Low Vision in Practice

[theoriginalOD]

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Just wondering if any practitioners are doing low vision exams in their office. I know that many do not; on one hand it doesn't seem to lucrative to have a patient in for so long where you could probably see multiple people in the same time. But, since so few people do it I guess you'd be getting a lot of referrals and ADP coverage would make dispensing (px buying low vision devices) a lot easier? I'm sure the satisfaction of helping people with severe vision defects is very rewarding so I'm aware that is a huge factor of deciding to incorporate low vision into your practice, but how about on a financial end? I've been talking to a lot of my supervisors/profs about it and getting mixed responses, it would be nice to hear from an optometrist that is practicing low vision in their office. Thanks.

 

[362.04]

theoriginalOD,

I practiced in a private setting for 15 years and an institutional setting for another 15. At each setting, I was able to practice from 10-40% low vision.

In my opinion, their is a significant need but I was able to do well only by eschewing third party payments. I simply billed the patient privately. Most often the children of the patients will pick up the tab.

 

[janne1720]

As with any new practice modality, educating the patient is the key in establishing it. Case in point, I had the oppurtunity to work with a new associate at a private practice on externship. He was hired in no small part by his plan to establish LV by speaking at the local nursing homes and assisted living facilities about low vision services and devices. He also was able to provide on site care at these facilities because it was imbursed by insurance. After my three months was up, he had LV fairly well established in the practice, all because of a fairly solid prior plan. Alot depends upon local demographics of course, but I plan on following his lead if given the oppurtunity of a dynamite group practice for my next job.