By Johnna Dukes, ABOC, FNAO

Do you occasionally have that avid swimmer come to your office and ask you if they could order their prescription swim goggles or scuba masks online? Do you hesitate to answer their questions because it's just not something that you handle on a regular basis? Do you want to capture that patient rather than promote online ordering of any optical product? Here are some tips on how to keep this patient in your office rather than to send them to the Internet.

KNOW YOUR PATIENT
The biggest advantage you have over the Internet is that you know your patient, and they know you. The patient knows that you are there to provide local service after the sale, which is something the online purveyors will never have available to them. You know the prescription you are working with and based on the amount of astigmatism present, whether or not a spherical only product will work for that particular patient. It is also important to note that you know your patient's expectations. With most online swim goggle companies, the resulting vision will not be the same as what you make for them in their everyday optical appliances.

KNOW WHAT'S ON THE MARKET
There are an array of prescription goggles and scuba masks available today and it is important to know the features that are common among them.

Here is what you need to know:
1) Most online companies offer only "spherical prescription" lens options. This requires the patient to calculate his or her own "spherical prescription" based on combining half of the cylinder amount with the sphere. This brings up the long-standing question; do we want to leave prescription transcription to those not trained to do so?

2) Many online companies do not offer differing prescriptions per eye. These, pre-made goggles are often referred to as "ready to wear." Obviously this is a problem for those who have a different prescription from Right to Left. Some companies do offer different prescriptions for each eye, these goggles would be referred to as "modular."

3) Many companies are only offering whole diopter spherical increments rather than quarter or even half steps, so it is also important for the patient not to expect exact vision correction in their goggles.

REMAIN THE "VISION EXPERT"
If you would like to offer service to your patient that is not commonly available online, there are some products that that allow you to customize the prescription to a patient's exact needs rather than getting them a product that results in compromised vision. Companies like Ducal Corp. offer swim goggles that are fully Rx-able. The SwimSpec goggle from Ducal Corp is unique in that it contains an underlying goggle with an Rx attachment that can be glazed with full prescription lenses. What makes this product special is that it allows correction for those who require prism. Lenses can be edged in any finishing lab, or Ducal Corp. can put you in touch with a lab they use.

If you have other goggles that you've used and would like to share with Handbook users, send us their name and we'll add them.

Aqua Eyewear is another company that allows Rx correction for swim goggles, however, there is no prism correction offered, and the patient has the ability to order these products directly without the supervision of an Optician.

Remember, your patient comes to you because you enhance their vision. Opticians offer solutions for bicycling, shooting, golfing, riding motorcycles, etc. Swimming is no different! Know the market and offer products that will suit their water-based needs and properly correct their vision. Yet another reason to continue dispensing based on your patient's needs, wants, and lifestyle. Keep your patient coming to you rather than sending them to the Internet!