5 Ways to Increase Eyewear & Contact Lens Sales

It’s frustrating when patients come in for an eye exam, request their prescription, and leave to purchase eyewear or contact lenses elsewhere. The good news is that you can improve patient retention and increase in-office sales with a few steps.

Here are five effective strategies to help your practice boost sales of eyewear and contact lenses.

 

1. Create and Track Eyewear Orders Using an Online Ordering System

When patients place an order, they usually seek convenience and a hassle-free process that ensures their order is correct, whether for eyewear, prescriptions, or other services.

First Insight’s online optical ordering system integrates with MaximEyes software and provides access to more than 270 optical labs. By making optical orders more efficient, your staff can focus on engaging with patients instead of handling paperwork. For instance, you can:

• Create, manage, and track spectacle orders in one place.
• Reduce redundant processes and improve office workflow.
• Eliminate the need for duplicate data entry or manual tracking.
• Reduce errors with built-in order verification before submission.
• Duplicate previous orders for faster processing.
• Provide patients with detailed price quotes to help them make informed purchasing decisions.

 

2. Simplify Contact Lens Ordering with the CLX Integration

The MaximEyes integration with the CLX System connects your practice directly to contact lens distributors. Automating contact lens ordering through CLX enables a single order entry, eliminating the need for manual re-entry on vendor websites.

• Reduce order errors and ensure valid prescription configurations.
• Provide personalized reordering links and automated reminders.
• Offer e-commerce options so patients can reorder from your practice at any time.

Practices using CLX have seen significant increases in reorder revenue, as automated recall reminders help recapture sales from patients who might otherwise turn to online retailers.

 

“The biggest advantage of the CLX System and MaximEyes integration is that once the contact lens prescription and order information are entered into MaximEyes, it’s one click away from submitting the order to contact lens distributors.” –Brad Bodkin, OD, MS, FAAO

 

3. Track and Increase Optical Capture Rates with Real-Time Data

The optical capture rate is a pivotal metric for optometry practices. It reflects the percentage of patients who fill their prescription eyewear at the point of service. Eye care practices that actively monitor their optical performance tend to experience higher sales and stronger patient retention.

Data-driven decisions can transform your optical sales strategy. MaximEyes generates reports in seconds that provide up-to-date information on charges, payments, adjustments, and remakes.
Reports within MaximEyes will help you track and improve your optical capture rate—filter reports by location, optician, or date for detailed insights. Identify opportunities to increase sales by analyzing patient purchase patterns.

 

“I can run reports in two seconds. Every payment posted in MaximEyes connects to a specific line item as an individual transaction.” –Sarah King, OD

 

4. Strengthen Your Marketing with Promotions and Social Media Engagement

Who doesn’t love a good deal? Promotions, coupons, and discounts always catch our attention, but limited-time offers, bundled packages, and exclusive savings on eyewear and contacts make them even harder to resist.
A well-timed promotion can turn a “maybe next time” into a “let’s buy it right now!” type of sale. Here are three tips to help you build a sales routine that keeps patients interested.

• Announce in-office promotions on social media and your website.
• Consistently use social media to showcase new eyewear collections and special deals. Many practices successfully increase engagement by using social media to showcase patient testimonials, offer styling tips, and provide behind-the-scenes glimpses of their optical department.
• Educate patients about the benefits of purchasing directly from your practice through social media. Alternatively, if you prefer a more personal approach with your patients, you can communicate via email.

Developing a marketing strategy doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Check out our blog, 10 Marketing Strategies that Impact Eyecare Business Growth, for simple, actionable tips that can positively affect the growth of your practice.

 

5. Provide an Excellent Patient Experience They Won’t Forget

Overloaded and stressed-out staff members can struggle to deliver the best patient experience. Keeping your staff happy drives patient satisfaction and revenue growth, ultimately helping you run a successful eye care practice.

Automating optical and contact lens ordering allows your staff to focus on patients rather than administrative tasks. A practice management solution like MaximEyes eye care software helps make daily tasks more manageable, improves accuracy, and creates a smoother experience for staff and patients.

 

Request more information to see how MaximEyes eye care software and other practice management business tools offer the support to automate your practice.