You know the jingle. “Have it Your Way.” Does it kind of make you hungry? Maybe it’s too close to lunchtime and that’s why this popped into my head. But in thinking about this phrase, what struck me is how many people come in to my Optical Boutique with specialty fits and their stories are all so similar.

“I’m wearing glasses that I hate because it was the only thing that would fit me at the other place I used to go to get glasses.”

I’ve heard this story more times that I care to recount, and every time I hear this story it shoots daggers straight through my heart. Firstly, because it hurts my heart any time someone states that they “hate” their glasses, and secondly, because it makes me fear their hate of their glasses will propagate into whatever new pair of eyewear they may get in the future. They tell themselves they don’t look good in glasses and this story is told inner-monologue style over and over and over again. Before you know it, someone has convinced themselves that they don’t look good in glasses (which we all know is just a matter of finding the right glasses, right?!)

So what can be done? In my experience, I can tell you that just knowing what your patient is looking for can be a real lifesaver. Typically I sit down with my patients to do a consultation about what they’re looking for in their next pair of eyewear. We decide on a game plan together and look for the right product based on the information they share.

I ask patients to tell me about their lifestyle factors and hobbies, their worries about durability, their tolerance for the weight of their glasses, their allergies to metal (or hopefully lack thereof), their fashion preferences, what types of colors they wear most frequently, and what they’ve liked and disliked about their previous glasses. Based on their input, their facial shape and size, I proceed to choose frames and lens shapes for them that fit the criterion we’ve discussed.

This is a perfect time to let your patient experience a “Have it Your Way” moment. Imagine you are bringing the patient a frame they just, in no uncertain terms, have described to you that they need and want. There you are like a knight (or knightess) in shining armor, bringing them exactly what they just described. Did I just hear angels sing?

Want to take it a step farther? Remember there are products like Silhouette out there that will allow for (and highly encourage) complete customization according to your patient’s needs.

You, as the optical professional, can look at a patient and see that this frame is close to fitting, but maybe the patient needs for this particular frame to be 2mm smaller in the a-box, while adding 4mm to the bottom of the b-box in order to accommodate their progressive lens. Oh, and the temple is 10mm too long AND the patient could actually use a smaller bridge size. Isn’t it fantastic that there is a company out there who offers products that you can absolutely make custom for your patient? “Have it Your Way” indeed!

And, let’s not forget about the treasure trove of personalized lenses on the market today, you can’t throw a stone and not come into contact with lenses customized to your face form, PD, vertex distance, etc. Every company is making them whether it be PAL or SV. With so many options on the market, it’s easy to find an optical solution for your particular patient.

When it comes to your patients and their particular needs, remember to ask the right questions and use the information they share with you to find the right solution for your patients, whether it be size or functionality that is lacking. Know that you have options in order to help your patient solve their optical issues. Working with companies like Silhouette, that allow for and encourage you to customize eyewear for your patient, can be that invaluable tool that makes your patient remember that you are the optical expert who helps them solve their visual issues. It allows them to fall in love with eyewear again.

Johnna Dukes, ABOC is currently the owner and operator of an optical boutique, with experience in both the private practice sector as well as the retail chain setting. She has a wide range of experience varying from optical support staff to dispensary management to practice ownership. She lives in Okoboji, Iowa.