eye on equipment

Ramp Up Your In-Office Lab

Karlen McLean, ABOC, NCLC

When your in-office lab is running in the black, it could be time to look into restructuring your current operating system to generate more patient satisfaction and profits.

Q We've reached our goals and want to put money back into the lab portion of the business. Should we upgrade the edger or otherwise reinvest?

A The first thing to assess is what jobs are being processed in-house and which jobs are being sent out to the lab. Of the jobs being sent out, determine why they are being sent out.

With the increased cost of premium lenses, some work is being sent to wholesale labs because of the risk of scrapping the lenses is shifted. Some practices do this as a matter of strategy, and it often occurs because they've experienced lens spoilage as a result of slippage from super hydrophobic coatings.

Today's new edging technology, in concert with using the correct blocking techniques, will prevent errors. So, upgrading your edger should allow you to save more money.

Also, look into drilling lenses in-house, as drilling systems are easier to use than ever. Drilling in-house can save approximately $40 to $50 per job.

Additionally, edgers today offer wrap-style edging capability, which can also save you money.

— Matt Vulich, vice president of marketing, AIT Industries

Q We're doing so well with in-office edging that we're considering doing surfacing, too. What are the indicators that will help us determine if our practice should make a move in that direction?

A In-office surfacing will separate your practice from the competition. Improved customer service, gaining control over lens quality, and quick turnaround times are key reasons to invest in in-office surfacing.

Finding ways to reduce or eliminate lab surfacing costs can improve your bottom line.

However, there are initial costs associated with installing and managing an in-office surfacing lab. With experience in in-office finishing, the added cost of surfacing lenses is reduced.

It would be wise to work with an experienced in-office surfacing equipment company that can help you determine the real costs that will help you decide if an in-house surfacing lab can deliver the added benefits.

— Randy Baldwin, director of marketing/product management, Gerber Coburn