Medical retina is an increasingly important part of optometric practice. With access to advanced diagnostic imaging and opportunities for collaboration with ophthalmologists, optometrists can play an important role in monitoring retinal disease, supporting clinical decisions, and coordinating patient care.
During the Care1 webinar Building a More Efficient Eye Care Practice, Dr. Wes McCann and Dr. Anita Voisin discussed practical ways to integrate medical retina into everyday clinical workflows while maintaining efficient operations and high standards of patient care.
Here are five key lessons from their discussion.
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1. Establish a structured approach to retinal monitoring
Effective medical retina care requires more than identifying disease. It also requires a clear plan for monitoring patients over time.
The appropriate follow up interval depends on the condition, imaging findings, visual acuity, and risk of progression. Consistent monitoring can help clinicians identify changes and determine when a patient needs closer assessment, specialist input, or referral for treatment.
The speakers discussed cases involving age related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, and branch retinal vein occlusion. These examples highlighted the importance of matching monitoring frequency and diagnostic testing to the individual patient rather than relying on a single approach for every condition.
The takeaway: Establish condition specific monitoring pathways and ensure that patients have a reliable follow up plan.
2. Integrate diagnostic imaging into the patient journey
Advanced imaging can support clinical decision making, but the way it is incorporated into a practice matters.
Dr. McCann and Dr. Voisin discussed planning diagnostic testing around the patient's needs. Depending on the clinical situation, this may include OCT, OCT angiography, retinal photography, or visual field testing.
Rather than treating imaging as an unexpected addition to an appointment, practices can identify testing requirements when appointments are booked. Some practices may arrange testing ahead of the doctor visit, while others may schedule patients to arrive early for imaging on the same day.
Both approaches can help reduce unnecessary delays and make better use of staff, equipment, and examination time.
The takeaway: Build diagnostic testing into the appointment workflow instead of allowing it to become a recurring disruption.
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3. Use technician led monitoring visits thoughtfully
Not every follow up visit necessarily requires a full doctor appointment. For appropriate patients, practices may be able to schedule a technician visit to collect visual acuity measurements and diagnostic scans, followed by the doctor’s review.
This approach can create greater flexibility for patients and help doctors manage their time more efficiently.
However, delegation requires clear protocols. Technicians should know which findings or symptoms need to be flagged for prompt review, including new symptoms, deteriorating visual acuity, or concerning changes on imaging.
The speakers emphasized that testing can be delegated, but clinical interpretation and management decisions remain the doctor's responsibility. Technicians should not diagnose or reassure patients before the doctor has reviewed the findings.
The takeaway: Technician led monitoring can support efficiency when responsibilities, escalation criteria, and doctor review processes are clearly defined.
4. Create reliable pathways for escalation and referral
Efficient care does not mean managing every patient within the practice. It means recognizing when additional expertise or intervention is needed and having a dependable process for acting on that information.
The webinar explored how imaging can help identify concerning changes, including macular edema, retinal ischemia, hemorrhage, and possible neovascularization. These findings may change the monitoring plan or prompt more urgent specialist assessment.
The speakers also discussed the value of consulting ophthalmology colleagues when the appropriate next step is uncertain. Local referral pathways and access to specialist care will vary, so practices should understand the options available in their area.
Collaborative services such as Care1 can provide an avenue for specialist input, helping optometrists discuss clinical findings and determine an appropriate course of action.
The takeaway: Define when to monitor, when to seek a second opinion, and when to refer urgently. Clear escalation pathways support more consistent decision making.
5. Use collaboration to build clinical confidence
Managing medical retina can involve complex decisions about imaging, monitoring intervals, and the need for specialist intervention.
Access to a specialist perspective can help optometrists validate their clinical reasoning, identify when closer follow up may be appropriate, and develop greater confidence through experience.
As discussed during the webinar, collaboration can also support continuity of care. Appropriate patients may be monitored within their optometric practice while specialist input helps guide decisions about whether and when further intervention is needed.
This approach keeps the focus on coordinated patient care while recognizing the distinct roles of optometrists and ophthalmologists.
The takeaway: Collaboration is not simply a referral option. It can be a valuable part of ongoing clinical decision making and professional development.
Making medical retina part of everyday practice
A more efficient medical retina service depends on bringing several elements together: appropriate diagnostic testing, structured monitoring protocols, well designed appointment workflows, clear escalation criteria, and access to specialist collaboration.
When these elements work together, practices can make better use of their resources while supporting timely, informed decisions about patient care.
As Dr. McCann and Dr. Voisin demonstrated, the goal is not simply to add more testing or appointments. It is to build a thoughtful process that helps optometrists provide appropriate care, recognize when a patient needs additional support, and manage their practice effectively.
Care1 supports optometrists through virtual specialist consultations and clinical decision support, helping connect everyday optometric care with ophthalmology expertise when needed.
This article summarizes an educational webinar discussion. Clinical decisions should be based on the individual patient’s presentation, current clinical guidance, and appropriate professional judgment.
Notable Insights from the Speakers
Dr. Wes McCann, Optometrist
“A more efficient eye care practice starts with structured workflows, appropriate diagnostic testing, and clear protocols for monitoring patients and identifying when further assessment is needed.”
Dr. Anita Voisin, Optometrist
“Collaboration between optometrists and ophthalmologists can support confident clinical decision making, timely specialist input, and coordinated care for patients with retinal disease.”
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