ask the labs
Sensitivities & Abnormalities
by Karlen McLean, ABOC, NCLC
So Sensitive
Q I have an older patient with extremely thin, sensitive skin on the bridge of her nose. What can you recommend for frame/bridge types and adjustments for her?
A I'd suggest steering her toward the smallest frame and lightest lenses that would work well with her Rx and that she can afford. Next, I'd use a frame with pad arms. This could be a plastic or metal frame.
I'd use a vinyl saddle bridge. Silicone is supposed to be hypoallergenic, but I've seen frames that require a nosepad change due to the patient breaking out from the pad, including silicone.
Some people can have silicone allergies, or the silicone pad may have other materials in it, causing a reaction. A vinyl saddle bridge would be the best way to distribute weight.
— Jonathan Jacobs, vice president,
Superior Optical,
Ocean Springs, Miss.
PARANORMAL PHOTOCHROMICS
Q I have a patient who is wearing photochromic lenses that darken well around the periphery, but aren't as dark in the center. What causes this and how can it be fixed?
A If this is a glass lens, it means the lenses are ground too thin. The lenses will have to be remade and ground thicker in order to solve this problem.
If it's a plastic material, polycarbonate or Trivex lens, chances are the lenses are defective; the photo-chromic properties didn't adhere correctly to the lens material.
This usually occurs over the entire lens, so it's likely that this is a glass lens that was ground too thin.
These lenses are easy to grind using computer-operated equipment that automatically calculates job parameters, so we usually don't run into this problem. It may be a case of using older equipment that was ineffective in this instance.
— Tim Steffey, vice president of
marketing, Sunstar Optical, Las
Vegas, Reno, Nev., and Salt Lake City
| lazy frames |
|---|
| Q What can a lab do to help an account sell-through frames that are languishing on the shelves? A We offer a practice management program that includes frame board management. For those ECPs in the program, we offer to exchange non-moving frames. We also send notices of frames being discontinued so accounts can take advantage of our exchange services. We always encourage packaging the frame, lens, and lens treatments. However, making the packaged pricing more aggressive when the frame is a slow mover or discontinued is a good strategy. You can even give away frames at no charge with specified lens packages. |
| — Dale Parmenteri, vice president, Balester Optical Company, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. |
If you have a question you'd like to have answered in Ask the Labs, send it to Karlen McLean. E-mail: mcleank@lwwvisioncare.com. Fax: 215-643-1705. An archive of past Ask the Labs columns can be found on the Eyecare Business Website at www.eyecarebusiness.com.
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