Finding the Right Ocularist For Your Patient

After having a conversation with your patient, perhaps you’ve concluded that they need prosthetic eye services. Whether they’ve undergone eye surgery, experienced eye trauma or disease, or want to correct a congenital condition, one thing is clear — you want them to have the best ocularist ready to meet their needs. 

But, as a provider, you may have some questions in mind.

• What services does an ocularist provide?
• How can I find an excellent ocularist for my patient?
• What are the steps to refer my clients?

At Carolina Eye Prosthetics, we want to help! In this blog, we will cover these questions to give clarity in your decision to find the right ocularist for your clients.

How To Find an Ocularist for Your Patient: Information for Providers

As you considered artificial eye or scleral shell services for your patient, you may have encountered or communicated with ocularists, the professionals responsible for creating prosthetic eyes.

What is an ocularist? To best understand the definition, focusing on the services an ocularist typically provides is helpful.

• Custom artificial eye: Hand-painted prosthetic eyes that aesthetically match the patient’s working eye.
• Corneal scleral shell: A prosthetic shell that fits over the surface of the eye, boosting one’s confidence and improving eye symmetry.
• Pediatric services: Artificial eye and scleral shell services thoughtfully designed for children.
• Microphthalmic socket: A process of treating microphthalmia in children, to help in the development of the socket and providing prosthetic eyes.
• Polishes and cleanings: Regular maintenance of artificial eyes and scleral shells.

If your client needs any of these ocularist services, we would love to talk! Carolina Eye Prosthetics proudly partners with providers to give the utmost care to patients referred for artificial eye services.

Now that you’re guiding your patient through the next steps of their treatment, you might be  asking, “How can I find an ocularist that will fulfill my client’s needs?” There are several factors to consider. 

First, consider certification and experience. You want to look for board-certified ocularists, which means they meet state and national standards for prosthetic eye services.

Next, a patient may have asked, “I would like to find an ocularist near me.” With proximity and convenience as a factor, finding a prosthetic eye center close to your client’s location or one that offers accommodations may be ideal. 

At CEP, care and convenience are top priorities! We provide hotel accommodations for patients needing same-day artificial eye and scleral shell services outside Burlington, NC, and traveling more than 1.5 hours away. In addition, we offer a comfortable environment with compassionate staff — making every client who comes through our doors feel at home.

Referring a patient for ocularist services is easy! Here are some simple steps you can take as you reach out to CEP for a client referral:

Step 1: Assess your patient’s needs.

It’s helpful to consider the specific prosthetic eye service your patient needs when referring them to an ocularist.

Step 2: Give us a call.

We’re happy to answer any questions you may have as a provider. If you need the information to pass on to your client, here’s a digital brochure you can provide, or contact us here.

Step 3: Inform your patient of your referral plans.

Once you’ve set the details with CEP, informing your patient about the referral can be helpful so they can reach out personally or learn more about our services through our online resources.

Explore the value of referring patients to Carolina Eye Prosthetics.

At CEP, we deeply value our partnerships with health care professionals who refer their clients. Learn more about our patient-first approach to care, excellent communication, and our reciprocal referrals by visiting our dedicated page for providers.

Questions? Call us at (877) 763-9393 or email us today.