Eyeworld

I OCTOBER 2019 | EYEWORLD | 55 handle the bulk of the work with dry eye pa- tients, said Dr. Sheppard, whose practice has a well-established commitment to working with dry eye patients. Furthermore, dry eye treat- ment improves visual outcomes, while success- ful glaucoma treatment merely maintains vision. Just like an expanding focus on premium IOLs, a growing focus on dry eye requires solid staff education. Boling Vision Center hosted a mini-Dry Eye University onsite recently and invested in various tools and equipment for a larger focus on dry eye in the latter half of this year, said Hayley Boling. However, targeting dry eye patients may work best only through the right business lens. "This needs to be looked at as a broader strategic opportunity to bring added value to patients," Mr. Maller said. 4. Bring in optometrists There has sometimes been tension in the relationship between optometrists and ophthal- mologists, but this has changed significantly over the past 2 decades. In fact, most practices employ or contract with optometrists. "These are the physician extenders that essentially work as the 'general practitioners' of our practice. They are the first line of eyecare providers and refer any guests who are outside their scope of care or who are ready for surgery," Ms. Boling said. Her practice maintains a 2:1 optome- trist-to-ophthalmologist ratio and said this has kept surgeons busy in the ORs and also allows them to take less call. "We've found this inte- grated model to provide incredible synergy for the practice as a whole," Ms. Boling said. "I see no downside [in hiring optometrists] except the usual management issues, which are no harder with a doctor of optometry than they are with a doctor of medicine," Dr. Lindstrom said. If you plan to hire optometrists, make sure you have a business plan in place to evaluate financial and nonfinancial aspects of integrating optometry into the practice, Mr. Maller cau- tioned. "The potential opportunity would be A new practice location for Minnesota Eye Consultants in Woodbury, Minnesota, offers LASIK, corneal trans- plant surgery, and facial fillers and injections, among other services. Source: Minnesota Eye Consultants A mobile eyecare unit used by Boling Vision Center has helped to strengthen ties with the community and bring in new patients. Source: Boling Vision Center continued on page 56

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