Either you’ve already been there, or you will be one day. You go to do something that has been second nature for many years and suddenly it’s not as easy as it once was. This is a common human experience, and it’s one that your patients are also encountering. Over time, the easy vision they may have enjoyed for years just isn’t so easy anymore. Task-specific lenses or glasses can help your patients enjoy clear vision even in challenging situations.

Oftentimes, our go-to solution is to prescribe a multifocal lens. As good as progressive lenses have become, this may not solve all the visual needs of some patients. Often when we consider task-specific eyewear, we’re just thinking computers and digital devices. That may even be the first and only lifestyle question you ask. But think about how many instances in the day when people are not working on a computer or looking at their phone that clear vision is a struggle. Our patients need our help the most in these areas, and they are often unaware that you have the key to making their visual life easier. 

Simplify Your Lifestyle Questions

Many of us ask additional lifestyle questions like “What is your profession?” or “Do you have any hobbies?” to help us identify the needs of our patients. Instead of going through a long list of options, consider what conversations you might have if you just ask one question. “What daily or weekly activities do you find yourself struggling to see clearly?” Think about your own day and you might be surprised at the times you find yourself needing some visual assistance. This realization came to me when I was at the grocery store struggling to see the nutrition labels. As I considered my own challenge, I thought about other tasks that might easily be solved with task-specific glasses. 

Changing the question to get a more specific answer will provide insight into your patient’s life and how you can help. Everyday tasks cause visual challenges that a task-specific lens could help with. Shopping at the store, cooking dinner, and even relaxing in a recliner watching TV can present unexpected difficulties. Even shaving!  That’s right, your patients, especially hyperopes, may need a pair of shaving glasses to make their day easier. My favorite task-specific pair of glasses that I helped a patient with was specifically for playing billiards. I would have never have known I could help that patient if the only question I asked was whether they spend a lot of time on the computer.

Common Objections to Task-Specific Lenses

You may get some pushback from patients about extra costs or having to keep track of additional pairs, so stress the benefits! Help them understand how this will improve their lives and make their favorite activities more rewarding. Consider creating some packages for task-specific lenses, or put multipair discounts in place to encourage patients to take advantage of those visual solutions.

You will of course end up increasing your bottom line by selling more task-specific glasses. You will also see tremendous gains in patient loyalty. When you actively listen to your patients, you solve a problem for them and provide a custom service. You’re also sending a clear, strong message that you care about their concerns. That may not be happening down the street and it definitely isn’t happening online.