How One Early Decision Helped
This Dry Eye Centre Start Strong

Key Takeaways

Standardized the dry eye patient intake process from day one

Streamlined dry eye diagnostics and treatment planning

Reduced administrative workload by collecting patient information before appointments

Built a scalable workflow for a dedicated dry eye clinic

Dr. Cory Lappin

About Dr. Cory Lappin

Dr. Cory Lappin, OD, MS, FAAO, is the founder of the Dry Eye Center of Ohio, a specialty practice dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye disease and ocular surface disease. His clinic focuses on delivering advanced diagnostics, personalized treatment plans, and comprehensive patient care for individuals struggling with chronic dry eye symptoms.

Building a Dry Eye Clinic From the Ground Up

When Dr. Cory Lappin opened the Dry Eye Center of Ohio, he wasn’t searching for software to solve a problem.

He was building a system to prevent one.

Long before opening his practice, Dr. Lappin recognized a growing challenge in eye care: an increasing number of patients were struggling with dry eye disease, yet many practices lacked the specialized workflows needed to manage these complex cases efficiently.

“From the time I was in optometry school and throughout residency, I saw a tremendous number of patients suffering from dry eye. That need is what ultimately inspired me to create a dedicated dry eye clinic.”

For Dr. Lappin, a specialty clinic should operate differently from a traditional practice. Patients seeking specialized dry eye care expect a higher level of diagnostic precision, organization, and treatment planning.

That expectation shaped every decision he made before opening his doors.

Including the decision to implement CSI Dry Eye from day one.

Why Specialized Dry Eye Software Was Part of the Foundation

One of the biggest challenges in managing dry eye disease is complexity.

Symptoms alone rarely tell the full story.

Medical history, medications, lifestyle factors, environmental influences, previous treatments, diagnostic findings, and patient-reported outcomes all contribute to understanding the condition.

Without a structured workflow, gathering and organizing this information can become time-consuming and inconsistent.

Dr. Lappin knew that if he wanted to provide the highest level of care, he needed a process that would ensure no critical information was overlooked.

“If a clinic is dedicated to one particular area, especially a referral-based clinic, it should have the specialized diagnostic and therapeutic tools necessary to provide treatment at the highest level.”

Instead of adding software later, he built the clinic around a standardized workflow from the beginning.

Creating a Better Dry Eye Patient Intake Process

Before seeing his first patient, Dr. Lappin focused on one critical objective:

Creating a consistent and efficient dry eye patient intake workflow.
Because dry eye disease is multifactorial, collecting comprehensive patient information is essential. However, traditional intake processes often require significant staff time and can delay clinical decision-making.

CSI changed that.

Patients receive a secure link before their appointment, allowing them to complete health history forms, symptom questionnaires, medication reviews, and other relevant information before arriving at the clinic.
As a result, appointments begin with information already organized and available for review.

“CSI allowed us to create a consistent and streamlined intake process that ensured the majority of this information was collected before the patient even arrived in the clinic.”

Rather than spending valuable chair time gathering information, Dr. Lappin can focus on analyzing findings and developing personalized treatment plans.

Streamlining Dry Eye Diagnostics and Treatment Planning

Launching a specialty clinic involves countless moving parts.
Processes are still being refined. Team members are learning new workflows. Resources must be used efficiently.
During the first few months of operation, CSI played an important role in helping the Dry Eye Center of Ohio establish a repeatable system for patient care.
By centralizing patient information and supporting structured dry eye diagnostics, the clinic was able to create a more organized experience for both patients and staff.

The Impact

Before the Appointment

During the Appointment

Before the Appointment

The Moment It Clicked

Every implementation has a moment when the value becomes obvious.

For Dr. Lappin, that moment came through the intake process.

In the early months of a new clinic, staffing resources are often limited. Thorough dry eye evaluations require extensive information gathering, and that process can quickly become a burden.
CSI simplified it.
“Having CSI software available helped save valuable time by making the data collection process fast and simple.”

Fast Adoption for the Entire Team

New technology is only valuable if teams actually use it.

Fortunately, implementation was straightforward.
According to Dr. Lappin, both he and his staff became comfortable with the software after only a few training sessions.
The intuitive workflow and responsive support team allowed the practice to focus on patient care rather than software troubleshooting.

“Within a couple of training sessions, we were up and running.”

What If CSI Hadn't Been There?

Without CSI, Dr. Lappin believes his clinic’s intake and diagnostic processes would be far more fragmented.
Information would be collected across multiple systems, requiring additional staff effort to organize and review.
Instead, CSI provides a centralized platform that allows the team to focus on using patient data rather than managing it.

“CSI has allowed us to centralize this data and meaningfully use it rather than focusing our resources on consolidating it.”

Advice for Practices Expanding Dry Eye Services

For optometrists and ophthalmologists considering a dedicated dry eye clinic or expanding ocular surface disease management, Dr. Lappin sees software as an important part of the foundation.

Dr. Lappin's Advice

“One of the best things about CSI Dry Eye is the diversity of what the software can offer. From intake forms and questionnaires to diagnostic analysis and customizable treatment plans, it can fit nearly any practice.”

Advice for Practices Expanding Dry Eye Services

Whether you’re building a specialty clinic from scratch or enhancing an existing service line, creating a standardized workflow early can improve efficiency, consistency, and patient experience.