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David Burghardt Vision Care (DBVC) in the Lincolnshire village of Nettleham is no ordinary practice. Despite being a modern business with the very latest instrumentation, it is housed in a 17th Century cottage on the village green surrounded by other stone buildings.
Over the past 25 years, DBVC has built a reputation for excellence in contact lenses and Burghardt himself is a true contact lens specialist. Gaining his Diploma in Contact Lens Practice in 1985, he has been an active member of the British Contact Lens Association for many years and in 2008 was awarded BCLA Fellowship.
Burghardt is supported by two other practitioners who also specialise in contact lenses: contact lens optician (CLO) Emma Austin - who joined the practice last year - has fitted lenses to thousands of patients, and optometrist Pravin Vekria - who graduated two years ago - is also developing his expertise in contact lenses.
The practice team discusses contact lenses with everyone aged 9-90 who is suitable and patients are given the option to trial contact lenses while visiting the practice. CLO Austin is also practice manager and spends time discussing contact lenses with patients, removing them from the clinical environment to help them relax. She can then discuss any issues and hand the patient over to the most suitable member of the team.
The judges commended the staff's training and motivation, and their proactive approach to contact lens recommendation. DBVC has successfully raised awareness of the practice and the use of contact lenses through local newspapers and radio, custom newsletters and press releases.
Complex lens types
One of the features the judges were looking for in this category was a practice that fitted a wide range of contact lenses. Burghardt says that the practice specialises in complex contact lens work, as well as routine fitting, because this gives the business an edge over its competitors and makes it stand out.
DBVC supplies a wide variety of lens types suitable for a large number of patients, including custom-made silicone hydrogels for keratoconus, multifocals, torics, and lenses for post-refractive surgery and high ametropia. The practice also specialises in gas permeable lenses, including presbyopic, post graft and keratoconus designs. Other successes include ortho-K, for children and lifestyle needs, and the SynergEyes hybrid lens.
The practice is proud that it provides Lincolnshire with a 'community-based medical contact lens service'. Corneal abrasions, recurrent abrasions, keratoconus, anisometropic amblyopia, entropion and other non-sight threatening conditions are treated at the practice's primary care clinic. It also offers an emergency aftercare service, with a practitioner on call at all times for emergency advice.
Cutting-edge instrumentation is another focus for the business. The Optician Awards judges commended the practice for 'investing heavily in the very latest technology' and DBVC has continued to do so after receiving its award. 'We've just bought a new Topcon OCT machine and it will arrive at the practice in August, to keep up to date with technology,' says Burghardt.
Since winning the award, DBVC has benefited greatly from local publicity for its achievements, including a page-long feature in the village magazine and several articles in local press. Burghardt was also a guest on a local radio show and took part in an hour-long interview with local DJs, which he says generated great publicity for the practice and its team.
'We strive to be the best practice in the area,' he adds, 'and one of the best in the country.' ?
