r/optometry

As our practice is integrating Barti, I will post updates on anything else I find…

Great in theory. But terrible in practice. 

Just right off the bat, you cannot create an order for specialty contacts at all. You will spend hours perfecting your inventory only to find out that it doesn’t link to the exam. The only contacts that do are what’s available in Fait. 

You cannot create a contact lens trial order. So I guess we are supposed to have every trial set and parameters available. 

Their phone system does not have hold music. Just dead silence if you put anyone on hold. 

Changing or perfecting CPT service descriptions is a waste of time. You have to know the AMA CPT code and/or the AMA service description. 

If you decide you still want Barti, be prepared. Do not rush your live date. If you set it too soon, they will not give any leeway if you are not prepared for your live date. 

If you do not already have a Dymo LabelWriter, prepare yourself to purchase one because you can only print labels from Dymo out of Barti. 

Their data extraction is one pull from your current EHR. Which leaves you with keep track manually or having to use your old and new EHR. And if you ask for a second pull, that costs extra. 

Their whole EHR system seems to be geared towards big chain optometrist that want patients in and out. If you want to specialize in anything else, you’re kind of out of luck. 

It seems they want you to only use programs they integrate with. Yes, an all in one EHR but without options. 

Like how many micrometers of change. Thanks!

Might be a stupid q… I just got hired by a Lenscrafters location (first post-grad job woooo) and they are asking for my CAQH ID. Haven’t set it up yet so going through the app now.

It asks if I’m board certified but says that it’s different than taking the exams required for state licensure but has NBEO listed as an option as the certifying board? I just graduated, passed all NBEO and am licensed but have not done any additional certifications. Would I answer yes or no to this?

Thank you all!

I’ve only ever had front desk and retail experience so I feel really blessed to be given this opportunity. Oh my goodness, this job is so much fun. On top of being able to use super cool machines and interact with all types of patients, I was lucky enough to be trained by really incredible people.

Ive only worked there for 6 days, around 4-6 hours on each day, and I’ve been able to be on my own, working up patients and setting them up for the doctor. I’m prioritizing accuracy over speed right now, because I do make a few mistakes here and there. I do struggle with checking eye pressure with the icare sometimes.

Since Ive never worked in healthcare before, am I doing good? Should I look out for anything or anything I need to be aware of moving forward? Or just any general advice would be nice

Curious to see what everyone shares. Was wondering because my boss sees patients for 2-3 hrs to not showing up in clinic per week. Wanted to see if this was "normal" everywhere else. Thanks.

It just gets difficult at times with front desk where some patients would request seeing the main owner dr but can't schedule with the dr because schedule isnt up at all. Or the owner dr would post the day before their availability for clinic next day for the 2-3 hours of patient care once a week.

Hi everyone! I have a question regarding FL licensure. I graduated in 2025 and am currently practicing in SC. I am interested in getting a FL license eventually, however I have been confused about their rules as of lately and had a hard time getting ahold of them on the phone.

I’ve been under the impression I need to retake part 3 in order to pass both PEPs and skills, since I passed overall but did not pass skills (we took the new part 3 exam my year), but could I instead apply for the FL License by endorsement and avoid having to retake the exam? I have a practicing SC license.

Any help would be so appreciated! Thank you!

Hi folks-
While reading through the new Eyemed manual, I noticed that, per the manual, you CAN bill Myopia Management services. AFAIK that has not been the case previously. We always have our ortho-k and MiSight patients pay for services OOP.

Does anyone have experience billing the services to Eyemed? How have the reimbursement rates been? Our standard charge for new user is $1200 for services.

I had a 12 year old come in with her mom, final Rx was -1.75 OU. At the end of the exam, mom asks if she needs to wear this all the time or just for distance. I told her I recommend full time wear. She asked why, because the other doctor last year said to only wear it as needed. She says she is very confused why different doctors are telling her different things, and is gonna have the child only wear it as needed. I explained to her why I think full time wear is more beneficial but she was totally not convinced.

this patient was 12. For adults I'm more relaxed about it and say you can wear it as needed since the eyes are fully grown. For a child I was under the impression that its better they are corrected all the time, a more consistent image while their eyes are still growing.

Now I'm second guessing myself. Do you tell them to wear a low myopic Rx full time or just distance only? Does your recommendation depend on age?

For those of you who use your EPM and allow online appts, do you think the no show rate is higher then atts scheduled by phone? Are your reminds done electronically, or by phone, and does that affect the no show rate? Curious what you all see / notice.

Built my own version of a quoting/insurance tool to help with speed, accuracy, and efficiency at the chargeout desk. One screen, pricing updates live as you change lens, coating, or frame options instead of backing out of a multi-step wizard mid-conversation with a patient.

I'm thinking about offering it to other practices, but before I do that I'd rather have a handful of real ODs actually use it and tell me honestly what's broken than just put it out there blind.

If you want to give it a look, there's a free 30-day trial at simplyoptical.net. No card, no obligation. Genuinely just looking for feedback on what to fix.

I don’t do binocular balancing ofc for older patients, but what about your standard and routine patients?

The last time I did it on a frequent basis was in school, but sometimes I felt it made acuity worse especially when I’d go back to check the eye monocularly that got more plus.

I do binocular balancing sometimes for my pediatrics pateints, but otherwise I correct most patients to 20/20 OD, OS; 20/15 OU, and run a plus +0.50 check to make sure they are not crazy overminused.

Hi! Where can I find synchronous CE courses for optometry? I’m a recent grad and currently practicing in PA. I have found several asynchronous courses but I’m missing live/synchronous and still need tpa hours

Anyone have an experience with this? We had a tech come out for maintenance and he did something to now where we have a yellow blur in the middle of our photos. He said a part is rusted and thats why that artifact is there and he ordered a replacement for it and we need to schedule another service apt when it comes in. I obviously said this wasnt there on any pictures before you came and he gave some roundabout answer as to why its showing after he cleaned it and of course I cant get anybody on the phone :-)

I just joined a private practice, and I am loving it. But I have slowed down a little bit on my schedule. I am wanting to put together little goody bags to hand out to neighboring businesses. (We also moved to a new location). What should I put in them? My mom said candy, but I'm not sure candy is the right idea. Any ideas?

Looking to connect with other public health hospitals or clinics. Who else is here?

If you were currently making $120k working in a medium cost of living area, how much salary would you take to go remote? Would you do it for 80k yearly? Assume spouse makes 200k

Hello, I received my OD license this year and it was a lot of paperwork to get on the insurance panels (VSP and Medicare). I’m not ready yet to do it again but I am getting married this November. I am located in California. I know I should fill out my marriage license with the name I want to have and submit it, and I can do my name change later. I’ve heard some optometrist take their maiden name and put it as their middle name. I already have two middle names. Some legal stuff has both middle names, some has one, some has just one middle initial and some has no middle name. With those that moved their last name to their middle I heard that lets them practice without having to go through the relicensing/ insurance stuff. Is that true? Could I drop both middle names? Do I need to keep both or even 1 of them and add my maiden name? My maiden name is easier to say than my soon to be married name so I might want to continue to practice as my maiden name. I would appreciate any guidance with this.
TBH I want the route that has the least amount of paperwork, but I understand I might have to just deal with it.

TYIA

Hey all! I’m renegotiating my contract after a year at at my current practice and am stuck on how much to ask for.

When I started I was a new grad making $135K seeing around 15 patients a day, mostly post ops until my credentials came through. I am now seeing around 30 patients a day in a highly medical based practice in new england. Most of these exams involve imaging/ testing. I still see a decent amount of post ops (maybe 1/3 of my schedule) as well as some soft contact lens exams, punctual plugs and the occasional amniotic membrane.

I do have tech support and most of these other providers at my practice are paid off commission however there have been some occasions where billing is completed late or certain exams were missed which makes me hesitant to go away with a steady salary. If it matters I am not residency trained. Based on my schedule and 1 year experience I was thinking of asking for $150k? Not sure if I’m low balling myself or asking for too much of a jump.

Any advice is welcome.