Evolution in IOL Selection: The Personal Touch of Participatory Medicine
The PCIOL sector is growing and has the potential to grow even more. This growth coincides with a trend called participatory medicine.
Patients play an active role in the treatment decisions of this type of medicine.
This involvement redefines care. It changes how care is delivered and experienced. It promises a better future for eye health and satisfaction.
Introducing the “Custom Match” Technique
Dr. Arthur Cummings, an advocate for this approach, explains the concept’s appeal. Participatory medicine involves patients in the discussion and the decision-making.
They see the lens choices, understand how they work, and love having the ability to choose the lens they want,” he says.
We documented a specific technique called “Custom Match” to involve patients in the decision. Dr. Cummings adds,
“Look, anything that helps patients choose well is important. It’s a technique that made our life easier when we started doing it. As you know, we’ve done many of these cases and have yet to have a single person who wants to reverse our actions. So it’s very highly accepted. You’re looking at the issues that are very important to patients. You’re mitigating risk while keeping as much advantage as possible. Those who like blended vision and rate it well only need part of the range. Blended vision with monofocal IOLs only covers two of the three ranges (distance, intermediate and near) well. Patients with previous laser vision correction might be accustomed to blended vision. I’m not keen on giving them the full range of focus lenses if they have already neuro-adapted to blended vision.”
The Full Range of Focus (FROF) Lens Experience
That said, most patients prefer lenses that provide a full focus range. Dr. Cummings describes the process.
“They get a full range of focus (FROF) lens in their non-dominant eye. They can evaluate how things feel for a whole week. This trial helps them decide what IOL to select for the dominant eye.”
Addressing Initial Concerns and Long-Term Satisfaction
Dr. Cummings notes that initial reactions include glare concerns. However, perception improves noticeably with time. Those who start on the first morning might say it’s pretty glary, but it’s getting better and better each day.
Balancing Vision and Practicality
By the end of the week, the majority choose to have the same lens fitted in their other eye.
“And those 10% who don’t want the FROF IOL in the dominant eye, they know they’re making a decision based on their experience. They don’t want this in both eyes if they’re sensitive to glare and halos. But, for many, full vision is a big benefit.”
Empowered Patients
Dr. Cummings emphasises the practical benefits of this approach.
“When you drive, you drive with both eyes open. Having both lenses (one eye FROF and the other Increased range of focus)(IROF)) allows for the best range of vision while protecting the ability to drive at night. Glare and halos are not noted if the dominant eye has no FROF IOL in these Custom Match cases. This new approach maximises vision. It empowers patients, leading to greater satisfaction and better outcomes in eye care.”
According to Dr. Cummings, participatory medicine transforms the decision-making process. It becomes collaborative, informed, and highly personalised. This shift in power lets patients feel more in control. It makes them more confident in their eye care choices.
Access the Public Playbook
Dr. Cummings and I created a public playbook on participatory medicine. It is for those who want to learn how to help patients take part in their lens choices. Dr. Cummings reviewed this complete resource, which provides valuable tips and insights that enable you to help patients make informed choices about their eye care.
Bonus Playbook: Helping Patients Choose their IOL: https://www.sweetprocess.com/procedures/563ZMsW9A8/public-playbook-helping-patients-choose-their-iol/
It might help your patients feel more informed and prepared for their eye care journey.
NOTE: The best way to answer that nagging question about practice growth or marketing or patient volume in the back of your mind is to book a free 15-minute compatibility call. Get some options and go away with a clear idea of what’s possible.
About the author
Rod Solar
Founder & Scalable Business Advisor / fCMO
Rod Solar is a co-founder of LiveseySolar and a Scalable Business Advisor for its customers. Rod mentors and coaches eye surgery business CEOs/Founders and their leadership teams to triple their sales, double their profit, and achieve their “ideal exit”.
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Founder & Scalable Business Advisor
For over 20 years, I’ve helped ophthalmology entrepreneurs scale their private practices. I specialise in doubling revenue within three years by offering a proven framework, hands-on experience, and a team of experts who implement what works. We take the guesswork out of growth and scale, so you can focus on delivering exceptional patient care while maximising the value of your business.
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I’m the co-founder & CEO of LiveseySolar. I’ve developed powerful eye surgery marketing systems that increase patient volumes and profits for doctors, clinics, and hospitals, since 1997.
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