ONLINE REFRACTION VS. O.D. EXAM
Do patients really understand the difference? A new study says no.
We’ve got some explaining to do.
A new study from Transitions Optical reveals that while American employees are very interested in getting insurance coverage for eye exams, many are confusing comprehensive eye exams with online vision tests.
The research, done as part of Transitions’ “Employee Perceptions of Vision Benefits” survey, found that 6 in 10 employees would be willing to get their eyes checked more often if their employer offered “online eye exam” coverage. However, it also revealed that 4 in 10 employees believe that “online eye exams that provide glasses or contact lens prescriptions are a suitable replacement for in-office eye exams.”
That's something eyecare professionals know not to be true. “Many people believe that an eye exam is just about getting the right glasses or contacts to help them see better, but it’s much more than that,” says Brian Chou, O.D., an optometrist in San Diego.
The study also points to gaps in education about what online tests are. Older employees are less likely to understand the concept of online tests, but younger ones (millennials and Gen Z) are more likely to equate the online vision tests like Opternative with comprehensive, dilated exams. —Susan Tarrant
50% of millennials + 54% of Gen Z... are likely to incorrectly believe that online tests are a suitable replacement for in-office eye exams.
Source: Transitions Optical research
On Our Radar
THE BIGGEST TRENDS IN SIGHT…
SUPER SUMMER
What does it take to appeal to Diesel founder Renzo Rosso? Innovative, unique, high-quality designs, for starters.
That’s precisely what has always been offered by SUPER by Retrosuperfuture, the handmade-in-Italy eyewear collection founded in 2007 by Daniel Beckerman.
Flash-forward to just last year, and Red Circle (Rosso’s family investment company) acquired a minority stake in the experimental brand, which has been spotted on trendsetting celebs including Lady Gaga and Beyoncé.
Conquering SUPER’s quirky aesthetic is its new Numero 39 Oro style (pictured), a striking cat-eye with a gold metal finish.
—Kerri Ann Raimo
Parent-Approved
Parents have the purchasing power—and when asked where they will likely purchase the next pair of prescription glasses for their children, more than a third of parents stated they’d buy from an independent ECP location, according to a recent survey from The Vision Council. Here’s the where + why behind the buy. —K.A.R.
Parents were asked: “Where are you likely to purchase the next pair of Rx eyeglasses for your children?”
The top three factors in the decision to purchase a particular pair of eyeglasses for their children:
- Durability
- Price
- Recommendation of the retailer or ECP
Source: February 2018 The Vision Council VisionWatch Parent Child Vision Care Report
Designer Eyes
Are people with brown eyes more trustworthy and those with baby blues more kind?
The results of a recent survey by CyberPulse, a division of Impulse Research Corporation in Los Angeles say yes.
And now, thanks to today’s advanced world of genetics, prospective parents can choose their baby’s eye color.
The Fertility Institutes in Los Angeles has developed a blood test examining the parents’ genetic markers known to be associated with eye color, and uses it to determine which of their embryos carry the genetic codes for the desired color. The Centers’ Jeffrey Steinberg, M.D., says the test is 80-85% effective. —Susan Tarrant
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