OSA members call for a 5 year practice plan at 100% optical

Making a five-year plan for an optical or ophthalmology business is uppermost in OSA members’ minds as they look for the best means of supporting the profession at 100% Optical.

Every aspect of the optical supply chain will be represented by OSA members, under the banner “Empowering the Profession”.

Tim Baker, Managing Director of BIB Ophthalmic Instruments, explained –

“A five-year plan ties in with the typical period of leasing to acquire clinical and diagnostic equipment. As the new technology cycle tends to follow a similar timeline, leasing is not only a tax and VAT efficient way of acquiring equipment but provides a way to keep up with new technologies.”

Tim urges businesses to plan for market positioning, taking into consideration the clinical offering and how that can differentiate a business

“Topographers can provide an excellent return on investment with specialist contact lens fitting and Orthok, and we will be demonstrating the Medmont Meridia Corneal Topographer.”

Biometry, used for measuring axial length, is now widely considered the key measurement for successful myopia clinics, and BIB will be promoting Optopol B-OCT TM.

Practices are also urged to consider a device that can provide comprehensive dry eye tests, of which there are several options. The dry eye analyser’s output can engage the patient and provides a better understanding of the condition. In turn, this aids treatment pathways, believes Tim.

Data management is a key consideration in any five-year plan, believes Topcon, which advocates software platforms that offer vendor neutrality. This allows practices to review patient data from a wide range of devices at a glance.

Topcon is keen for businesses to invest in a strategy that embraces innovation, particularly remote diagnostic clinics, including refraction. The improved accuracy of AI algorithms to support diagnosis, and monitoring of conditions, is also leading to more favourable cost-benefit analysis, the company believes.

The Heidelberg Engineering Academy will be staging interactive CPD-accredited lectures on their stand which provide food for thought in terms of moving a practice forward. Two different workshops will run throughout the weekend, which will cover artificial intelligence and OCT analysis.

Tim Cole, Clinical Affairs Manager, Heidelberg Engineering explained –

“Having been immersed in OCT for the best part of 20 years, I will be sharing my experience about the current fast-growing trends and talking about where we are heading with imaging technology.”

There will also be Heidelberg Engineering Peer Review workshops on “OCT analysis: Learning the Eyeway Code”, with guidance on how to systematically evaluate OCT images for signs of eye disease and how to correctly describe pathology in OCT scans to enhance referrals.

Performance Finance agrees that introducing new equipment not only helps to set a practice apart, but can also generate an impressive return on investment. Alongside traditional optical equipment, Performance Finance has confirmed the trend for a significant uptake in funding of dry eye treatment devices, axial length and myopia management systems, plus virtual reality field screening.

To learn more and register for the CPD sessions visit www.100percentoptical.com