Hello,

I'm trying to compile what it is that classifies a web site for an
Optometrist as overall useful to visitors.

Am I right to assume the following categories of issues to be
important for such a web site are applicable? If so, I would like them
to be addressed by the researcher with recommendations and references
of other sites that exemplify them:

1. Ease of navigation recommendations to allow for a pleasant client
experience.

2. Informational content, textual and imagery, in a consumer
appropriate language level.

3. Functionality expected or ideal for consumers when visiting.

4. Appropriate links to other sites of relevance.

All comments will be also appreciated. :-)

/Lizardnation

Lizardnation:

	Hello again, I am happy to answer your question regarding the
usefulness of various functions on an Optometrists web site.

I will outline my thoughts on the points you brought up, and point you
to various websites that will illustrate my points.

I might add, that this is a rather subjective question, and that
points I bring up will probably apply any professional looking
website.

	I believe any doctor's website should have a clean, professional look
to it, with muted (read: not garish) colors and clear, easy to access
menu. I really dislike background images

	I am partial to websites that are informative, yet are not too busy
looking. If the main page has too many pictures/illustrations or
verbiage, I find myself looking all over the page for the topic I am
looking for. This site uses a leaf picture (I think) for its
background.

http://www.auburneyes.com/

	One more generality, if you are going to have a website, do not,
repeat do not, use a free hosting service. You can get good, reliable
hosts for as little as 4.95/month. Here's why:

	A. You look cheap
	B.  The pop up ads are annoying and may have inappropriate content.
	C.  They might crash your browser (just happened to me)
See:

http://www.geocities.com/doctormcconnell/

Ease of navigation: Yes, very important.

	For purpose of illustration my first example is:

http://www.napergrove.com/index.htm

	I like the menu bar to be on the left, and to be the same on each
page. Easy navigation and less frustration will give the client a
pleasurable experience. Links to pages describing the practice, and
photos inside the practice help clients know what to expect,
especially if you are shopping for a new doctor. Short biographies and
pictures of the doctoes and staff helps also.

 Informational content: A nice addition.

	While I don't like the overall design of the site, the link below:

	http://www.ancoptical.com/services.htm

Has some good information, available through pop up windows, from the
left of the screen, has good content. Descriptions of eye maladies and
their possible treatments is invaluable.

Functionality expected:  

	If people wanted to just look at an ad, they would open the yellow
pages. Sites like this one,

http://beachbucks.com/cybermall/dr-lurie.htm

do nothing for your business, since it does nothing. It is just an ad.

This site,

http://www.miamieyelaser.com/

Has some nice functionality, directions to the office, including a
map. Another nice feature, especially for Miami, is the option to see
the web site in Spanish. Here the website really caters to the needs
of Miami's many Spanish speaking residents, without alienating the
English speaking ones.

Links to other sites:

	I think they can be useful, as long as they are chosen to fit the
client/patient's expertise, which generally will be laymen.

http://www.napergrove.com/naperlinks.htm

Here they have a link to the American Optometric Association, which is
geared toward the Doctor, not the patient, so I think it is useless in
this application. However links such as theirs to the diabetes-sight
organization is useful because it can educate the patient. Similarly,
the link to the FDA site on Lasik surgery is also beneficial.

	I hope this will help you in your study. Please feel free to ask for
a clarification of a topic, or if you feel I didn't cover any part of
your question with enough depth.

	Thanks again,


Colin

---

Request for Answer Clarification by lizardnation-ga on 07 Jun 2002 09:10 PDT

Hello Colin,

Your results are quality rather than quantity. Excuse my
disappreciation of it by asking for more references in the two areas I
mentioned in my original question:

1. Well done sites in terms of overall appearance and navigation.
2. Textual and image illustrations useful for visitors.

I particularly valued your opinion on the sites.

Thank you.

/Lizardnation.

---

Clarification of Answer by colin-ga on 07 Jun 2002 12:05 PDT

Hello Again:

	Please do not feel unappreciative, I always try to answer the
question that is asked, the best I can. Sometimes I am off the mark,
due to my interpretation, however I am very glad to answer this or any
other clarification you desire.  Please do not feel hesitant to ask
for clarification, this is one of the features that make Google
Answers so interesting.

	Many of the Optometrists sites I visited were very tacky and
unprofessional. In fact you are hard pressed to find pure Optometric
sites. Most Optometrists have teamed up with Ophthalmic surgeons, due
to the tremendous increase in interest in corrective surgery. Many of
the sites I reference are from such combined practices.

	I like this site,   http://www.lasikeyenyc.com/main.html   if you
scroll down you see two alarm clocks, one out of focus, one nice and
sharp. Here is an example of visual imagery that is successful in
promoting the visitor to get LASIK surgery. (It
 made me think about getting surgery, as the first, fuzzy alarm clock
is about how well I see without contacts.)

	The FAQ page is well done, using illustrations to show the visitor
why our eyes are myopic or astigmatic. All of my questions regarding
the surgery were answered on this page. A FAQ page is imperative.

Another helpful page on this site was the “Hot Topics” page. Although
the animated flame was irritating. Here the web site tries to explain
the vast differences in cost of LASIK surgery, which when shopping
around for a doctor, is very helpful, especially if your fees are in
the upper end of the range.

Navigation of this site was easy, with a large image map in the
center, and clearly labeled tabs on the top of each page. A very
important navigational point in any web site is that many pages end up
orphaned. Any search engine, including Google, indexes all the pages,
so depending on what your search terms were, you might not see the
first (or home) page. If, say the FAQ page comes up first, you need a
way to see more of the site, if you are interested. This site has
navigational tabs on each page, and text links on the bottom of each
page.

This page is orphaned:
http://www.skaggseyecare.com/od.htm

This site:
http://www.sharpervisioncenters.com/procedures_&_services.html

Uses clear graphics to detail exactly what is done during LASIK
surgery.


	Many people have strong opinions on the use of flash (macromedia
animated multimedia presentation). I think that in certain
applications, especially if you opt in, rather than be forced to sit
through it; it can be very useful and entertaining.

	Many Optometrist sites are including links to the following
manufactures flash presentations. The Tennislens link is highly
effective in showing you what the lens does, by using images with and
without the Tennislens. This lens filters out all colors except yellow
(most tennis balls are yellow), allowing you to focus on the fast
moving ball. Fascinating. I never knew such a product was available.


http://www.tennislens.com/flash.htm

	The link below is also interactive flash, showing pictures of models
and how they look with the manufacturers different color contact
lenses.

http://www.freshlookcontacts.com/flash.htm


Other sites that I found to be attractive:


http://www.careforeyes.com/index.html

http://www.visionprofessionals.com/

http://www.ocalaeye.com/

http://www.nheyeassociates.com/index2.html


Here are a couple of examples in the “don’ts” category. Music is nice,
but please leave it off the web, this site Breaks all the rules.

http://visionlinks.com/reaginoptometric/

This site uses a few too many colors:

http://www.cohenlaser.com/index1.htm


	Thanks again, and *please* contact me again if you have any more
questions.


Sincerely,


Colin

Thanks for the friendly clarification and the added support, you
caused the higher demand. ;-)

/Lizardnation