Experts share strategies to enhance optometry-ophthalmology collaborative care delivery and foster seamless partnerships.
With increasing patient demands and rapid technological innovations reshaping the eye care field, strong partnerships between optometrists and ophthalmologists are becoming essential. Co-management is no longer just an option—it’s a necessity for delivering high-quality, efficient care.
Consider this: A patient with severe keratoconus is referred by an optometrist to an ophthalmologist for corneal crosslinking. After the procedure, the patient returns to the optometrist—who is better equipped to manage long-term visual needs—for ongoing care and specialized contact lens fittings.
Or think of glaucoma surgery, where the optometrist handles pre-operative and post-operative care, freeing the ophthalmologist to focus on the surgical procedure itself.
“It opens me up to be more available to do surgeries,” explained Dr. Rajen Desai, a cataract and glaucoma ophthalmologist based in New Jersey, USA. “So patients aren’t waiting three or sometimes six months to get surgery.”
Scenarios like these highlight the power of co-management. Optometrists bring their expertise to frontline patient care, while ophthalmologists offer surgical precision and advanced treatment options. Together, they form a continuum of care that ensures no step in the patient’s journey is overlooked.
“We all play a very important role in the well-being of the patients,” said Dr. Glenda Aleman-Moheeputh, president and CEO of OK Love Myopia Control Experts in Florida, USA. “Having that collaboration is the best thing to do for the patient. It’s the right thing to do for the patient.”
The pillars of co-management
Successful co-management between optometrists and ophthalmologists doesn’t happen by chance—it’s built on a strong foundation of trust, communication and streamlined systems. These pillars ensure that patients receive seamless, high-quality care while fostering collaboration and respect between providers.
A smooth referral process is the backbone of effective co-management, and it’s about more than just sending a patient from one office to another. It’s about ensuring the handoff is efficient, accurate and patient-focused.
By using standardized forms, training staff on referral best practices, and following up diligently with patients, providers can remove barriers that often slow down or complicate the process.
Shared treatment protocols help define roles and responsibilities, ensuring that both parties are aligned in their approach to care. These protocols should be flexible enough to reflect local or regional standards yet consistent enough to maintain a high level of patient care.
Creating a communication workflow—complete with updates on patient progress—sets clear expectations on both sides. With the right tools and practices, optometrists and ophthalmologists can bridge gaps and eliminate confusion, making co-management as smooth as possible.
Underlying these pillars is a fundamental respect for each provider’s role in patient care. “Industry has made the optometry ophthalmology playing field more level and more respected,” said Dr. Desai. “We all know our scope of practice—surgery and non-surgery— but within the non-surgical space, there’s a great level of respect.”
Co-management tips and tricks
Building a robust co-management system between optometrists and ophthalmologists requires a multifaceted approach. From cultivating strong professional relationships to focusing on patient-centered care and leveraging technology, these strategies ensure a cohesive, collaborative process that benefits everyone—especially the patient.
1. Build strong professional relationship
At the core of effective co-management is trust, and trust takes effort. Developing relationships with other providers involves networking and maintaining regular contact.
One unique way to identify potential co-managing partners is through industry representatives. “Optometrists often ask sales reps for recommendations on who’s good in glaucoma or cataract surgery in the area,” shared Dr. Desai. “Sales reps know every doctor—they know who runs a good ship and who doesn’t. That insight is invaluable.”.
Additionally, being available and responsive builds trust. “All of my referring optometrists have my personal cell phone number,” noted Dr. Desai. “That direct connection addresses inefficiencies and ensures they’re never left waiting for updates.”
Maintaining a strong relationship also requires work. “You have to nourish the relationship,” advised Dr. Aleman Moheeputh. “You have to try to meet up with them once in a while. It’s a constant thing, like any other type of relationship.”
2. Treat patients like VIPs
Effective co-management isn’t just about providers working together—it’s also about ensuring patients understand the process. Providing consistent messaging across specialties reduces confusion and builds patient confidence.
Dr. Desai emphasized the value of personal interactions with patients. “[The optometrist] puts me on speaker phone with the patient in the room and introduces me. That ability is priceless,” he said. “The patient sees us as a team, not separate entities, and it takes so much fear out of the process. It’s not just handing them a business card; it’s creating a VIP experience,” Dr. Desai added. “Patients see that we care and they feel reassured knowing help is immediate.”
3. Leverage technology
Efficient communication hinges on technology that enables secure, real time data sharing. While traditional methods like faxing are still common, they can delay updates and lead to inefficiencies. “The old-fashioned way of doing things is faxing referral forms,” said Dr. Desai. “I’m using an app called pMD (San Francisco, USA). It’s HIPAA-compliant and sends records directly to my electronic medical records (EMR) system, cutting down on delays and making our workflow more efficient.”
A pathway to transformative care
Expanding educational opportunities can create a shared language and understanding, fostering trust and improving collaboration. “We need more conversations about how to bridge gaps between our professions,” said Dr. Aleman Moheeputh.
Industry support also plays a role. “One way that the industry can better support collaboration is to provide funding for joint events,” Dr. Aleman-Moheeputh suggested. “It’s important for optometrists and ophthalmologists to meet face-to face, to build trust and relationships.”
The co-management of eye care represents more than just a partnership between optometrists and ophthalmologists—it is a pathway to transformative patient care. By fostering collaboration through education and industry support, these two professions can work seamlessly to deliver exceptional outcomes.
At its heart, co-management is about people. It’s about a patient who feels reassured when their optometrist and surgeon collaborate in real time. It’s about professionals who trust and respect each other, working together to navigate complex cases.
“Co-management isn’t just a technical process; it’s a relationship,” said Dr. Aleman-Moheeputh. “And like any relationship, it requires communication, trust and effort.”
By embracing co-management as a shared commitment to better care, optometrists and ophthalmologists have the opportunity to not only elevate their practices but to change lives. When the best of both worlds come together, the result is clear: A brighter future for patients everywhere.
Editor’s Note: A version of this article was first published in COOKIE magazine Issue 18.
