Some months, your schedule is packed. Other months, it’s full of open appointment slots.
Often, the reason is simple. Patients who were due for an eye exam never got around to scheduling. Life got busy, your reminder was overlooked, and before you know it, a patient who used to come in every year hasn’t been back in two years.
That’s where optometry recalls come in.
A strong recall system helps you reconnect with overdue patients and bring them back into the office. It can improve patient retention, support better eye health, and increase revenue without the cost of constantly trying to attract new patients.
What Are Optometry Recalls?
An optometry recall is any outreach to a patient who is due or overdue for an appointment.
That might include:
- An annual comprehensive eye exam
- A contact lens fitting or refitting
- A glaucoma follow-up
- A diabetic eye exam
- A glasses prescription update
Recalls are different from appointment reminders. Appointment reminders go to patients who already have a visit scheduled. Recalls go to patients who don’t have an appointment but should.
That means recalls require a little more effort, since you’re not just confirming an appointment. Rather, you’re encouraging the patient to book one.
Why Optometry Recalls Matter
A good recall system can bring back patients who might otherwise drift away.
That’s important because keeping existing patients is usually much less expensive than attracting new ones. It also supports better patient care.
When patients miss routine eye exams or follow-up visits, conditions such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration may go undetected or unmanaged.
Every missed recall is a missed chance to help a patient and keep your schedule full.
What Makes an Effective Optometry Recall System?
Accurate Patient Information
You can’t reach patients if their contact information is outdated.
At each visit, it’s a good idea to confirm:
- Email address
- Mobile phone number
- Preferred contact method
- Date of last exam
- Recommended return date
Even the best recall process won’t work if you’re calling old phone numbers or sending emails to inactive addresses.
Segmented Recall Lists
Not every patient should receive the same message.
A patient who is one month overdue may need only a friendly reminder. Someone who hasn’t been seen in two years may need a stronger prompt to return. It also helps to tailor your message based on why the patient needs to come back and how they prefer to be contacted.
When recalls feel relevant and timely, patients are more likely to respond.
Consistent Follow-Up
Most patients don’t schedule after the first message.
They may mean to call back and forget, or they may need a second reminder before they take action. In many practices, patients are most likely to book after the second or third contact.
That’s why consistency matters. A recall system only works when someone follows up until the patient schedules or clearly declines.
Easy Scheduling
Every recall should make it as easy as possible for the patient to schedule.
That means including a direct online scheduling link, providing a phone number that’s answered during office hours, and making sure return calls are handled promptly.
If a patient is ready to book but can’t reach your office, there’s a good chance they won’t try again.
Why In-House Optometry Recalls Often Fall Behind
Most practices know recalls are important. The challenge is finding time to do them consistently.
Front desk teams are already juggling check-ins, phone calls, insurance questions, and scheduling. When the office gets busy, recalls tend to slide down the priority list.
Staff turnover can make the problem worse. When the person handling recalls leaves, the process often falls apart. Reporting may also be inconsistent, making it hard to know which patients were contacted and which ones still need follow-up.
Over time, the list of overdue patients can grow much larger than anyone realizes.
Why Practices Outsource Optometry Recalls to Oclinicals
Oclinicals handles the entire recall process for optometry practices.
Their team makes outbound calls, sends texts and emails, answers patient return calls, mails letters when needed, and updates demographic and insurance information directly in your practice management system.
Because recalls are their primary focus, they can follow up consistently until patients schedule.
Specialty-Trained Agents
Oclinicals’ agents are trained in optometry workflows and understand common recall scenarios, including annual eye exams, contact lens visits, glaucoma follow-ups, diabetic eye exams, cataract surgery follow-ups, and retinal evaluations.
HIPAA-Compliant Security
Oclinicals is HIPAA compliant and SOC 2 certified, so your patients’ protected health information is handled using secure systems and processes.
Real-Time Reporting
You’ll be able to see how many recalls were sent, how many appointments were booked, and which patients still need follow-up.
No Upfront Costs
There are no setup fees or retainers. You only pay when Oclinicals schedules completed appointments or procedures.
Start Filling Your Schedule with Better Optometry Recalls
Optometry recalls can help you keep more patients, support better continuity of care, and reduce gaps in your schedule.
But recalls only work when they’re done consistently.
Oclinicals provides a complete recall system for optometry practices. Their team calls, texts, emails, and follows up until patients schedule their appointments.
There are no setup fees and no upfront costs. You only pay when appointments are completed.
Ready to bring more patients back to your office? Contact Oclinicals today for a free consultation.