retrospectives

How Lasers Will Impact Optical

A timeless topic from July 1993

In this two-part series, EB looks at the impact that lasers in general, and PRK in particular, will have on independent practices and chains.

PHILOSOPHY

“Our philosophy is not to do pre- or post-op care, but have optometry do it. ODs are free to set up their own fees for these services. The average is $300, which is billed separately on top of a $1,000/eye RK surgical fee.”

—Theodore H. Gillette, OD, Vision 21, Tampa, Fla.

MALLS

“The next logical step will likely involve the entrance of shopping mall-based optical chains. Outpatient PRK could be performed at these operations. Powerful chains could use their ad resources and high profiles to deliver PRK at lower rates than free-standing excimer sites.”

—Michael Moretti, Medical Laser Insights, Mission Viejo, Calif.

OUTCOME

“If patients go ahead with the procedure, regardless of the outcome, you'll never see them again.”

—Jerome A. Legerton, OD, practice management consultant, San Diego

BUNK

“The notion that refractive surgery is something you walk into and five minutes later you're done is bunk.”

—Frederick R. Hjerpe, OD, director of professional services, For Eyes, Hialeah, Fla.

CO-EXISTENCE

“Co-existence will be the better place to be. A practice like mine will refer a minimum of a couple hundred cataract patients a year—the same holds true for RK.”

—Richard S. Kattouf, OD, practice management consultant, Warren, Ohio

COLLECTIVE

“I'd keep my eyes open for opportunities in a collective center.”

—David Karcher, executive director, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Fairfax, Va.

RECRUIT

“Seventy percent of all candidates for any refractive process are in ODs' offices today. So all these companies are going to try to recruit for RK, but patients still need eyeglasses.”

—John W. Potter, OD, national optometric director, Omega Health Systems, Inc., Memphis, Tenn.

NEED

“It's hard to have a busy, successful refractive surgical practice without having ODs involved. This is a case where surgeons need optometrists.”

—James A. Stewart, OD, president, Eyecare Leasing, Atlanta

POOL

“The prime pool of candidates for PRK consists of…12 to 15 million people, representing 24 to 30 million procedures.”

—Published Report, Summit Technology, Waltham, Mass.

OPTICIANS

“Whether ophthalmologists maintain their own retail store or have relationships with retail opticians, opticians will still be needed.”

—Paul Houghland, Jr., executive director, Opticians Association of America, Fairfax, Va.

BUSINESS

“We're not in business to put the OD out of business.”

—John A. Stiles, spokesperson, LaserVision Centers, St. Louis