ALCON PARTNERS WITH ECPS TO EDUCATE PATIENTS ON LENS CARE WITH NEW COMPLIANCE PROGRAM
Alcon is introducing a new compliance kit that is designed to help eyecare professionals educate their patients on how to take care of their contact lenses while also providing consumers with a clear doctor recommendation.
“There is a long-standing belief in our industry that handing out sample lens care kits equals a doctor recommendation, but that is just not accurate,” says Gina Wesley, OD, a private practitioner in Medina, Minn. “Research indicates patients do not equate a sample to a recommendation and more importantly, a majority of contact lens wearers would value a doctor’s recommendation over a free sample.”
A recent survey showed that while 95 percent of optometrists reported distributing sample starter lens care kits, only 31 percent of patients said they received an actual recommendation for a specific product. In other words, distributing free sample starter kits does not always translate into a recommendation.
“While samples are important to new contact lens wearers for in-office instruction and to begin at-home contact lens care, a more careful approach to distributing samples allows me to strengthen my doctor-patient relationship through education and a strong recommendation,” says Dr. Wesley.
The new Patient Compliance Kits include compliance tips, patient education on the features and benefits of Alcon’s advanced lens care technology, a new contact lens case and coupon for Opti-Free PureMoist Multi-Purpose Disinfecting Solution. Alcon will continue to provide Starter Lens Care Kits for all new contact lens wearers and for those patients who should evaluate an Alcon lens care product.
ABB OPTICAL GROUP ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF INAUGURAL ABB CARES PROGRAM
ABB Optical Group has announced the winners of its new signature annual grants program, ABB Cares. Launched in August, the program highlights and celebrates outstanding organizations throughout the country that have improved the quality of life in communities served by the company.
In its inaugural year, the ABB Cares program garnered more than 140 applications for nonprofit organizations nominated
by eyecare professionals nationwide. Due to the amount of outstanding applications received, ABB Optical Group expanded the number of $1,000 grants available from five to 10.
“At ABB Optical Group, we firmly believe in the power of corporate giving and are proud to support organizations that have a tremendous impact on the lives of so many,” says ABB Optical Group CEO Angel Alvarez. “We thank our customers, eyecare professionals nationwide, for all of their nominations and for making this program such a success.” The 2014 ABB Cares grant program recipients include Best Buddies Indiana of Indianapolis, Ind.; Buddy Cruise of Lithia, Fla.; Corpus Christi Metro Ministries of Corpus Christi, Texas; Hope Children’s Home of Tampa, Fla.; Lighthouse of Pinellas of Largo, Fla.; MEND of Pacoima, Calif.; Prevent Blindness Northern California of San Francisco, Calif.; Semper Fido of Marlton, N.J.; Southeastern Guide Dogs of Palmetto, Fla.; and Vision to Learn of Los Angeles, Calif.
—Andrew Karp
