access to adequate care is one of the main reasons glaucoma remains underdiagnosed. You can help bridge the gap by offering medical services to customers in your area. Consider expanding your diagnostic exams, offering on-site treatments, and referring to other specialists to make a positive impact on community health while tapping into new revenue streams.
Expand Your Optical Shop’s Offerings
Differentiate yourself from your retail-only competitors. Optical medical services are in high demand, and in some areas, you can offer screenings that align with local requirements like driver's licensing. When you add medical to your shop, customers can become patients and you’ll get better financial return on your investment. Expanding your services will position your shop as a care-first provider for total vision and eye health — not just a place to buy glasses.
How to Set Up Your Shop’s Medical Care Options
You don’t need to convert your shop into a full medical facility to start offering optical medical care. Instead, focus on using the skills and tools already at your fingertips.
- Collaborate with a licensed care provider. If you already have an optometrist on staff, ensure their skills are up to date and they’re ready to diagnose, manage, and create treatment plans for common eye conditions. Keep specialists’ contact info on hand so you’ll be ready to make referrals as necessary.
- Invest in the best diagnostic equipment. Getting started may be closer than you think. Build your diagnostic toolkit around Virtual Field, prepare an inventory of treatments, and incorporate a robust electronic health record (EHR) system to begin expanding your services.
- Understand billing and coding. Go beyond the basics. Train your staff to manage medical billing, understand common CPT codes for eye exams, and be prepared for compliance with insurance requirements.
Virtual Field Can Transform Your Approach
Visual field testing equipment is a must, but you don’t have to spend tens of thousands of dollars or devote a large amount of space to a tabletop device. Virtual Field is the efficient, affordable, and patient-friendly alternative to traditional testing.
Standard visual field testing equipment calls for a significant upfront cost, but Virtual Field’s affordable options start at just $199 per month. Use Virtual Field anywhere in your shop — all you need is WiFi and a compatible device like a laptop or tablet to run an exam.
The portable headset doesn’t require a dedicated space or a darkened room, either. Technicians and optometrists can use Virtual Field almost anywhere. Unlike traditional tabletop machines, patients prefer Virtual Field’s lightweight and comfortable headset — especially patients with pain or mobility issues. Connect with patients in their preferred language with 44 audio language options.
Virtual Field’s highly accurate visual field exams and advanced BOLT algorithm cut down on human error and help you make faster, more accurate diagnoses. Monitor progressive conditions, make well-informed treatment plans, and examine more patients in less time. When you’re ready to get started, our detailed guides will walk you through all 13 exams available using Virtual Field.
Maximize ROI by Offering More Comprehensive Care
Go beyond eyewear and routine exams. When you expand your service offerings to include medical care, you can monitor the progression of eye diseases like glaucoma, treat common conditions, and increase your revenue. Transform your customers into patients to build long-term relationships and emphasize your shop’s commitment to complete eye care.
Get a free demo today and see how Virtual Field can help you grow your business and make a positive impact on optical health.
About Virtual Field
Virtual Field delivers an exceptional eye exam experience. Eye care professionals including ophthalmologists and optometrists examine patients faster, more efficiently, and more comfortably than ever before. Exams include Visual Field, 24-2, Kinetic Visual Field (Goldmann Perimetry), Ptosis, Esterman, Color Vision, Pupillometry, and more.