Anti-reflective coatings.
Lenses that do not have anti-reflective coating
come with a fundamental disadvantage: they
produce clearly visible light reflections that
can cause vision problems. These light
reflections are particularly disruptive on wet
roads or while driving at night, but also in
face-to-face conversations when people looking at
you see glare or their own reflection in your
glasses instead of your eyes. Anti-reflective
coatings give you the clearest, sharpest vision,
make your eyeglasses more attractive, and allow
others a clearer view of the your eyes.
The performance of the anti-reflective coating is judged by how efficient it is at reducing reflections. Anti-reflective coatings come in various performance levels, and can be combined into various upgrade packages (such as coating that repels dirt or filter tints). The best anti-reflective coatings reflect less that 1% of the light that reaches them, compared to 7 to 13% for uncoated lenses. The remaining reflections will be seen in a subtle but distinctive color – usually blue with advanced ZEISS coatings.
The performance of the anti-reflective coating is judged by how efficient it is at reducing reflections. Anti-reflective coatings come in various performance levels, and can be combined into various upgrade packages (such as coating that repels dirt or filter tints). The best anti-reflective coatings reflect less that 1% of the light that reaches them, compared to 7 to 13% for uncoated lenses. The remaining reflections will be seen in a subtle but distinctive color – usually blue with advanced ZEISS coatings.
Kids Have Complex Needs
But, kids are, of course, more complex than that. The issue is that children 18 years and younger have a variety of unique eyewear and eyecare needs; UV is just a part.
Kids live an active lifestyle, much of it outdoors and therefore are exposed to the effects of UV. While the cornea absorbs ultraviolet light in the lower ranges, prior to age five, there are not enough chromophores that protectively absorb UV in the lens of a child. As a result, it does not filter ultraviolet radiation with the efficiency of an adult eye. According to several studies, the average child receives approximately three times the annual UV dose of the average adult and up to 80% of lifetime exposure before age 20. Long‐term exposure to UV rays can result in major eye diseases such as cancer, cataracts, and macular degeneration. So, make sure clear and sun lenses block 100% of UV rays. Outdoors toddlers to tweens require sunwear.Kids are rough on their eyewear. They wear and enjoy them but don't usually think about how to care for them or protect them from damage. The result is scratches sooner and usually deeper than an adult. That requires better scratch coatings and often more frequent replacement.
The clearest vision, promotes learning. Suggest no‐glare (anti‐reflective, AR) lenses for kids. Given the terrific scratch resistance and durability of today's AR, there's no reason to avoid AR.
Kids also may have more frequent prescription changes required by medical or refractive conditions. There may be patching for strabismus, toddlers with a higher refractive error make take a number of Rx changes to get to the right correction. Regardless, be prepared to see some kids more often.
Fitting is a specialty too. In toddlers, the fit on the nose is most critical and frame choice differentiates the practiced optician from the ordinary. In tweens, the optician is balancing personal wants of this young individual with parents' influence and shapes and sizes that also look right. In both, the choice of lens material requires impact protective properties while balancing design for the best vision and lightness for lenses that stay in place.
Finally, kids mean multiple pairs; it's a necessity because they're kids. I often start a conversation with a parent about the choice of two frames ‐ so there is a pair of glasses in reserve for the days that an Rx is changing or when those mangled frame and lenses are being replaced.
According to…
The US Census, there are about 75 million kids in the population under 18. In fact, in 5‐year increments (see the graph), there are about 20 million in each group. That means that there is an opportunity out there for the enterprising optical office. The American Public Health Association, "About 1 in 20 preschoolers have eye or vision problems that they can't describe so go undetected." A June AOA PR release, "Most Americans know the importance of UV blocking sunscreen to protect their skin from aging and diseases. Unfortunately, according to the recent American Eye‐Q® survey, funded by the American Optometric Association (AOA), only 32 percent of Americans understand the same is true when it comes to protecting their eyes from aging and diseases." The American Academy of Ophthalmology, "More than 100,000 people sustain eye injuries each year and more than half of those injured are children." Everydayhealth.com, "Research has found that only one in three kids ages 6 to 16 has had a comprehensive eye exam within the past year. And one study estimates that 90 percent of school‐age children who need prescription glasses do not have them."
So, no matter how you slice it, kids can be an important part of a practice – they most certainly have the need for comprehensive eye exams and eyecare products. Ask yourself ‐ are or should "kids" be part of your demographic? If yes, follow these steps.
Get Mom on Board
Kids are the access to "mom" and mom brings even more to the practice. First, they are typically the decision makers in the home, especially about healthcare. So, that means that a child well cared for in your office will probably get mom to bring dad, friends and others in as new patients. In fact, according to the Management and Business Academy (Jobson MBA), the gross revenue, per patient, in an average practice is about $300. That means that a child seen that also brings in parents that become regular patients in the practice, can add $6000‐9000 of revenue over the life of that child (over 18 years, using a 2.2 year eyewear repurchase cycle).
To appeal to mom, meet her needs by understanding the variety of conditions that can affect her kid's eyes. Work with the doctor to know how to best fill the prescription and treatments that may also be prescribed. Then, provide the right environment and selection to also make this young patient excited and trusting. Be able to connect so that mom feels comfort and trust in your recommendations.
Learning and Good Vision Are Connected
It's estimated that 80% of what children learn their first 12 years comes through their eyes. Yet, according to Prevent Blindness America, "Vision problems affect one in 20 preschoolers and one in four school‐age children." It is important to recognize that good vision is a must. When children cannot see well, their school performance suffers. Since many vision problems begin at an early age, it is very important that children receive comprehensive eye exams beginning as early as six months of age.
Good vision is more than 20/20 distance acuity. Experts agree that children need to be able to use both eyes so that they work as a team for binocular vision. Both eyes should be able to track together and return to the place that they were reading when they look from reading to distance and back again. If the child is having difficulty, an exam is in order and for some, vision training may also be suggested.
But, kids are, of course, more complex than that. The issue is that children 18 years and younger have a variety of unique eyewear and eyecare needs; UV is just a part.
Kids live an active lifestyle, much of it outdoors and therefore are exposed to the effects of UV. While the cornea absorbs ultraviolet light in the lower ranges, prior to age five, there are not enough chromophores that protectively absorb UV in the lens of a child. As a result, it does not filter ultraviolet radiation with the efficiency of an adult eye. According to several studies, the average child receives approximately three times the annual UV dose of the average adult and up to 80% of lifetime exposure before age 20. Long‐term exposure to UV rays can result in major eye diseases such as cancer, cataracts, and macular degeneration. So, make sure clear and sun lenses block 100% of UV rays. Outdoors toddlers to tweens require sunwear.Kids are rough on their eyewear. They wear and enjoy them but don't usually think about how to care for them or protect them from damage. The result is scratches sooner and usually deeper than an adult. That requires better scratch coatings and often more frequent replacement.
The clearest vision, promotes learning. Suggest no‐glare (anti‐reflective, AR) lenses for kids. Given the terrific scratch resistance and durability of today's AR, there's no reason to avoid AR.
Kids also may have more frequent prescription changes required by medical or refractive conditions. There may be patching for strabismus, toddlers with a higher refractive error make take a number of Rx changes to get to the right correction. Regardless, be prepared to see some kids more often.
Fitting is a specialty too. In toddlers, the fit on the nose is most critical and frame choice differentiates the practiced optician from the ordinary. In tweens, the optician is balancing personal wants of this young individual with parents' influence and shapes and sizes that also look right. In both, the choice of lens material requires impact protective properties while balancing design for the best vision and lightness for lenses that stay in place.
Finally, kids mean multiple pairs; it's a necessity because they're kids. I often start a conversation with a parent about the choice of two frames ‐ so there is a pair of glasses in reserve for the days that an Rx is changing or when those mangled frame and lenses are being replaced.
According to…
The US Census, there are about 75 million kids in the population under 18. In fact, in 5‐year increments (see the graph), there are about 20 million in each group. That means that there is an opportunity out there for the enterprising optical office. The American Public Health Association, "About 1 in 20 preschoolers have eye or vision problems that they can't describe so go undetected." A June AOA PR release, "Most Americans know the importance of UV blocking sunscreen to protect their skin from aging and diseases. Unfortunately, according to the recent American Eye‐Q® survey, funded by the American Optometric Association (AOA), only 32 percent of Americans understand the same is true when it comes to protecting their eyes from aging and diseases." The American Academy of Ophthalmology, "More than 100,000 people sustain eye injuries each year and more than half of those injured are children." Everydayhealth.com, "Research has found that only one in three kids ages 6 to 16 has had a comprehensive eye exam within the past year. And one study estimates that 90 percent of school‐age children who need prescription glasses do not have them."
So, no matter how you slice it, kids can be an important part of a practice – they most certainly have the need for comprehensive eye exams and eyecare products. Ask yourself ‐ are or should "kids" be part of your demographic? If yes, follow these steps.
Get Mom on Board
Kids are the access to "mom" and mom brings even more to the practice. First, they are typically the decision makers in the home, especially about healthcare. So, that means that a child well cared for in your office will probably get mom to bring dad, friends and others in as new patients. In fact, according to the Management and Business Academy (Jobson MBA), the gross revenue, per patient, in an average practice is about $300. That means that a child seen that also brings in parents that become regular patients in the practice, can add $6000‐9000 of revenue over the life of that child (over 18 years, using a 2.2 year eyewear repurchase cycle).
To appeal to mom, meet her needs by understanding the variety of conditions that can affect her kid's eyes. Work with the doctor to know how to best fill the prescription and treatments that may also be prescribed. Then, provide the right environment and selection to also make this young patient excited and trusting. Be able to connect so that mom feels comfort and trust in your recommendations.
-
Develop a preventative plan for the kids in your practice. -
Ensure that all lenses dispensed are 100% UV absorptive. -
Promote early eye exams. -
Recommend quality sunglasses for every kid. -
Get mom on board.
| Checklist |
Learning and Good Vision Are Connected
It's estimated that 80% of what children learn their first 12 years comes through their eyes. Yet, according to Prevent Blindness America, "Vision problems affect one in 20 preschoolers and one in four school‐age children." It is important to recognize that good vision is a must. When children cannot see well, their school performance suffers. Since many vision problems begin at an early age, it is very important that children receive comprehensive eye exams beginning as early as six months of age.
Good vision is more than 20/20 distance acuity. Experts agree that children need to be able to use both eyes so that they work as a team for binocular vision. Both eyes should be able to track together and return to the place that they were reading when they look from reading to distance and back again. If the child is having difficulty, an exam is in order and for some, vision training may also be suggested.