Customized Rimless Pointers

Karlen McLean, ABOC, NCLC

Rimless customization takes an investment in money and time with patients to build personalized relationships and eyewear

Think that customization is a craze? Think again and plan forward: in addition to the optical industry, other catagories are jumping on the bandwagon, too. For example, according to Golf Magazine, the future of golf equipment is deeply imbedded in customization. This type of personalization includes the contents of the entire golf bag, including the bag itself. Unconventional and unusual club heads are leading the pack as drivers are increasingly variable by look and customizable kits allow players to select their putter head style. Now is the time to drive this trend home and set an "invest date" for rimless customization in your office,

GOOD BASICS

When diving into customization, pre-engineering your jobs on the front end will save time and trouble on the back end. Remember these custom-shape tips offered by Jonathan Jacobs, president of Superior Optical Labs, Inc., in Ocean Springs, Miss.

■ Minimalist is best: Most lens shape changes should revolve around the original shape in the frame. Major changes require decisions on seg height. For example, drill point changes affect seg height, so if the drill point is altered, seg height should be re-measured.

■ Be materialistic: Choose the right materials for the frame type. Drill holes and notches work best with poly and Trivex. Remember that grooved rimless lenses will always be thicker to help keep cords stable.

■ Shine off, satin on: The thicker the lens material, the bigger the problem with higher luster edges. Remember a lens is "just a pair of prisms put together." So high luster edges tend to turn the edge of the lens into a reflective point.

With numerous jobs returned due to customer complaints about the reflectivity of high luster edges, it's safer in the customer satisfaction department to order or apply a satin finish. Another minimally reflective rimless edge option: tinted edges.

■ Know before you go: Coatings can determine the center thickness of a lens. You can specify the lens center thickness desired, which helps the lab, but know that the lab may or may not be able to comply with your request due to impact standard requirements.

■ High-no: High plus or minus lenses in a rimless frame is likely a no-go. A rule-of-thumb is to avoid rimless in an Rx above the +/-2.50D range. To help cut down on edge thickness, stick with a small, round or oval shape. Your best bet is to stay roundish, small (a 50 to 52 eye if possible), with a short ED (see sidebar) and make certain that the pupil is centered in the lens (minimum decentration).

BETTER MODIFICATIONS

If you edge in-house, make customized lens demos for patients. An-house lab with plano poly lenses in stock allows opticians to make individualized sample lenses. Doing so can help ease any pre-purchase doubts, plus it's important in some cases to get measurements, such as seg heights, spot-on. This can save the practice money by helping to avoid remakes for visual or aesthetic problems. A nominal fee can be charged to help cover the fabrication time and skill and lens material.

Some scenarios where this might be necessary:

MINOR MODIFICATIONS: Where the B measurement is too narrow to get a useable reading area, so you increase the B area of the lens.

ANATOMICAL MODIFICATIONS: If every frame fits too high, you can set the bridge of a three-piece mounting up higher in a drilled lens.

CHAMPAGNE TASTE, BEER BUDGET: If a patient likes a high-end frame and the lens shape, but can't afford both, the lens shape can be adjusted to fit in a more economical frame.

MODEL LIMITATIONS: Some frames or frame lines are less forgiving of customizing lens shapes. Be sure of shape and sizing and being able to change eye size.

"One line we carry is flexible—almost every shape modification we want to achieve can be done—while another line we carry is unforgiving," says Larry Gunn, ABOC, at Dietz-McLean Optical in San Antonio, Texas. "It pays to know the frame stock so you know what can and can't be done. It also helps to work with a company that has adaptable rimless lens shapes and chassis with a simple system that lends itself to customization. Having an edger that's flexible with lens shapes also helps."

MODIFICATION TIP: Patients with a long-term relationship with the practice/optician are typically the easiest to make lens modifications for, as there's more built-in trust. These patients may also purchase on a word or a drawing.

RED FLAG: Don't make a lot of demo lenses. "Get a feel for the customer so there's no time or money wasted," Gunn advises.

BEST SYSTEM MANAGEMENT

Based on the amount of customized rimless work you do or plan to do (20 percent is a solid starting number), your practice may want to invest in an in-office rimless design, software management system and/or edging system. These systems offer:

1. On-screen lens shape modification and measurement templates. A plus: You can show patients lens modifications on-screen and involve them in the design process. Images of patients in their customized creations—realistically demonstrated lens simulations of thickness, tints, AR, etc.—can then be emailed or printed out.

2. The ability to create and maintain a database, store a variety of shapes and measurements, store patient data (lens shape and Rx info), and easily access stored data.

3. Data transmission to connect with lab systems, in-house or remote, to get the job done. EB