Thanks to Optisoft this week for its survey into the IT habits of the optical community (see page 8).Its findings give an interesting insight into the world of technology as it relates to optics and provides some surprising and shocking findings. I doubt many could have guessed the high level of ITusage within optical practices, but it is in the clinical arena that real change is taking place.
As Optisoft's MD, Keith Sheers, points out, computers have moved from the reception desk to the consulting room. Who would have expected the numbers of people found to have integrated field-screeners, autorefractors and slitlamps into their computer networks?But not all of the IT stats are positive. Just a quarter of the independents surveyed are on broadband and who would have thought that just 16 per cent would have had a website?
Marketing your business to the Google generation without a website is not a sustainable policy.Optician also contends that the debate currently raging over the quality of the eye examination (see Moneo, Optician, September 12)cannot separate itself from the technology issue.
Modern instrumentation has changed the nature of the eye test.Undoubtedly, consultations can be conducted faster and look at issues until now the domain of the ophthalmologist. But it is the interpretation of that data by the optometrist which remains key to patient welfare.
