HANDS ON - Eye On Equipment
Casting Simplified
by Karlen McLean, ABOC, NCLC

In-office lens casting can help improve profits through product management, output control, faster service, and internal efficiencies. The following can help you decide if casting is right for your practice.

	PHOTO COURTESY OF OPTICAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION

ESTIMATED PROFITS

The cost of lenses is often a practice's number one expense. Typically, ECPs seek out casting companies to help them with bottom line growth.

"On-site lens casting reduces costs," says Mike Yager, vice president, Optical Dynamics Corporation (800-587-2743; www.opticaldynamics.com). "And turnaround time is about 30 minutes."

Casting also eliminates the need for semi-finished lens blank inventories, and lens molds replace surfacing tools. You won't entirely replace your wholesale lab—specialty products and services are still needed.

Determine how much work you can cast and how much will continue to go to your lab. The balance will show if casting will be profitable.

PEAK PERFORMANCE

Once you've settled on casting, staff training, which usually takes two days, allows the practice to reach peak performance.

"The learning curve is five or six pairs of lenses," Yager says.

Companies also offer retraining, troubleshooting, telephone diagnostics, and easy repairs.

MAKING IT WORK

Casting isn't just about the machinery. Casting companies offer business solutions, such as ODC's "Steps to Success" business planning program, and other firms' marketing and business planning tools.

"We work with doctors to utilize the latest in patient services," says Duane Wires, OD, chairman of OptiCast, Inc (888-893-CAST; www.opticastusa.com).

PRODUCT POINTS

Casting ECPs are expanding their in-office product offerings and overall patient service as high quality aspheric mid-index material, progressive addition lenses, photochromics, and anti-reflective lenses are added.

Says Wires: "The quality of a lens produced is as important as the business decision to craft it in-house."