Technology – Page 2 – ODwire.org

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First Look at AB Max, the Newest Instrument to Treat Anterior Blepharitis

I’m happy to announce the launch of a new product (and a new ODwire.org site sponsor), the AB Max!

It is the latest instrument designed to treat anterior blepharitis.

I got a first-look at the devicee at SECO, and spoke with the device’s inventor, John Choate.

The comparison with the BlephEx is natural and obvious (John was one of the designers of the original), the big differences that I could see:

1) the device has a patent-pending “pulse mode”, which is more comfortable for the patients and…

2) the cost — the device itself is billed as 1/3rd the cost, and the consumables (ie, the tips) are priced at about 50% of other devices.

They are running a SECO special including the device, tips, patient literature, an i-Chek and a cute little demodex mite toy to show to patients.

If you have any questions, post them in this thread, or visit their web site, www.AB-Max.com, or call them at 1-800-721-8006.

Discussion:
https://www.odwire.org/community/threads/ab-max-the-newest-instrument-for-treating-anterior-blepharitis.118919/

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Interview Practice Management Technology

Uprise Essentials & Pro – Plus Free Special for ODwire.org Members

I spoke with Denise Crown from VisionWeb @ VEE to catch the latest with them (listen to the 5 minute interview above.)

Uprise has now split out their platform into two separate packages at different pricepoints — “Essentials” and “Pro“.

So for a new practitioner who doesn’t necessarily need the kitchen sink, but does want an EHR, Essentials is an inexpensive way to go. You can then seamlessly “upgrade” to Pro when ready.

*** They are extending the show special: You can get Uprise Essentials for FREE for your first doc if you sign up for VisionWeb’s Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) package (which does claim submissions, etc.)

Just contact them to take advantage of this or ask questions in this thread.

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Technology

How ODwire.org Keeps Your Privacy Safe

ODwire Servers — ODwire.org founder (left), in 2004. Back when we did everything by hand. Everything!

In the wake of the latest Facebook scandal (and the #deletefacebook movement), I’d like to provide some explanations of how we keep your data and privacy safe on ODwire.org.

Privacy has been a big deal to us since the site was founded 15+ years ago, it is part of our DNA, and it a major reason the site has been successful. (At the same time, it limits our growth, as “registering” isn’t just as simple as clicking a button! C’est la vie.)

Unfortunately the rest of the world is only now catching on to just how bad the situation is on many other sites.

Read more to see how we address these issues on ODwire.org, and why it is important.

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Technology

New ODwire.org Classifieds Launched

After a whole bunch of coding, We are happy to announce today the roll-out of our ALL-NEW ODwire.org Classifieds area.

It’s got many new features, including cross-posting in our banner ads that run at the top of the screen, running on the home page of the site, and in other locations on social media.

Other classifieds in eye care cost way too much — like $300 – 400 per listing (ugh). Listing on Ebay can be up to 10% of the sale price (double-ugh…)

We’ve made the price low in hopes that folks will find it a good value. By piggybacking off the rest of the ODwire.org infrastructure, we can keep the cost low.

The ODwire.org Classifieds will always be looking for ways to improve the product. As with ODwire.org, we want to keep it user friendly and a worthwhile visit to see what’s for sale and us using the best marketing to sell your equipment or practice.

I was one of the test users during the Classified’s beta period. I’m a technophobe. Adam made this classified so simple to use that even I was able to get around to see what’s for sale and place an listing with no problem.

For Supporting Members there is a loyalty discount. Supporting Members can visit this thread for the proper code.

Give it a shot 🙂 If you’ve got any questions, just ask!

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Practice Management Technology

LensCrafters Closing Local Labs: The Era of 1-Hour Specs Dead?

This week we saw a flurry of reports throughout many regions of the US that LensCrafters is shuttering their local labs, and will now rely on large, centralized labs to service their corporate stores.

With many stores already lacking an in-house lab, and now with local options disappearing, does this mean that the era of “1-hour lenses”, or “same-day lenses” has come to a close?

Amazon has proven that people are willing to wait up to 2 days if the price and product is right. That very model is killing traditional retailers across the US (including many of the malls where LensCrafters tend to be located!)

So perhaps this speaks more to a changing retail environment than anything else.

Will this change impact your practice? Weigh in!

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Interview ODwire.org Radio Technology

Contact Lens Technology to Meet Patient Needs in the Digital Age

ODwire.org Radio #56:
In this episode, Adam & Paul speak with Dr. Christopher Lievens, all about how the needs of contact lens patients are evolving as more and more of us spend our days glued to digital devices!

We cover:

The challenges heavy digital device users face with contact lenses, including dry eye
Strategies to help these patients be successful with their contact lens wear
The latest contact lens technologies, including DAILIES® AquaComfort Plus® lenses

If you’ve got any questions for Dr. Lievens, this is the thread for them!
—
Dr. Lievens received financial compensation from Alcon for his participation in this podcast.
See product instructions for complete wear, care and safety information.
© 2016 Novartis 12/16 US-DAP-16-E-2100j

[#R056]

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ODwire.org Radio Practice Management Technology

Patient and Practice Success: Offering One-of-a-Kind Daily Disposable Contact Lenses [#R055]

In this episode, Adam & Paul speak with Dr. Steven Bennett about the DAILIES TOTAL1^® contact lens, and how he’s integrated it into his practice.

We cover:

The latest technological advances in daily disposable lenses.
How he has managed to fit the vast majority of his contact lens patients in daily disposables, and the DT1specifically.
How to select the right patients for this lens.

If you’ve got any questions for Dr. Bennett, this is the thread for them!

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Interview ODwire.org Radio Technology

Acuvue Vita: The New Monthly Lens [#R053]

The Acuvue Vita is a new monthly replacement lens by Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.

In this interview, I spoke with @Jeffrey Sonsino and @Cristina Schnider OD MSc MBA at AOA Boston about the new lens and how it fits into practice.

(Interestingly, Jeff was the very first person to place a commercial order for the lens, so as of now, he knows more than anyone about its long-term performance in the field.)

About Jeff & Cris:

Jeff Sonsino, OD, FAAO is the Chairman of the AOA’s Contact Lens and Cornea Section. He graduated from the New England College of Optometry with research honors, was a Faculty member at Vanderbilt Eye Institute for 12 years, and now is a partner in a multi-specialty private practice in Nashville, TN. Additionally, Dr. Sonsino consults for nine industry companies, including Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.

Cristina Schnider, OD, MBA, FAAO is a Global Professional Affairs Director with Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. She received her Doctor of Optometry from Pacific University College of Optometry, a Master of Science from the University of New South Wales, and she spent 14 years as a contact lens educator and researcher at Pacific University College of Optometry, the University of New South Wales in Sydney, and at the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry. Dr. Schnider has worked with Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. for 17 years.

If you have any questions, post ’em here!

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Interview ODwire.org Radio Practice Management Technology

Growing your “Middle Age” Practice to $1MM and Beyond – Dr. Kevin Henne [#R051]

Fewer than 5% of optometric practices ever get past the $1 million dollar a year revenue landmark.

Indeed, according to Dr. Jerry Hayes in his book, getting past the $900k barrier is one of the most daunting challenges a practitioner faces.

The Challenge:
How can a solo practitioner, in practice for 30 years with mostly static growth, ramp up his practice to crack the $1MM barrier?

In this on-the-road episode of ODwire.org Radio, we take a trip to Jacksonville, FL to speak with Dr. Kevin Henne and Dr. Tim Petito.

We first talk to Dr. Henne about how he’s transformed his “mature” practice to accelerate its growth in an attempt to crack the million-dollar revenue barrier.

We specifically cover:

Why Dr. Henne decided to “go for it” and accelerate the growth of his practice with new technology, after years of stable growth
What tech he decided to implement, including automated refraction systems (the EPIC system) and automated patient recall systems
How it altered his workflow
Whether or not his staff resisted (or mutinied!)
How his gross and net have improved
How the perception of his office has changed with patients
What some of the challenges were in the implementation phase
…. and whether or not he’s made it to $1MM!

Dr. Petito also tells us about his practice which is demographically very different from Dr. Henne’s (ie, more elderly), but still benefitted from new technology.

Dr. Henne and Dr. Petito can take your questions in this thread.

(Thanks to Marco for inviting me into their corporate HQ and providing us with a nice quiet space for us to record the interview! I confess that I totally littered their place with cables, microphones, etc… and I didn’t even have Paul around to blame!)

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Interview ODwire.org Radio Technology

Biologic Therapies and PROKERA with Dr. Nick Colatrella [#R038]

Biologic therapies (using substances made from living organisms to treat disease) are the latest cutting-edge tool that you can implement in your practice to improve patient outcomes.

In this ODwire.org Radio show, we sit down with Nick Colatrella, OD, FAAO to discuss:

What biologic therapies are
How he uses them in his private practice in Minnesota
How clinicians who want to get started with biologic therapies can do so & build them into their practices.

We also talk more in-depth with Dr. Colatrella about PROKERA®, a biologic corneal bandage composed of preserved amniotic membrane tissue.

Docs who want to provide leading-edge care to their patients & differentiate themselves should take a listen to this show!

Please discuss your experiences with biologic therapies in the thread below, Dr. Colatrella can answer any follow-up questions here!

Technology – Page 2 – ODwire.org

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