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Labs Wrap it Up
This OLA-sponsored article looks at one of the newest hot categories—wrapped eyewear
By Alex Yoho, ABOM

Shamir Attitude "Perfect Vision Wrapped Up."

This OLA-sponsored interview takes a look at the phenomenal explosion of wrapped eyewear in today's market and the challenges they present, from a lab perspective. We can all gain from the expertise of labs to maximize our success rate.

Labs are becoming very proficient and creative in the methods used for surfacing, edging, and mounting wrapped eyewear. They have developed new technologies in all three of these areas to meet the needs of their customers.

Many thanks to those who participated in this interview: Kevin Bargman, president, Hawkins Optical, Topeka, Kan.; Bill Harding, president, Lenstech Optical, Greenwood, Ind.; Jacqueline Honstrom, owner, Next Generation Ophthalmics, Grand Rapids, Minn.; and Drake McLean, president, Dietz-McLean Optical, San Antonio, Texas.

Why is wrapped eyewear so popular?

Bargman: This product has been very popular in the plano sunwear market for some time now. It has only recently become popular in the Rx area now that labs have the ability to process them more efficiently.

Honstrom: Wrapped eyewear offers the wearer more protection from wind and bright light.

McLean: This likely started with sports sunwear, and most frame manufacturers are now including wraps in their offerings.

Where is most wrapped eyewear purchased?

Prescriptive wraps are not just popular with athletes—they're now a trend. ( top to bottom) Marchon's Calvin Klein style CK3043S is Rxable; the Kaenon Polarized Variant Series is an eight-base wrap that is Rxable; Bollé style Coachwhip is a new style ready for Rx

Bargman: A lot of people are purchasing them in sunglass kiosks and then taking them to their doctors wanting to have the prescription filled.

Honstrom: Unfortunately, many of them are purchased at sporting good stores. These are sales that we could all be profiting from.

How can dispensers tap this market?

Honstrom: Be sure to offer a product line that your lab is able to Rx. If the patient is frustrated with their eyewear, they may be reluctant to try new products in the future.

By working closely with their lab, dispensers can understand the idiosyncrasies of wrapped frames, from lens materials to special beveling.

McLean: Dispensers will need to have marketing support from vendors/manufacturers to help us bring Rx wearers wanting wraps into optical stores for their Rx sunwear. Many consumers probably assume they can get any wrap style in their prescription. The entire optical community must educate consumers as to what really works with their prescription and what doesn't.

Are there other uses for wrapped eyewear?

Bargman: Wrapped eyewear can be beneficial in the safety arena, as well as the medical field where blood-borne pathogens are an issue.

Harding: I'm an avid fisherman and require the peripheral light filtering that wraps provide, but I keep readers handy to tie knots.

McLean: They can also help when biking, golfing, doing yard work, or woodworking.

Who are the best candidates?

Honstrom: People with moderate Rxs work best with these frames. Using higher powers can be problematic, particularly higher minus.

McLean: The best candidates would be single vision, low Rx folks with a high tolerance for change.

Rudy Project Ekynox SX Chrome is prescription ready

Are there additional parameters when ordering this?

Bargman: The patient's pupilary distance (PD) can be an obstacle if it is too narrow for the frame selected.

Polycarbonate or Trivex should be selected for these type of frames because of the special beveling that's required for lens retention.

Harding: Rxs over +/-3.00 diopters present particular difficulties, especially fitting in zyl and metal frames. Keep in mind that drill and compression mounts are a little more forgiving.

Honstrom: Beyond +2.00 to -2.00, the dispenser may want to order special lenses for the patient's position of wear.

What is the best way to check eyewear with wrapped lenses?

Bargman: Check the power at the OC as usual, and measure the PD from the backside of the frame.

Honstrom: A lensometer of course, is needed, but for lenses compensated for the position of wear, the slip from the lab that describes what you should find in the lensometer is critical. The lenses will be different than the prescribed Rx, but will have the prescribed effect.

How should the dispenser troubleshoot?

Oakely style Grapevine is one of the company's many Rxable wraps

Bargman: The dispenser should inform the patient that peripheral vision will not be as clear as with their dress eyewear because of the high base curve that is required for these frames. 

Dispensers should also know what frames will accommodate prescription lenses and what the Rx parameters are—before telling the patient that the job can
be done.

Harding: Keeping the patient in a lower base curve can help.

Good bench people in the lab can make a six-base lens look like a wrap.

Honstrom: There often needs to be a lot of pantoscopic tilt.

McLean: Variable elimination for starters; also, fitting characteristics, Rx comparison, and inspection of lenses for waves and aberrations.

What are labs doing to help prevent difficulties?

Bargman: We are evaluating the frame and prescription before starting the job to be sure it is possible.

Harding: We take a hard look at the frame and Rx to avoid stumbling forward. We stress educating your patient about the adaptation requirement that they will experience when switching base curves from their dress eyewear to their sunwear. If they grasp the concept, they'll be more forgiving with the sunwear.

Honstrom: We are using technologically advanced lenses.

Any recommendations for ECPs who purchase uncuts?

Bargman: Know your edger's limitations. Special beveling is required for good lens retention. And, don't try to put a 2.00 base lens in a high wrap frame.

Harding: Especially with higher Rxs, fit fames as close to the eye as possible. Always recommend backside AR coatings, especially with polarized lenses. Stay away from high minus—backside curves over 10.00D reflect a lot of light and offer a high degrees of off-axis aberration and unwanted prismatic effects as focus moves away from the true optical center. If your patients insist on progressives, stay away from low fitting heights, and modify rimless "B" measurements to provide the full effect of a progressive design.

If we are to take advantage of this lucrative market, it's going to take teamwork between dispensers and their labs. Wrapped frames have limitations that are not understood by some eyecare practitioners, and this has led to patient failures and disillusionments.

In order to get the full potential of this market, dispensers must communicate with their lab to understand what works and what doesn't. And, in turn, labs need to understand what dispensers need to sell and create innovative ways to meet those needs.

Labs are working hard to ensure that dispensers have the ability to make patients understand that wrapped eyewear from a professional is a highly refined and technically superior product. Your lab can help you wrap things up.