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As a second-generation optometrist, Jennifer Chinn, OD, recognizes that advanced technology is a transformative force in the field of optometry. Her father, Stephen Chinn, OD, has “always been an early adopter of technology,” having introduced Marco into his practice 13 years ago.
After graduating from the University of Missouri St. Louis College of Optometry in 2015, Dr. Jenn Chinn worked in a variety of clinical settings to gain experience in the different facets of optometric care. “I found that, for the level of care I can or want to provide, private practice was the best choice for me,” she says. So after three years of experiencing other practice settings, she joined her father in practice. back and shoulders.
Making Upgrades
She took over ownership of that practice, Dr. Chinn’s Vision Care in San Diego, California, in August 2024. She made the strategic decision to add more technology from Marco Lombart and upgrade what was already in use. The practice added a Marco OPD-Scan III Wavefront Aberrometer in the pretesting area and equipped a second exam lane with a Marco TRS-6100 Automated Refraction System. “It helps so much with patient flow, and it’s so precise with .12 diopters rather than .25 diopters,” she says.
Dr. Chinn upgraded to the Marco TRS-6100 but her father kept the TRS-5100 in his primary exam lane. It is the same equipment that her father purchased for the practice over a decade ago. The TRS-5100 remains highly functional and reliable. “We’ve never had it down,” she says. “There may have been problems with our internet connection, but the system has never failed us.”
These systems significantly enhance operational efficiency and streamline patient data management, allowing for a more comprehensive approach to eye care. Together, they allow for an elevated standard of care in Dr. Chinn’s practice.
As a part of all comprehensive exams, patients first stop is at the Marco OPD-Scan III Wavefront Aberrometer, an all-in-one autorefractor, keratometer, corneal topographer, pupillometer and integrated wavefront aberrometer. The OPD provides valuable information prior to the refraction. Dr. Chinn will understand whether the patient can be refracted to 20/20 vision even before she walks into the exam room. It also gives providers a full understanding of the patient’s optical system, including low and high order aberrations and if they are lenticular or corneal.
Ease in Automatic Systems
Dr. Jenn Chinn trained on manual phoropters in optometry school and in the practices she worked before joining her father’s practice. Once she experienced the advanced technology of an automated system, however, there was no going back. She considers it essential to have advanced systems in place. “This is the basis of optometry. We’re always going to be checking patients’ vision and prescriptions,” she says.
The TRS system allows for automatic input of patient data into the electronic medical record with the push of a button, eliminating any chance of error and allowing optometrists to focus on their patients rather than the equipment. “With a manual phoropter, I had to either remember or write everything down. And I had to have my patients sit there for a few minutes while I was writing, and that’s not very efficient,” Dr. Chinn says. The TRS will export over 60 fields of information into the EHR, saving valuable time and eliminating any transposition errors.
“With the automated system, I can build that rapport and talk about the patient’s ocular health.” Shifting the focus from the system to the patient lays the foundation for a stronger patient relationship built on trust and advanced education.
The WOW Factor
One of Dr. Chinn’s favorite features is the quick comparisons between the patient’s current prescription and the one that she generated during the exam. With a toggle, she can show her patients the differences in quick succession, rather than turning dials to reveal the contrast in prescriptions. This alleviates the repetitive stress of answering ‘Which is better?’ questions. The system also significantly reduces the time required for refraction tests without sacrificing accuracy.
“I’m always surprised when patients say they’ve never seen the machine, and they’re surprised I don’t have to turn the dial or be in their faces,” she says. Automated refraction systems are a fundamental part of optometry equipment, but the TRS-6100 has a “wow factor” that sets it apart from other digital refractors on the market.
By utilizing the latest advancements in optometric technology, Dr. Chinn has been able to align her efforts of continually developing her skills as a clinician with the practice’s mission of enhancing the patient experience. “At the end of the day, we have the best interest at heart for our patients and the practice,” she says.
