Requirements checklist
What to ask for when choosing software for optometrists.
A checklist built from how optometrists work, to print or save as a PDF and bring to any supplier meeting.
What the software should cover
Tick each one that matters to your business.
- Appointment diary by room and optometrist
- Examination and prescription record
- Frames, lenses and dispensing orders
- Lab job tracking
- Fitting and supply of contact lenses
- Optical stock with barcodes
- Recalls and patient reminders
Roles that need their own access
Who logs in, and what each person may see or change.
- For the practice owner
- For optometrists
- For dispensers
- At the front desk
Reports to ask for
Ask to see each one with your own sample data.
- Examinations by optometrist and visit type
- Dispensing sales by frame and lens type
- Lab jobs out, late and received
- Balances due on open orders
- Patients overdue for a yearly check
- Contact lens reviews and reorders due
- Frames to reorder and slow stock on the frame board
Systems it may need to connect to
Note which ones you already run.
- SMS
- WhatsApp or other messaging
- Card and online payments
- Accounting export
- Barcode and label printer
Questions for any vendor
Put these to every supplier you are comparing.
- Is this optometry software or general clinic software?
- How are prescriptions stored?
- Can a frame and lens order be raised from the prescription?
- How is lab work followed?
- Does it manage contact lens patients?
- Can stock be counted with a scanner?
- Can we bring in our existing patient cards?
- Who owns the records?
- How is the cost decided?
- Is it needed for a single test room?
Where the work usually breaks today
Circle the ones you recognise. They set the order of the project.
- Prescriptions and orders live apart
- Lab orders are chased by phone
- Frame stock is counted by eye
- Recalls depend on memory
- Lens supply is tracked loosely
Prefer to talk it through? See the optometrists page.