When it comes to children and eye care, it can be either an all-in or all-out approach for many practices. Finding balance in being able to service patients of all ages doesn’t have to be a daunting endeavor. Caring for even the youngest of patients will solidify a trustworthy relationship that leads to annual eye exams and eyewear purchases for the whole family.

TRENDING VIDEO ➤ JOIN SHEENA ON SOCIAL.

The #EBOpticalChecklist is breaking out of each issue with a monthly digital episode to our social channels. Join optical pro Sheena Taff as she applies these checklist items to real-world scenarios. Watch on EB’s Instagram (@eyecarebusinessmagazine) and TikTok (@eb_mag).

 

 

WEEK 1: BE FULLY TRANSPARENT.

Streamlining your service offerings and descriptions reduces appointment booking errors and ensures patients know what to expect, which puts them at ease during the eye exam.

□ Ensure transparency with exam fees up front and offer insurance verification and billing on behalf of patients.

□ Make sure exam services are clearly defined where your patients book appointments. Include a write-up of the services provided and any add-on costs for patients in advance on your website.

□ Add consultation services to your appointment offerings. This is a great way to connect with prospective patients by having a face-to-face or virtual conversation about their unique optical needs.

WEEK 2: PREP THE PRODUCT.

A patient’s first experience should set the stage for positive eyewear association for life. Be sure your optical has different fits tailored to children; a small adult frame should not be the best you have available.

□ Do a budget analysis and determine your spending capability for adding to your children’s eyewear offerings. Being cheap on this aspect can lead to quality issues resulting in upset parents and children.

□ Research kids’ eyewear collections that have sophisticated frames in small sizes—then you have frames that appeal to both children and petite women and men.

□ Make appointments to view prospective kids’ collections. Getting hands on the frames to see the quality and durability is key.

WEEK 3: BRANCH OUT.

Recruiting younger patients requires educating adults about the importance of eye exams for vision screening and optical intervention for what can be treatable and sometimes correctable conditions.

□ Connect with local schools and day cares to teach educators and caregivers the skills and tools to identify vision issues.

□ Volunteer your time to provide vision screening and eye exams for children at Boys & Girls Clubs or local after-school programs.

□ Be sure to reach out and connect with pediatricians in your area to ensure that they know your business offers services for young patients and the recommended exam schedule.

□ Train staff on myopia solutions for children in the optical, such as eyeglass lenses and daily contact lenses.

WEEK 4: MARK MIDYEAR GOALS.

Midyear is the perfect time to evaluate your marketing and ad spending performance and identify areas of opportunity.

□ Evaluate your marketing and advertising budget year to date. Review analytics and results of previous ads or campaigns. What performed best?

□ Identify the allotment of spending available through the end of the year. Divide into store events, online, and alternative arenas. Put spending in place, with calendar reminders for important launch dates.

□ Reach out to vendors and inquire about marketing collaborations. Ensure your business is correctly listed on all your vendor websites. Google news feed posting is overlooked. Copying and pasting your Instagram and Facebook/Meta posts to this free platform improves search ranking.