Although there is a vast array of prescription therapeutic options to help manage the various ocular diseases optometrists see in clinical practice, there is certainly a role for over-the-counter (OTC) products to help treat these conditions. One of the least effective ways to recommend OTC products is to offer patients several types of samples in a given category and leave the choice up to them. From a patient’s perspective, this practice risks commoditizing the products; when it comes time for him or her to make a purchasing decision, the products may be viewed as indistinct from one another with cost as the major differentiating factor.
It is our opinion that whenever recommending OTC products, patients should be given one sample along with any available coupons and education on the need to use that specific product. Additionally, writing the OTC agent and the directions for use on a prescription pad will often encourage patients to comply with the recommendation.
A number of nonprescription products require a similar philosophy as prescription agents when recommendations are made. Although there is significant overlap in the products and conditions that we discuss herein, for the purposes of this article, we attempt to categorize them highlighting the importance of proactive education in each category.
By Mile Brujic, OD, and David Kading, OD
