Recently, I decided to renovate my 70s bathroom. I had big ideas but assumed I’d be hamstrung by the existing plumbing. One builder took a look and confirmed my concerns. “Much easier and less expensive to work with the existing plumbing,” he said with a lazy nod. The next said, “No, if you’re going to do it, do it properly. We need to rip the floor out, so let’s put the plumbing (and therefore the fixtures) where you want them to be. We’ll move the wall and window while we’re at it”.
We did. It cost a little more, but it worked. I now have my dream bathroom and every time I so much as walk past the door, I appreciate the fact that someone asked me what I really wanted, explained how it could be done, and encouraged me to spend that bit more to achieve it.
Whether it’s maximising the potential of our living environment or our health, as consumers we don’t know what we don’t know, and so we rely on experts to start conversations and offer their sage advice.
When it comes to eye health, contact lenses are the perfect example. Many patients either don’t believe they’ll be suited to contact lenses, are too afraid to even contemplate putting them in their eyes or feel a little silly asking the most basic questions about them while in your practice. I know. I’ve been there, and according to a consumer survey conducted by Alcon Vision Care, I’m definitely not alone.
In this issue of mivision, we’ve turned our attention to contact lenses, beginning, in the news, with some interesting findings from Alcon’s consumer survey; not only are people interested in contact lenses, but now, more than ever, they’re keen to try new technologies and prepared to pay more for the privilege.
If you’re considering building your practice with contact lens sales, you’ll find the advice of optometrist Heidi Hunter particularly valuable. Equally helpful are our two CPD articles – one on the anatomy, physiology, and potential impact of contact lens wear on the anterior eye, and the second on practical ways to mitigate ocular risks associated with poor contact lens hygiene.
If you’re interested in the potential for contact lenses to really change lives, don’t miss our story on David Foresto. Using customised contact lenses, he returns clear sight to keratoconic adults, patients with corneal grafts, myopes, and tiny babies who’ve had eye surgery for cataract and trauma.
Enjoy.
