Unity Via Victories Contest Finalist: 'Keeping It In-House'

This was a finalist in the Unity Via Victories contest. Voting ended on December 31, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. pacific time.

​I've always held a firm belief that there is a progressive lens design to meet every patient's needs, it's just my job to find it. Generally speaking, I find that most of the presbyope population can be fit into an assortment of digital lens designs with very little issue, but the beauty of my job is fitting lenses specific to the lifestyle needs of the patients I serve. The absolute highlight of any optician's job is the joy of getting your patient to really "see" at their best for the first time ever (that and fitting kids in their first pair of glasses).
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I met my match in 2016 when I started working for a local ophthalmologist practice. Joann was one of the front desk receptionists and was your typical mid 50's presbyope (or so I thought). She came to me to get a new pair of reading glasses and I asked her why she wouldn't consider a workspace type of lens or a nice progressive. Her answer was simple: she had tried progressive lenses in the past, failed at adapting to them, and was dismissive of the idea of ever trying again. Joann carried three pairs of glasses in her scrubs every day: a pair for distance, one for computer, and another one for reading!!! I was absolutely floored that this woman was switching out glasses for literally every activity she was doing in the office (and had told herself this was just normal).

After much convincing and pleading, she allowed me to try to fit her with a progressive lens. I assumed she probably suffered from incorrect measurements and figured she would be an easy fix. At the time, I was working for another business, so my progressive choices were a bit more limited. Still, I didn't give up. I had this one chance to change her mind and get her out of the mindset that changing three pairs of glasses a day would be her life from here on out.

During this time period, the "it" lens for [Company X] was the [Branded Lens] series lens. When it arrived, she was very happy....she could SEE. I had done it; I had gained her trust. Over the next few weeks, I checked on her and, while she was happy that she didn't have to change out three pairs of glasses, the lens wasn't doing everything she had hoped. The reading corridor just wasn't cutting it for her visual needs.

It was then that I moved offices into private practice and Joann followed me as a front desk receptionist. I had so many different lens choices and was excited to see if I could help her see even more. We next did a [Company Y]. It was a drastic improvement over the previous lens, and she said that she could absolutely work and live in this lens.

Over the past couple of years, she has become my guinea pig for lens designs. Joann is extremely communicative about what works, what doesn't, and how to try to meet her visual needs. It was last year that I suggested trying the Unity® Via Elite Progressive Lenses so I could have some feedback. I am an emerging presbyope, so my low add power means I pretty much adapt to any lens design.

When the Unity Via Elite progressive was on her face, Joann literally burst into tears. She could see....everything....and read....everything. She hugged me, and for the first time in several years, we had found her lens design. This meant the absolute world to me as I don't just consider Joann a coworker or patient, but a true friend.

Very recently, I had Joann try the Unity Via Mobile lens (as it's my absolute favorite progressive) to hear her thoughts. I thought the increased corridor might improve upon her computer/reading ability. And just like I suspected, she absolutely is over the moon with this design as well.

I can say with complete confidence that Unity lenses have changed the way that Joann sees the world. She is confident in her work and is never struggling to see the computer or read documents. She is able to clearly see patients approaching her. It's been fun to see her grow into a patient that loves wearing her glasses now and she's branched into a patient that wants to wear frames of different shapes, sizes, and colors. She's constantly exclaiming to patients how great our lenses are and how well she can see to work.

I recognize this is only the story of one patient, but Joann was such a challenge. I was really impressed with the Unity Via lenses’ ability to help her see her absolute best and build confidence along the way. From my friend and I, we are so thankful.

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