Tips for Tykes
You already have mom as a patient in your practice. How do you get her to schedule a visit for her young children, and how do you explain why it’s important to do so?
Tip: The AOA suggests you liken the eye chart to a puzzle and instruments to a kaleidoscope.
Here we share expert advice from several sources, including your peers.
• TALK TO PARENTS. Keep the conversation relevant to the activities of today’s children. And what’s more pertinent than screen time? These days, even many 3-year-olds play with digital devices. What can that do to their eyes? The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF.org) suggests, “Explain to families that before age 10, kids’ eyes aren’t completely developed, so the crystalline lens and cornea remain mostly transparent. Too much blue light may, therefore, be an issue. Use that … to encourage parents to supervise and limit the amount of screen time and, of course, to bring their kids into the practice.”
• EXPLAIN SCHOOL SCREENINGS. Most parents don’t understand that screenings aren’t a substitute for full eye exams. Tell them about the American Optometric Association’s (AOA.org) estimate that vision screenings deliver “less than 4% of the information and value of a comprehensive eye exam.”
• PREVIEW PATIENTS. Be aware when a young child is coming in. Before opening in the morning, take 10 minutes to go over the day’s patients with staff. Do some patients have kids who haven’t been seen at your practice? If so, bring up with the parent how important an annual eye exam is, even for young children. If the child has been seen previously but isn’t scheduled yet this year for an exam, talk to the parents about this.
• PREP PARENTS. Encourage parents to schedule young children’s appointments for early in the day. Also tell them to explain the exam beforehand, as the AOA suggests, “in terms your child can understand,” such as “comparing the eye chart to a puzzle and the instruments to tiny flashlights and a kaleidoscope.”
• LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES. If a parent of young children comes into your office, check your records and, if appropriate, say something like, “I see John is starting second grade, and we haven’t fit him for new glasses this year. We’d be happy to schedule him for a fitting or exam.”
• DESIGNATE A SPACE. “It starts with how the practice presents itself,” explains David Holler, OD, who is based in Apex, NC. “Does the location appear to cater to all ages? Our practice has kids’ frame displays in our optical, kids’ magazines in our patient lounge, and a kids’ exam room.”
• TIE INTO EVENTS. Another great way to bring kids into your practice, recommends Rob Szeliga, OD, owner of Spring Hill Eyecare in Spring Hill, TN, is to “check with local organizations and chambers of commerce to see what’s on their calendar. Even better, check with local affinity organizations—like moms’ groups—to see what they have planned.”
How do you attract families with young children to your practice? And how do you communicate the importance of early exams to them? Tell us about it and share in the conversation on Facebook here.
