Some contact lens and drug companies directly market to consumers via television and magazines, which can lead to patients asking for specific prescription products. Also common is the request for refractive surgical procedures based on direct-to-consumer advertising that guarantees outcomes we know are outside of expected results. So what can we do to cope with this dilemma? The proactive approach is an alternative approach that is possible and results in superior doctor-patient relationships, practice growth and financial success, as well as overall improvement in professional satisfaction. The approach is proactive. First you gather historical and subjective information. Then you analyze the data based on clinical findings. Finally, you present the patient with treatment options. Patients come for expertise of their ophthalmologists or optometrists. Otherwise, they would see a practitioner who offers the cheapest and most convenient source of eye care and materials. By educating a patient about his condition and treatment, you take a strongly proactive approach. The result is a more compliant patient who understands his eye health status and the effects of treatment. Proactively, you could address the presence of against-the-rule astigmatism. With the number of excellent toric disposable designs available, we can now correct vision to levels matching best corrected spectacle acuity while maintaining the convenience and ocular health response of frequent replacement lens systems.
The critical element in success with soft toric disposable lenses is obtaining the optimal lens fit for excellent, stable vision and comfort. Many practitioners find themselves compromising vision in order to use a disposable lens. In the past, we ignored low cylinders so we could fit a patient with disposable lenses. Now we can both correct the astigmatism and use disposable lenses, but we must still insist that the toric disposable lenses provide stable and excellent vision and comfort. We can achieve this goal in a much higher percentage of cases today than ever before. Patient is being asked how often he discards his lenses and indicates that the records show he is using the 2-week lenses for about 1 month. Educate the patient in a friendly way about the importance of compliance with the prescribed disposal schedule. Then it is essential to mention the early sign of inflammation that we see in the blood vessels under the microscope, and that this can lead to further complications. It’s important to realize that patients may not think of contact lenses as a medical device, but that they will respond in a positive way when they realize that their eye doctor notices a break in compliance and has genuine concern about eye health issues. Cautioning the patient not to stretch his wearing time because this lens type and the lens care system was designed for a 2-week period of use. The patient purchased a full year’s supply of eight multi packs at this visit. Take another example, suspecting primary open angle glaucoma, our success is in diagnosing and managing glaucoma patients, is greatly enhanced when our patients are properly informed about the disease.
Thus begin by stating that glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve that is often associated with elevated intraocular pressure. We emphasize that typically glaucoma does not cause subjective symptoms such as pain, redness, blur until the end stage where treatment. It is often unsuccessful. It is an insidious disease that slowly and painlessly causes severe vision loss and ultimately blindness. Only by regular eye health evaluations can we diagnose the disease. And only with frequent and regular follow-up exams can we monitor the effectiveness of treatment or the progression of glaucoma. With this introduction, patients better understand the need for sensitive testing and objective study of the optic nerve, with computed tomography, for example, to find glaucoma in early stages. They also understand that only by complying with treatment and follow-up schedules can they preserve the vision that they have. Printed materials indicating the prescribed do-sage and potential complications of medications, as well as instructions on drop administration and basic information on glaucoma are helpful in encouraging compliance, too. Poor compliance with medications and follow-up are common when patients are not fully informed about glaucoma. This often results in needless vision loss. Our confidence in diagnosing and managing glaucoma, with our dedication to educating suspect patients and their families has resulted in a growing and successful glaucoma practice.
