Courtney Dryer, OD
Courtney Dryer is a 2011 graduate of SCO. She opened 4 Eyes Optometry in her hometown of Charlotte, NC in February of 2013. After 5 years, the practice name was changed to Autarchic Spec Shop to renew the practice's commitment to independent optometry. In addition to consulting with new graduate optometrists on start-up practices, she contributes regularly to New Grad Optometry and has guest blogged for Invision Magazine. The unique design of her boutique practice was featured in Women in Optometry. In 2015, Vision Monday named her a Rising Star, and one of the most influential women in optical.
64
How to Stop Myopia From Worsening
Read about current treatments for the progression of myopia and recent studies on preventative care.
What Makes the Best Anti-Reflective Coatings
Anti-reflective coatings have vastly improved in recent years. There are now hundreds of different types for each kind of lifestyle and patient need.
What Is Vertical Heterophoria?
Specialty-trained optometrists can use specified screening techniques to diagnose vertical heterophoria and microprisms to effectively manage patients. Gain an overview of both.
The Best Contact Lens Solutions
Since today’s practitioners are fitting dailies at increasing rates, the battle between market contact lens solutions has dwindled—but not disappeared. Here are the contact lens solutions I regularly recommend.
The Best Allergy Eye Drops of 2022
There are three things an OD should consider when selecting allergy medications: efficacy, dosing, and insurance coverage. Here are my top choices of allergy eye drops based on these criteria.
Best Eye Vitamins of 2022
What's the latest research on vitamins? Reference this quick guide to see what I discovered works—and what doesn't work—when it comes to treating patients' eyes.
3 Top Selling Frame Lines You Might Not Think Of
Providing quality eyewear can really set a private practices apart. Learn about three of my favorite frame lines as well as the best strategies for frame inventory selection, merchandising, and understanding your patients’ buying habits.
Screening for Vertical Heterophoria: A Guide for Optometrists
By incorporating the BVDQ and vertical heterophoria testing into your practice, you can help individuals who cannot be treated by other optometrists, ENTs, or medical doctors. Equip yourself in this specialty to grow your practice and change the lives of patients who value your expertise.
Plaquenil (Hydroxychloroquine), Coronavirus, and What Optometrists Need to Know
Hydroxychloroquine is currently being tested as a treatment for Coronavirus. As optometrists, we are familiar with this drug and its ocular side effects; here's what you need to know.
ACUVUE® OASYS Brand Contact Lenses – My Go-To Reusable Contact Lens
When it comes to recommending 2-week lenses over monthly lenses and improving patient compliance, the simplest and most effective thing doctors can do is educate.
What to Know About ACUVUE® OASYS with Transitions™ Light Intelligent Technology™
The first of their kind, these lenses are some of the best on the market! Read the article to learn more about these new transitions contacts.
Bringing Scleral Lenses to Your Optometry Practice
Scleral lenses are a great option for patients who were unsuccessful wearing a soft lens, and can be a fantastic addition to your practice. Here's how to get started.
RevolutionEHR – Eyecare Software for Many Modalities
In the age of modern technology, Optometry practices should be choosing eyecare software than can serve as not only EHR's but practice management solutions.
Why Buy From Independent Eyewear Companies?
As the optometric industry becomes increasingly integrated, it is vital that independent doctors invest in independent eyewear. Here are 6 reasons why.
How to Set Up Your Optometry Practice to Go Insurance-Free
Most of us have accepted the aches and pains of vision insurance as the norm. But what if you could be vision-plan free?
Here is Why I Chose RevolutionEHR as a New Graduate Practice Owner
RevolutionEHR is an evolving, optometry based EHR that is user-friendly, easily customized, and evolving in today's healthcare environment.
Evaluate and Grow Your Optometry Practice With These RevolutionEHR Reports
In this article we discuss what KPIs are and how you can start using them right now to monitor and grow your optometry practice.
Grow Your Optometry Practice with Essilor's CEO.D.™ Program
Essilor's CEO.D Program is a learning course designed to empower optometrists to successfully and efficiently run their practices.
Complete Guide to Understanding Crizal ® No-Glare Lenses
The following is a complete guide to understanding all of the crizal no-glare lenses that are available for our patients and their viewing environments.
Complete Guide to Varilux® Lenses
Varilux lenses represent years of dedicated research and development. Find out why progressive lens wearers depend on this technology to see optimally.
Hubble Contact Lenses—Four Things To Consider
Hubble contact lenses are new to the contact lens market. They are promoted as affordable daily wear contact lenses. Here's what you need to know.
Here Is How To Prescribe Computer Lenses For Your Presbyopes
Computer lenses are an under utilized type of ophthalmic lens. Here is what you need to know in order to prescribe them for your presbyopes.
A Reflection On Private Practice Ownership 3 Years In
In my 3 years of private practice ownership, I've found 4 areas are vital for success: negotiation, research, identity, and long-term relationships.
4 Reasons Doctors Should Be Involved in Their Opticals
Here are four reasons why and how private practice OD's can play an important role within their opticals. The health of your practice depends on it!
Meeting Your Patient's Needs with Essilor Lens Technology
There is a lot of Essilor lens technology available for your patients in order to meet their many needs and visual demands. Here is what you need to know.
MACRA and MIPS: What You Need to Know About Medicare Payment Reform
As Medicare providers, you must understand MACRA as it is important to stay up to date with Medicare payment reform and what that means for your practice.
The Difference Between Corporate and Private Optometry for Your First Optometry Job
Everything You Need to Know about Transitions Lenses
Here is everything you need to know about Transitions lenses for your patients and your practice, including how they work and who can benefit from them.
Xperio UV – The Best in Polarized Lens Technology
Find out why a polarized lens is so important for maintaining clear vision, while protecting your eyes from harmful effects of ultraviolet light.
Make Private Practice Optometry Great Again
It is time to initiate some change and make private practice optometry great again in the ever changing landscape of optometry and healthcare.
Everything You Need To Know About Eyezen™
Are you having eye strain and headaches from computer use? Eyezen can help by decreasing the stress on your eyes and reducing the glare off your screen.
Xiidra: The New Go-To Dry Eye Drug?
It is estimated 16 million suffer from dry eye. Xiidra is the newest drug on the market designed to treat the inflammation on the surface of the eye.
The Today Show Got It Wrong: 3 Reasons Expensive Sunglasses Are Worth The Money
Here are my top reasons why expensive sunglasses are worth the extra cost vs cheaper sunglasses and how you should be educating your patients.
Amniotic Membranes - When To Use Them and How To Bill For Them
Amniotic membranes are becoming a fantastic treatment option for many patients with ocular disease and pathology. Find out when and how to use them!
5 Truths Revealed and 6 Myths Dispelled About Essilor
Essilor is a major player in optometry and industry, and as such, are subject to major speculation. Here are 6 dispelled myths and 5 truths about them.
Top 5 Ophthalmic Products of 2016 My Practice Can’t Live Without!
Here are the top 5 ophthalmic products you should have in your optometry practice throughout the year 2016!
The Questions You've Always Had About Essilor Answered By Dr. Howard Purcell
These are some pressing questions and issues facing Essilor, answered by Dr. Howard Purcell.
6 Things You Should Discuss with Every Patient at Every Eye Exam
These are six critical things to discuss with every patient at every eye exam. Make sure your patients understand the importance of what optometrists do.
7 Things You Should Know About Essilor and the Digital Lens Era
Here are some facts about the digital lens era to improve understanding and discussions with patients. Digital refers to process not a type of lens.
This is How You Can Try to Stop the Progression of Myopia
Here is what you need to know about the progression of myopia, and recent studies on how to delay or stop the progression of it.
This Is What You Need To Know About Implantable Contact Lenses
An implantable contact lens (ICL) is an excellent alternative for a patient who is not a good candidate for Lasik due to high myopia or thin corneas.
From Practice Name to Personal Connection: 5 Key Ways to Distinguish Your Optometry Practice
From a creative practice name to a killer social media presence, here are five key ways optometry practices can build an appealing brand.
13 Times You and I Might Possibly, Definitely, Dislike Being an Optometrist
No matter what one's profession, there are certain things that drive one crazy. As an optometrist, there are many things that drive us crazy!
The New ACUVUE ® 1-Day MOIST® Brand Multifocal: The Best Option Yet for Presbyopes
ACUVUE ® 1-Day MOIST® Brand Multifocal lenses combine Lacreon technology with pupil optimized design. It is the premium option for presbyopic patients.
Stay Informed! Six Legislative Cases Impacting Optometry
Staying current on the latest legislative issues in optometry is vital for all new graduates. It's imperative we stay informed and support AOA/ state PAC.
3D Printing: The Future of Optometry for New Grads?
The use of 3d printing is expanding in all industries. 3d printing may be used in eye care to treat refractive error, disease, and create spectacles.
Corporate Optometry Leases - What You Need To Know
33% of all new graduates will go into corporate optometry as either an associate or leaseholder. Here are the things you should consider prior to signing.
The Ins and Outs of Corporate Optometry: Contracts, Legality, and Expectations
Dr. Dryer gives you the ins and outs of typical corporate optometry leases, how they vary by state, and variance by corporation. A sample lease included.
Top 5 Ophthalmic Products of 2015 My Practice Can't Live Without!
Here are 5 ophthalmic products my practice can't live without: freshday/clariti lenses, custom clips, Aframes, Cooper mobile app, and an EHR patient portal.
Opening an Optometry Practice Part 2: Build Out, Labs, and Frame Line Selection
When it comes to opening a new optometry practice, new owners find the hardware selection the most foreign. This article covers the basics of selection.
Designing My One-Of-A-Kind Optical - An Interview With Courtney Dryer
Dr. Dryer shares how she designed her one-of-a-kind optical, and how she transformed her practice into an optical destination when she opened cold!
A Quick and Easy Reference Guide to Troubleshooting RGP Lenses
Fitting rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses is not always easy or clear cut. Here are quick types of adjustments that can be made to improve the fit of an RGP.
Opening an Optometry Practice Part 1: Location, Loans, Documentation, Insurance
The beginning steps of opening an optometry practice include determining location, obtaining loans, needed documentation, and personal insurance to acquire.
NGO Presents: "12 Days of Optometry Christmas"
New Grad Optometry's version of the 12 days of Christmas. These are 12 things our profession has given to us this year for Christmas.
Meaningful Use: The How and Why for New OD Grads
A summary guide of the importance of meaningful use to new graduate ODs, what it means to their practices, the future of healthcare, and how to get paid.
Opening an Optometry Practice Cold - You Better Have These 11 Personality Qualities
11 reasons opening an optometry practice cold may be for you. Advice from Dr. Dryer who opening her practice cold 1.5 years ago. She covers the ability to be your own boss, willingness to work, and be a creative and innovative thinker.
Pretty Sells - Increase Eye Wear Sales Using Visual Merchandising
Visual merchandising is key to optical sales for both associates and owner Optometrists. Buyer behaviors are influenced by merchandising.
The New Grad Optometrist Guide to Vision Expo West
First time attendees and practice owners may find Vision Expo West overwhelming. This new OD buyer's guide addresses how to best see and do everything at Vision Expo West.
New Grads - The Benefits of Being a Vision Source Optometrist
Here are the reasons that Dr. Ryan Corte and Dr. Courtney Dryer, both chose to be Vision Source optometrists when they graduated optometry school. They are extremely successful.
Life as a New Optometrist - Courtney Dryer O.D.
Courtney Dryer is a 2011 new optometrist graduate of SCO. She opened 4 Eyes Optometry cold in her hometown of Charlotte, NC in February of 2013. She enjoys DIY projects, marathoning TV shows, and traveling in her free time.
6 Things That Make My Private Practice Different
When I opened my private practice cold I focused on these 6 business concepts. Building an optometric practice is not easy, if you follow these 6 ideas it will be easier.
The Journey of a New OD to Serve the People of Guatemala
A New Grad dedicates her life and profession to serving the people in Guatemala. She is setting up an eye care clinic to serve the less fortunate.
5 Things I Wish I Had Known Before Opening My Optometry Practice Cold
Before I opened my optometry practice cold, I wish I had known more about lens technologies, ophthalmic dispensing, marketing, hiring, and insurance billing and coding.
How to Design a One-of-a-Kind Optical Dispensary—By a New Graduate Who Opened Cold
The optical is the heart of your optometric practice. As a new graduate and dispensary owner, it’s vital to design a great optical and this is how to do it.