Aesthetics is a growing opportunity for optometrists, and 57% of the respondents to a recent Pop-up Poll say that they have implemented aesthetic services, either as part of their dry eye treatment area or as a standalone service. One-third of the respondents said they do not offer aesthetic services. The remaining 10% said that they are working on implementation or have already acquired some equipment but haven’t officially begun.
This Pop-up Poll was out in late April and early May and was sent to readers of Women In Optometry and Review of Optometric Business. Slightly more than two-thirds of the respondents said they were women ODs.
IN-OFFICE TREATMENTS LEAD
The most common treatments provided are in-office procedures, such as intense pulsed light, radio frequency and low level light therapies, offered by 84% of those offering aesthetic services.
Here’s what else offices are offering:
Beauty/skin care products for sale: 43%
Counseling on makeup/aesthetics: 26%
Botox and/or fillers: 12%
Lash enhancements, eyebrow services: 4%
Facial services, dermaplaning, micro needling, chemical peels: 4%
Respondents could select more than one answer.
WHO PERFORMS SERVICES?
Most commonly, it is the doctor who is performing the services, according to 81% of the respondents. However, 41% said a technician or trained employee can provide the treatment, and 15% said a licensed aesthetician does.
Another five percent listed other medical providers, including ocuplastic surgeon, ophthalmologist, nurse practitioner or RN. Respondents could select more than one answer.
NEW REVENUE STREAM
Although one-in-four respondents to the Pop-up Poll said that aesthetic services account for no revenue at all, that is lower than the 33% who said they do not offer the services.
This chart shows that more than two-thirds of respondents said that their aesthetic services are account for less than 10% of revenue. The next most common response, from 24% of respondents, was that these services account for between 11% and 25% of revenue.
In January 2024, WO asked readers about opportunities to drive growth in the year ahead. Here’s how they responded.
See more poll results here.
Here’s a related story from Review of Optometric Business.
