EDITOR'S LETTER
Picking Labs & Lenses
Stephanie K. De Long, Editor-in-Chief

there's no question that the lab landscape has changed dramatically in the last few years. To see whether lab consolidation has altered the way you pick labs or select lenses, I decided to look at two EB research projects that asked ECPs—349 in 2000 and 250 this year—about lenses and labs.

In comparing them, it's clear that who owns a lab is not a deciding factor for most of you. Instead, you report what's key is: 1) the quality of jobs; 2) turnaround time; 3) price; and 4) reputation of the lab. Ownership and management come in 5th place. Surprisingly, a quarter of you say you use only one lab every month—up from 12 percent in 2000. Nearly three quarters of you, however, still use two or three labs monthly.

What kinds of lenses do you think you'll be ordering more of over the next 24 months? The answers show a definite change over the years, with both computer lenses and polarized product now coming on strong:

We also wanted to find how you decide what lenses to purchase. Here are our latest findings: 48 percent of you rely on sales reps; 45 percent follow lab recommendations for most jobs; 19 percent pick your "preferred lenses" at trade shows; and 28 percent base your decisions on sources like trade magazines

At EB, we're happy to play a role in helping you select lenses, and look forward to continuing—and growing—that partnership with you.