AI for Optometry & Optical Practices

Our AI plugs straight into your Optomate or Sunix system, so it always sees live availability. It knows the different appointment types: comprehensive eye exams, contact lens fittings, children's assessments, diabetic screenings, emergency slots and optical collections. It sets aside the right amount of time for each one. Patients can book by phone, SMS or online at any hour, and every booking lands in your practice system straight away.

Yes. The trick is to keep at it, use more than one channel, and write to each patient personally. A generic reminder system sends the same text to everyone. Our AI uses the channel each patient prefers and names the reason they are due, whether that is an annual comprehensive exam, diabetic retinal screening or a contact lens review. If the first message gets no reply, it follows up by SMS, then email, then a phone call, in a sequence you set. This systematic approach consistently lifts recall compliance from the industry average of 50-60% to 85-90%.

Yes. We build a full two-way link to both Optomate and Sunix, the two systems most Australian optometry practices run on. The AI reads your availability, makes and changes bookings, pulls up patient contact details and recall schedules, and tracks optical orders. Everything syncs live, so nothing is entered twice. We also connect to the other practice systems used by optical practices.

The AI watches every optical order from the moment it goes to the lab until it comes back. When spectacles or contact lenses are ready, it tells the patient on their preferred channel and offers to book the collection and fitting. If an order runs late, it tells them the new date rather than leaving them guessing. That ends the run of order status phone calls that interrupt your clinical day.

The AI can explain private health fund optical cover, discuss typical rebate amounts for eye exams and optical items, clarify Medicare bulk-billing eligibility for comprehensive eye examinations, and explain DVA entitlements for veteran patients. It helps patients understand their likely out-of-pocket costs before attending, reducing billing surprises and the volume of financial inquiries your front desk handles. All health fund information is kept current with major Australian fund schedules.

No. Optical dispensing is hands-on and personal, and AI cannot do it. Helping someone pick frames that suit their face, explaining progressive lens options, adjusting a nose bridge, fitting a new pair of spectacles: all of that needs a skilled person in the room. What the AI takes on is the phone calls, bookings, recall messages and order status questions that pull your dispensers away from the patient. Most practices find their dispensers get more real time with each patient, which lifts both satisfaction and average sale value.

The AI knows what a children's appointment needs: a longer consultation, the parent as the point of contact, myopia management follow-ups and recall intervals set by age. It tells parents what to expect on the day and why regular children's eye exams matter. It also handles the tighter recall schedule that conditions like progressive myopia require. Every message goes to the parent or guardian on file.

Yes, it covers both. For reorders, it takes routine requests from existing patients, checks the prescription is still valid and passes the order to your supplier. For reviews, it tracks when each patient is due for their annual contact lens assessment and sends a personal reminder explaining why it matters for their eye health. Together, that keeps contact lens patients with your practice instead of drifting to online-only suppliers.

The AI keeps a separate recall schedule for diabetic patients. It tells apart an annual screening interval from the tighter monitoring some clinical findings call for. Its reminders stress why regular diabetic retinal screening matters, point to the GP referral pathway, and explain the Medicare bulk-billing eligibility for these examinations. That is worth a lot to practices serving communities where diabetes is more common.

Our AI is configured to comply with AHPRA advertising guidelines and Optometry Board of Australia requirements. It does not make unsubstantiated claims about treatment outcomes, uses appropriate clinical language, and avoids promotional communications that could breach advertising standards. All AI responses are regularly audited for compliance. You maintain full control over the language, claims, and tone the AI uses when communicating with patients and prospective patients.

Review recall administration, new enquiry handling and order-status requests using your practice records. A pilot can test supported reminders or information handling while staff retain responsibility for clinical and funding matters. Measure attended appointments and net staff effort, then compare contribution and costs. No patient-volume benchmark, revenue gain or fixed payback period is claimed.

The full rollout runs 6-11 weeks across three phases. Phase 1 (1-2 weeks) covers the practice audit and the Optomate or Sunix link. Phase 2 (2-4 weeks) turns on the AI receptionist, the recall engine and order tracking. Phase 3 (3-5 weeks) adds health fund verification, patient education and reputation management. Most practices feel the difference in the first week of Phase 2, as the AI starts working through recall lists and picking up after-hours bookings.

Training is built to stay out of your clinical schedule. Optical dispensers and reception staff get 2-3 hours on working with the AI, when to step in, and how to keep an eye on it. Optometrists get a 1-hour overview of how the AI supports their patient communication and recall protocols. Practice managers get 3-4 hours on analytics, recall performance tracking and system settings. Most teams are fully comfortable within 1-2 weeks of regular use.