Category: Marco Blog

Marco Healthcare and Lombart Healthcare Combine to Form Marco Lombart

New entity to offer the industry’s most advanced technology and broadest equipment portfolio from one direct source

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (June 19, 2024)—Advancing Eyecare (AEC), North America’s leading provider of ophthalmic instruments, today announced that two of its leading business units, Marco Healthcare (“Marco”) and Lombart Healthcare (“Lombart”), will combine to form a new business named Marco Lombart, effective July 1, 2024.

Marco Lombart will offer the best of Marco and Lombart, which includes the industry’s most advanced technologies and broadest portfolio of eye care equipment, products and services. The combination will also bring together two teams to create a unified salesforce with decades of eye care experience and expertise, as well as knowledge of Marco Lombart’s entire range of new and pre-owned solutions.

Kevin Williams
Jocelyn Hamilton

The unified salesforce will be led by accomplished industry veterans from both legacy organizations. Lombart’s Kevin Williams will serve as president of the new Marco Lombart. Marco’s Jocelyn Hamilton has been promoted to a new position as AEC’s president of corporate & strategic accounts. They will report to Maureen Cavanagh, who will continue as AEC’s chief sales officer.

“Practices and practitioners are facing more pressure than ever to meet increasing consumer demand while maintaining or even elevating their standards of care,” Williams said. “By combining our portfolio, distribution capabilities and consultative expertise as Marco Lombart, we can better support each professional customer’s business and economic goals.”

“We aim to be a transformational partner for practices, equipping them to deliver modern care in an increasingly competitive marketplace,” Hamilton said. “Instruments and technology play a critical role in realizing that vision, and there are a lot of options to consider. As a combined entity, Marco Lombart can bring simplicity and clarity to help customers make the right investments, empowering them to be their unique best.”

Every Marco Lombart customer relationship will continue to be backed by the resources of Advancing Eyecare, which provides installation, preventive maintenance, repair and protection plans as well as financing programs. Importantly, Marco Lombart will continue providing access to one of the largest in-house, manufacturer-trained service technician networks in North America.

“Marco Lombart was born from all the right reasons of improving care,” said Jim McGrann, chief executive officer of Advancing Eyecare. “We’re bringing together two of our industry powerhouses to create a direct and efficient experience that ultimately will help practices and eye care practitioners better serve their patients. Our name is our mission, and we’re achieving that by combining our two largest brands.”

Marco Lombart will attend Vision Expo West from September 18-21, 2024, to highlight new offerings, resources and special events about its equipment, products and services.

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About Marco Lombart

Based in Jacksonville, Fla., Marco Lombart is an industry-leading resource for eye care equipment, products and services. Combining more than 100 years of eye care experience, the company offers the industry’s most advanced technology and the widest selection of new and pre-owned ophthalmic equipment from a single source. Backed by the resources and programs of Advancing Eyecare, Marco Lombart empowers practices to be their unique best.

About Advancing Eyecare

Advancing EyecareTM is the leading provider in the eye care instrumentation marketplace established to offer the best products and service solutions in the ophthalmic equipment industry. Its portfolio is comprised of Marco Lombart, Santinelli International, S4Optik, INNOVA Medical and other leading brands. Advancing EyecareTM also provides service and protection plans as well as financing programs to its companies’ customers. Advancing EyecareTM is a portfolio company of Cornell Capital. For more information, visit www.advancingeyecare.com.

Media Inquiries:

Tyler Holder, High Reason
tholder@highreason.com
(904) 645-6200

Filed under: Marco Blog

Equipment That Lasts For Generations

The Eye Shop Team

Marco products like chairs, stands, slit lamps and refractors are designed to last generations. If you need proof, meet Linda Rhodes, O.D., F.A.A.O., and her daughter, Ashley Warstler, O.D.

Rhodes, the founder of Eye Shop in Houston, Texas, purchased her first digital refractor, the Marco TRS-1200, back in 1992.

“I was having problems with my neck,” Rhodes says, reflecting on her decision to purchase her first Marco automated refractor. “So I thought if I could get something that was more of a desktop and I didn’t have to raise my arms, it would be more comfortable. After about a year, Marco came back and asked if I would give a testimonial about how quick and easy the machine was. I said, ‘Well, yes, it does all of that, but if you just tell people their back and neck’s not going to hurt anymore, this thing will sell itself.’”

Warstler joined the practice in 2009 and they still use that same Marco TRS digital refractor in one of their exam rooms today. Even though the unit is well beyond its product lifecycle, the only repair it has needed in the last 30 years was a single $50 screw!

Over the years, the Eye Shop has expanded, adding more lanes with Warstler – who holds a degree in finance – making the crucial decisions of what equipment to purchase. Even when she tried to save money by ordering a different digital refractor, she always returned to the Marco TRS.

“We needed so many (devices) that I tried to save money by ordering from someone else,” she explains. “I was at a conference in Las Vegas and decided to try what I just purchased. I panicked because I hated it. It felt like a computer, and there would be a harder learning curve to make it fit into our routine. When I push buttons on my Marco, it responds in real time. Computers break down over time, so choosing Marco saved a lot of money and headaches in the long term.”

TRS-6100 Automated Refractor

Warstler then sought out her Marco representative, and three Marco TRS-6100 automated refractors soon joined the original TRS-1200 unit at the Eye Shop. They can now have four lanes running simultaneously. With so many patients to keep track of, Marco’s automatic features ensure efficiency and accuracy. Performing an exam is as simple as pushing a button, and transferring results directly from the device to the EMR eliminates human transcription errors.

The new TRS units also added a “Wow!” factor to Eye Shop’s already stylish design. Warstler says patients notice when their clinicians are using state-of-the-art equipment. “The way you test for astigmatism is different on (the TRS-6100),” she says. “Patients notice and say, ‘Wow. You bought a new machine. This is awesome.’

“I recently had a patient comment on how their previous eye doctor had an ‘old’ machine where they turned dials. When patients see that, they think it’s archaic.”

With their Marco refractors providing simple, consistent, reliable results, Rhodes and Warstler can focus on helping their patients and, most importantly, enjoy going to work every day.

“When I talked to my roommates in college, they’d say how their parents didn’t like their jobs,” Warstler says. “I started looking for people who loved what they do and noticed my mom was so happy. She never complained. She loved her work. I started thinking about how I wanted to work with people and have the flexibility to be a mom and raise kids. I’ve been here for 15 years and love what I do.”

If you’re interested in learning more about how the Marco TRS-6100 automated refractor can help your practice, click here or reach out to your local Marco Area Manager.

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In New Practices, Patients Want to See New Technologies

Showing patients their new Rx also removes “awkward conversation”

There’s a conversation that Keri Dennis, OD, no longer has with most patients. She isn’t put on the spot to make a judgment whether a patient “needs” new eyewear. Since she joined Ridgeview Eye Care in Olathe, Kansas, in August 2019, that’s one of the fea­tures that makes having Marco TRS automated refraction systems most enjoyable. It’s also why the practice added TRS systems to the new loca­tion in Lenexa, Kansas, that recently opened.

“Being able to show patients the difference between their habitual prescription and the one from that day’s exam is one of the most valuable aspects. Being able to toggle back and forth between the two helps patients see for themselves if it’s valuable to purchase new eyewear,” she says.

It removes an “awkward conver­sation” from the patient encounter, but it also adds efficiency to the process. In the original Olathe office, two of the three exam lanes have the TRS system. The third is dedicated primarily to pediatric pa­tients. “When I’m working, I want one of the rooms with a TRS,” she says, laughing.

The technicians who conduct the pretesting insert a card into the TRS system that provides the data. There are no transcription errors or time spent dialing in refractions. “It saves our technicians time and reduces er­rors, and all of those factors add up to speed and efficiency. Patients love that,” she says.

It’s not that they’re necessarily in a rush to get through their exam, but most patients found the old refrac­tions – which is better? – frustrating.

“Patients want a modern practice to have modern technology. If they come here from an office that did not have it, they say, ‘Wow. I’ve never seen this before.’ We get that all the time.”

A little social distance

An unexpected benefit of having the TRS systems in place during and right after COVID-19 was the fact that she could complete her refractions with some social distancing. “The timing of having these systems in place then was have to lean right in and spin dials,” she says.

There are also ergonomic and efficiency advantages to this sys­tem. Because she can control the automated refraction system from a tabletop device, she can go home with no shoulder or neck pain at the end of the day. “It’s also a faster process because I don’t have to turn around from the phoropter and write down notes. In fact, I can do quite a bit of multitasking because I can pull up optical coherence to­mography scans and images. While I’m doing the refraction, I can look at data that can help me determine if there’s something else affecting their vision. It’s a more streamlined process because I’m not sitting in front of the patient spinning dials,” she says.

With three doctors working at the same time, each moment that the patient is in an exam lane is valuable. So being able to use the time that might otherwise be spent in the manual refrac­tion process to gather data that supports her clinical decisions is important.

Patients also appreciate being able to get through the process without the stress or extra time involved. With the added benefit of being able to show them their previous and new prescriptions, the practice
is capturing more eyewear sales. “It absolutely makes a difference because it’s difficult for patients to assess whether an updated prescription would be better if we need to dial the comparison in. We find that if patients detect an improvement of any sort in these TRS comparisons, it improves the capture rate tremendously.”

Growing practices

The practice opened its Lenexa location in an area of rapid com­mercial and residential growth. Having advanced technology that wows patients is an important part of the attraction, she says. Patients want a whole experience at their eye care provider’s office-from a beautiful location, friendly staff and the expectation that they are getting a thorough and efficient eye exam.

Being able to provide that from the start in both offices contributes to the culture of excellence and efficiency, evidenced through the practice’s nearly 5-star Google reviews.

Article originally published in Vision Source OD magazine. Learn more about Vision Source here.

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Automated Refraction System Was “Practice-Changing” – An Article From Women in Optometry

Original Article Published in Women in Optometry
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Of her three exam lanes at Vision Source of Brandon, in Brandon, Florida, owner Laura Vizzari, OD, avoided one. It was the only one of the three that didn’t have a Marco TRS automated refraction system in it. “I was embarrassed to bring patients into it because they were used to advanced technology. It would have felt like a less-than experience for them,” she says.

But using it as a dilation-only room or for consultations made her realize that was ineffective. “I realized I couldn’t avoid the room anymore,” so she added the TRS to it and now has three fully functional exam spaces that she and her associate can use.

Her focus on improving the patient experience and capabilities of this practice has been at the top of her list since she acquired it in 2004, when it was an optical shop. “There was nothing else to it, so I completely rebuilt it with a focus on high-end frames and high-tech instruments,” she says.

Components of the TRS automated refraction system - a table and automated phoropter
The TRS automated refraction system

She moved to a larger location in 2007, but she continued to work with a manual phoropter until 2012, when she added the TRS and the OPD-Scan III. Five years later, she added a second TRS system in a second lane.

“Even though we’ve been using this system for more than a decade, patients continue to be impressed with it,” she says. “I’m surprised at how often people say, ‘Remember when you used to have all those dials?’ It’s almost ancient history, but they remember that. The wow factor stays strong with this technology,” she says.

“HERE’S YOUR CHANGE”

One of the most helpful aspects of the TRS system in terms of patient flow is how easy it is to show patients the difference between their old prescription and the one from that day’s exam. “Patients want to know if there’s a change, so I can show them what the difference is. Now I can tell them, ‘If you can see a difference, then you can benefit from new eyeglasses.’ It’s amazing how much a 0.25D change can make for some people,” she says.

She knows that from personal experience. She just tweaked her own prescription for a 0.25 degree of astigmatism. “I’m really surprised by the impact. I can see so much more clearly, even with such a small numerical change,” she says.

By doing phoria testing and binocular balance with all patients, she can arrive at a more customized prescription, too. “All I do is hit one button and the chart changes. Overall, it takes less time to get to a precise prescription,” she says. It’s very helpful, she says, because “I’m ruling something out, or I’ll find new information because I chose that extra test. Patients routinely tell me they’ve never had such a thorough exam.”

These features helped increase her sales of eyewear, and it also helps get patients out of the exam lane more quickly and into the optical. If patients set aside a certain amount of time for their annual exam, the more quickly she can achieve an accurate prescription, the more time they can shift to picking out their new eyewear.

A GREAT STARTING POINT

OPD-Scan III instrument
Marco OPD-Scan III

As a part of every exam, patients stop at the Marco OPD-Scan III Visual System, a combination autorefractor, keratometer, corneal topographer, pupillometer and wavefront aberrometer. “I look at that data first,” Dr. Vizzari says. “Before I start the exam, I want to see data on their eyeglasses, their vision and their OPD. It helps me know whether I’m expecting a big change or if there’s something unusual and the data doesn’t match. It allows me to start thinking about keratoconus or know what other questions to ask,” she says.

This data is also very useful as a patient education tool. “I can show them a picture and say, ‘This is why I cannot make your vision perfect.’ Or it’s an opening to talk about specialty contact lenses,” for example, she says.

Dr. Vizzari says the amount of time that she saves with each patient compared to the days of using a manual phoropter are significant. For now, the doctors are doing the refractions, but she sees the opportunity for training a licensed optician to do the testing. “As I’m trying to expand the practice, that may be one way of increasing efficiency,” she says.

But she says she cannot imagine why some doctors are hesitant about adding the technology. “I’m surprised when I talk with a colleague who doesn’t have it. I tell them, ‘Just do it. It’s practice-changing.”

As someone who has changed the nature of an eye care business, from a generic optical shop to a full-service, high-tech primary eye care practice, she knows how much difference the right equipment can make.

Read other WO stories from Marco here.

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Fast, Efficient Refractions Allow Doctor Time for Deeper Discussions

One of the first investments that Michelle McReynolds, OD, made when she opened cold was with the Marco OPD Scan III Wavefront Aberrometer and TRS automated refraction system. “I was looking for anything that would make my work faster because I didn’t have a technician when I first opened. It was just me doing everything,” she recalls. She opened West County Vision Center in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2011.

Being able to have a system that could streamline everything from keratometry and refraction and transfer the data to her Revolution electronic health records system made everything easier. “In fact, I’m still using the same TRS and OPD that I purchased then. I’ve not had any issues with that equipment,” she says.

However, she has expanded the usage of it. As she got busier and equipped a second exam lane, she installed a second TRS system. “Once you have it, it would be hard to go back to a manual phoropter,” she says. “I knew that if I didn’t add the TRS to the second exam room, I wouldn’t want to use that room.”

Being streamlined is just as important now as it was in the beginning. When she opened, her mother worked her front desk, and she had an optician. Now she has two full-time front staff, a technician and optician, and she is looking to expand. “We’re busier than we’ve ever been, and I’m booking two months out,” she says.

Good data from the start

So she is grateful for the technology that helps her save time and provide excellent data on each patient. Patients interact with the Marco technology right at the start of their experience. In the pretest room, they sit at the OPD Scan III, which serves as a combination autorefractor, keratometer and topographer. “So many patients comment that they haven’t seen technology like this before,” she says.

Based on the data that Dr. McReynolds gains from the OPD, she can make decisions about the patient’s care plan. “I have detected a lot of early keratoconus, since we do a topography on every patient. The OPD obtains a topography automatically,” she says, noting that she can recommend crosslinking to help slow down the progression of keratoconus.

After those patients have been referred out for crosslinking treatment, she can fit them with scleral lenses if necessary. “I also love that I can show patients their cataracts with the retro illumination image. I can point to the dark opacities on the image and explain that I might not be able to correct their vision to 20/20 due to the opacities in the cataract,” for example, she says.

Refractions made easier

As patients move into the exam room, they continue to be impressed by the technology she has brought in. “Patients make comments about how high-tech everything is. I love being able to say to patients at the end of the exam, ‘This is the prescription you had, and this is what I’m getting today.’ Showing them is so much better than me trying to explain what a half diopter increase or decrease means.”

Toggling between the old and new prescription, patients can decide for themselves whether they want to purchase new eyewear. She can even use it to add validity to a complaint by a patient who says night driving is more challenging. The OPD will indicate if the patient needs a stronger prescription for night verses during the day.

Dr. McReynolds says that she enjoys the refractions process. “Optometry was founded on doing refractions, and I get a lot of satisfaction knowing that I am getting the best possible results for my patients. Plus, patients feel the refraction is an extremely important part of the exam.”

But because she relies on the technology to support her findings, she can also use that time to talk with patients about other concerns or conditions. “I’m talking to them throughout the refraction and listening to how they respond,” she says.

iON boosts education

More recently, Dr. McReynolds added the iON imaging system from Marco and has found that it helps her with her rigid gas permeable (RGP) fits and patient education. She can capture video of the RGP lens on the eye and upload it to her specialty lens consultant. “That helps a lot,” she says.

For patients with foreign bodies or oil gland dysfunction, she has also found that the video image helps them understand their condition better. “If they can see what I am looking at, they are more motivated to follow my treatment recommendations. Patients tell me, ‘No one has ever explained that to me.’”

The value of that comprehensive exam and customized solution is as important to her today as it was on the day she first opened.

Article originally published in Vision Source OD magazine. Learn more about Vision Source here.

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Automated Refraction System Allowed Practice To Grow Without Expanding – An Article From Women in Optometry

Original Article Published in Women in Optometry
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Since its founding in 2007, Northern Sight Vision Clinic in Phillips and Tomahawk, Wisconsin, has been growing. One of the original partners, Jessica Stromberg, OD, brought in Brittany Lemke, OD, in 2013. Dr. Lemke soon bought out Dr. Stromberg’s mother, who was one of the original owners.

Dr. Stromberg
Dr. Lemke
Dr. Treml

“These are Northern Wisconsin small towns,” says Dr. Lemke. Associate Lauren Treml, OD, works at the Tomahawk location, and the two partners each spend two different days each week at each location.

About 10 years ago, the doctors started feeling the pinch for space. “We added electronic health records in 2014,” Dr. Lemke says. That helped reclaim some of the space that had been dedicated to paper charts, but it still felt a little crowded. “We were considering purchasing another exam lane, but a Vision Source® colleague recommended that we install the TRS automated refraction system from Marco first,” she says.

The doctor did that – and it brought relief. “We were doing accurate refractions so much faster, and we were able to show patients with the click of a button what their current eyeglasses prescription was and what a new prescription would look like,” she says. The result was that patients were able to spend quality time in the exam lane, with the doctor discussing important ocular health issues, and get into the optical more quickly.

Marco automated refraction technology
Marco TRS

In fact, this measure allowed them to work in their small Tomahawk location for an additional three years before they moved to a larger space in 2017. The goal was to see more patients in a day – and it worked. The pretest technicians upload information to the TRS system, and the doctors finalize the refractions. “Usually, while I’m refracting, I can also work on the charting and talk with the patient. It’s a good time-saver,” she says

Today, both locations have two exam lanes, and all for are equipped with the Marco TRS-6100. “It helps with our efficiency. It was imperative to have the Marco technology in both lanes,” she says.

SMALL COMMUNITY, BIG CARE

It has been important to these providers that patients in these small communities have access to the same level of care that they could get in larger cities. Indeed, their mission statement says the practice is committed to improving “the quality of our patients’ lives by providing state-of-the-art eye health and vision care.” They do so by maintaining high standards, incorporating technology and pursuing education and the best products. “It’s exciting to see our mission statement come to life. Patients comment all the time on the technology.”

They appreciate that they don’t have to answer the old “which is better” questions that stressed them. “I attended a seminar where the speaker pointed out how many questions a patient is asked before the patient reaches the exam room. If we can make it faster and let the patient feel calmer, that’s a better experience. I can assure them that they will not give any wrong answers and that I’ll double- and triple-check the refraction,” she says.

GROWTH CONTINUES

Dr. Stromberg and Dr. Lemke at a Wisconsin Optometric Association meeting

The doctors and staff have by now used every nook and cranny of space in their Phillips location, so they’ll be remodeling. That plan includes adding the layout for a third exam lane if they need it in the future.

By making sure that they can provide patients with fast, accurate prescriptions, they can maximize the time they have with each patients and bring more patients into the practice. “We see patients from the surrounding area. Around here, patients are accustomed to traveling for health care. If they need a specialist, they’ll need to commute for an hour,” she says. So it’s important that they can bring patients in as quickly as possible. The ability to exceed patient expectations has been the major contributor to the practice’s growth in the past – and it will be in the future, too, Dr. Lemke says.

Let Me Walk You to the Optical

Dr. Brittany Lemke loves to style patients for their new eyes. First of all, it’s a great small-town touch, but it also provides another opportunity to make a connection with the patient. “I’m the one who has established what they do during the day and what their free-time activities are. I enjoy the retail experience, too,” she says.

Plus, it only takes a moment. “In just a few minutes, I can pull a few frames and make some comments, such as ‘I love this color on you.’ Hearing it from me is an invitation to find something fresh,” she says.

The optical staff can take over, but Dr. Lemke says the transition from exam room to the optical is enjoyable for both the doctor and the patient.

Read other stories from WO about women ODs using Marco technology to improve their efficiency and patient experience.

Visit Northern Sight Vision Clinic here.

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An Excellent Refraction Is The Pivotal Point In An Exam – An Article From Women in Optometry

Original Article Published in Women in Optometry
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Kathleen Joyce, OD, of EYECARE for You, makes a firm distinction between the different automated refraction systems out there. “My refractions are doctor-driven, but I love having the technology that helps me get to an accurate subjective refraction more quickly,” she says. That is important to her in her two practice locations where she focuses on medical services and custom fit contact lenses. “The refraction is a pivotal part of the exam, and my Marco TRS automated refraction system improves my overall efficiency,” she says.

In 2018, Dr. Joyce started her practice cold in Richboro, Pennsylvania, a northern suburb of Philadelphia. She had used the TRS system in a practice where she had been an associate, so getting her two exam lanes equipped with Marco technology in her new office was a priority.

Then she acquired a practice in Newtown from a retiring physician, who continues to work part-time. That location had a different brand of refraction system, “but I like the function of the Marco TRS system. I did look at a few others, but when it comes to the ease of use and integration with other technology, I liked this the best,” she says. She says that it’s also wonderful how supportive the selling optometrist was about making the switch to her preferred technology. She converted both of those lanes to the Marco TRS technology.

EFFICIENT PROCESS

Marco TRS-6100

“I saw the return on my investment,” she says. “The initial results are incredibly accurate. When I cross check my results with retinoscopy, my subjective refraction is very similar to the autorefraction. Allowing the patient to see side by side images results in greater patient confidence during the subjective refraction,” she says.

The system plays an important role whether it’s a routine comprehensive eye exam or a more medically-driven one. “By saving time during the refraction, I have more time to spend addressing a patient’s chief complaint in greater detail.  This allows my examinations to be more patient- and problem-focused.  It also affords me the opportunity to explain the need for follow up care beyond the comprehensive eye exam, ultimately resulting in greater patient satisfaction,” she says.

During more routine eye exams, Dr. Joyce estimates she can shave five minutes off the time the patient is in the exam room. “If I have several routine patients scheduled that day, it means I can see an extra one or two patients a day. If the average revenue is $300 a patient, one extra patient per day can be a $75,000 increase to my annual gross revenue,” she says.

MORE EXAM PATIENTS=MORE OPTICAL CUSTOMERS

It also means that these patients can spend those extra few minutes in the optical, where the message about second pairs of eyewear or backup eyeglasses is reinforced by the optical staff. In contrast, patients who feel like they’ve been challenged in the refraction or whose exam took longer than they expected are often the ones who want to rush out and delay buying their eyewear – or skipping the step altogether.

Plus, those extra one or two patients a day who can be seen each day also mean one or two additional customers passing through the optical. “The industry average for capture rate is around 50%. If I can bring two more patients in a day, that can translate to at least one more patient a day buying eyewear.”

SOLID STARTING POINT

In more complex cases, she appreciates having the data from the Marco pretest autorefractor  because it gives her a solid starting point. “I can make decisions about the data I’m getting from the autorefractor, and if results subjectively don’t make sense, I know I have to take another approach,” she says. She looks for the red flags that might indicate something is unusual – such as a dramatic prescription change—as she’s doing her own testing.

An automated refraction process never takes the place of her experience and knowledge. “But it can free up time that I can use on patient history or education, as well as discussing follow-up care,” she says.

With the two offices just a 15-minute drive apart, Dr. Joyce spends some time in each one every day, although she is full-time in the Richboro office. She also has an associate who covers there, and the retiring doctor continues to see his patients in the Newtown office. All three doctors see the technology as an enhancement to their exams as well as a positive return on investment.

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More Data, More Quickly

With the Marco OPD-Scan III wavefront aberrometer and the VisuALL virtual reality visual field perimeter, Rachel Tellez, OD, of San Antonio, Texas, captures more information on each patient. The systems talk to each other, so staff members don’t have to load data manually. And Dr. Tellez has all the topography and perimetry data right on her screen.

Since the VisuALL system is portable and allows the user to perform several tests without having to move the patient from one machine to another, that system has also sped up the data-gathering process. “Within a minute or less, the refraction, keratometry and topography are all on one screen, showing both eyes, much faster than compared to performing these tests with three separate instruments,” Dr. Tellez says.

Article originally published in Vision Source OD magazine. Learn more about Vision Source here.

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The Power of the Current and New Prescription Toggle Switch

After about nine years of having an automated refraction system in the practice, Heavin Maier, OD, of Eyes for Life in Spokane, Washington, couldn’t imagine practicing without it. When she added another lane of equipment, the Marco TRS Refraction System was part of that. “It’s part of our standard operating protocol now. The flow works well,” she says. She has other Marco technology in her practice, and it adds to the overall efficiency when the equipment “speaks” through the card system that moves patient data from the lensmeter and OPD Scan III Wavefront Aberrometer to the TRS system.

Patients as decision-makers

What she loves about the process is the ease with which patients can make the decision on whether new eyewear will benefit them. “I hated having to dial in the prescription manually and show patients what the difference was between their current and new prescriptions. Keeping track of axis and cylinder and sphere shift was mind-boggling,” she says.

With the Marco equipment, it’s a simple toggle switch. “I can show them each eye individually, or I can show it as two eyes together,” she says.

She appreciates that it’s not up to her to make a judgment call or try to convince a patient that a prescription change is “big enough” to warrant new eyewear. “There have even been patients where I think they cannot possibly notice this change, but they immediately say, ‘Oh, that’s so much better.’”

When patients are assured that the new prescription will help them see more clearly or more comfortably, they’re happy to make the purchase.

The patient experience

It’s important, too, that patients see that the practice invests in the patient experience. Since nearly all patients engage with the OPD and TRS systems, new patients have the immediate perception that the practice isn’t outdated or old-fashioned with its technology.

Goodbye, shoulder pain

Dr. Maier has been in practice for 19 years. “Within the first year of practicing, my shoulder was killing me,” she recalls. She began wondering whether the cost of doing manual refractions was going to involve her own comfort and shoulder mobility. “After switching to the TRS system, I realized that I was no longer in pain at the end of the day, so that’s priceless. I cannot imagine why there are doctors wrecking their shoulders,” she says.

She has gotten good support from her Marco team, and she credits Marco President Jocelyn Hamilton as a true professional committed to helping doctors succeed.

Dr. Maier says that she would have a very difficult time going back to a manual system. The Marco equipment she has provides her with a solid starting point for her prescriptions, and she uses that to achieve her endpoint more quickly. It saves her time showing patients the difference between old and new prescriptions and improves patient engagement in their own care decisions when changes in the prescription are numerically small. And she can walk out of her building at the end of the day without her shoulder throbbing.

Article originally published in Vision Source OD magazine. Learn more about Vision Source here.

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Advancing Eyecare Announces Exclusive Distribution Agreement of Pure&Clean® Vision Hypochlorous Acid Products

Jacksonville, Florida, May 31, 2023 – Advancing Eyecare, a family of leading ophthalmic technology and equipment companies, has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Pure&Clean. Effective immediately, the group will add the Pure&Clean Vision hypochlorous acid product line, including Pure&Clean Vision’s Daily Lid Cleanse, Gel and Drops, Hand Prep, and Equipment & Surface Prep to complement their existing portfolio of ophthalmic solutions.

Eye care providers are leveraging Pure&Clean Vision in a myriad of ways by harnessing the powerful antimicrobial properties of hypochlorous acid to mitigate the harmful effects of bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. With a shelf life of 24 months, it is one of the most stable hypochlorous acid products in the vision care market.

  • Pure&Clean Vision Daily Lid products offer natural, non-irritating non-pharmaceutical options topromote positive eyelid hygiene and overall eye health. They help to reduce symptoms of manycommon eye diseases such as dry eye, blepharitis, MGD, demodex and more.
  • Designed for contact lens wearers, Pure&Clean Vision Hand Prep is great for use prior to handling lenses in any environment and can also serve as a great substitute for alcohol-based hand gels.
  • Pure&Clean Vision Equipment & Surface Prep provides a non-toxic, effective and environmentally-friendly alternative to harsh surface cleaning solutions.

“Pure&Clean Vision products represent a significant leap forward in the way eye care providers are helping their patients and staff alike. We are proud to offer a natural product that combines exceptional efficacy with unmatched safety. We aim to achieve healthier eyes and to provide safe, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly spaces.” said Trent Freeman, Chief Executive Officer of Pure&Clean. “We are excited to partner with Advancing Eyecare to provide even greater value to ECPs across North America.”

Pete Lothes, Chief Operating Officer for Advancing Eyecare, commented, “We are rapidly executing our strategy to provide innovative solutions to fulfill evolving market needs. Advancing Eyecare is excited to partner with this amazing group, and to build on Pure&Clean’s positive momentum to provide these great products to eye care professionals and their patients nationwide.”

Pure&Clean Vision products are now available across the United States through Advancing Eyecare companies, including Marco Healthcare, Lombart Healthcare, Veatch Ophthalmic Instruments, Santinelli International, and Enhanced Medical Services.

To get more information about Pure&Clean Vision, go to www.advancingeyecare.com/pureclean/.

About Advancing Eyecare

Advancing Eyecare™ is a partnership of leaders in the eyecare instrumentation marketplace established to offer the best products and service solutions in the ophthalmic equipment industry. Currently comprised of Marco Healthcare, Lombart Healthcare, Enhanced Medical Services (EMS), Veatch Ophthalmic Instruments, Santinelli International, S4OPTIK, and INNOVA Medical, the combined scope of the organization has the broadest product portfolio, the most knowledgeable people, and the most reliable service in the industry. Visit www.advancingeyecare.com for more information.

About Pure&Clean

Pure&Clean offers a number of healthcare, personal care, and infection control products that do not jeopardize human or environmental safety for effectiveness. The product line includes Wound Solutions, Hydrogel, Skin Defense, products for ophthalmology and optometry, as well as surface disinfecting products. The market reach of Pure&Clean expands from healthcare systems including long-term care facilities, home health and hospice, wound clinics, hospitals, surgery centers and profession clinics including optometry, to schools, sports programs, professional athletes, daycares and family use in the home.

Media Contact:
Kristen Tischler
ktischler@advancingeyecare.com

Filed under: Marco Blog