Hands On - Driving Your Practice
Exams For All
by Vision Council of America

The latest Caring for the Eyes of America study (2004) by the American Optometric Association reveals that in 2002, optometrists saw an average of 2,104 patients. This represents a gradual decline since 1998.

Most optometric practices rely on referrals. Accordingly, the Vision Council of America (VCA) invites you to participate in its patient referral program, Check Yearly. See Clearly. The program aims to recruit family members of your current patients, mainly children, baby boomers, and seniors--the groups with the highest ocular pathology.

Participating in the campaign is simple. Equip your waiting room with Check Yearly educational materials that encourage existing patients to schedule eye exams for their family members while they wait for their own exam.

With eye-catching brochures, table cards, and posters that deliver powerful statements such as "One in four children has an undetected vision problem" and "One in three seniors has a vision impairing eye disease," Check Yearly helps ensure that your patients know the importance of regular eye exams for the whole family. For maximum efficacy, ask each patient to schedule an exam for a family member.

Can this strategy really impact your practice? If just one in 10 patients schedules an exam for one family member, the average optometric practice will perform an additional 210 exams per year. This can go a long way to help grow your practice, while ultimately improving America's vision health.

Whether or not you're convinced this strategy will work, the risk is minimal. For just $16, you can get started with the Check Yearly Family Recruitment Kit.

The kit includes a children's vision poster, 100 "Look Out for Your Family's Vision" brochures, an "At Risk?" table card, a Check Yearly occluder, a window decal, and 500 eyeglass case insert cards (Check Yearly's most popular item). To learn more, visit www.checkyearly.com or call 800-424-8422.