ask the labs

Clean Lenses and Tool Trials

Karlen McLean, ABOC, NCLC

CLEAN LENSES

Q Is there a standard way to clean lenses throughout production?

A After we de-block, we wash up with warm water and Joy dishwashing soap (yellow in color, no lanolin.) We use AlphaWipes (100 percent continuous filament double-knit polyester cloth wipes, designed to clean photomask and optical surfaces) that sit in the cleaning water, and then we air dry.

After bench, we clean with Nanofilm's Clarity or OptiSource's All Off Marking Ink Remover if lenses have an ink marking. In AR production, they also use Joy dishwashing soap, and then send lenses to the ultrasonic unit for more cleaning. After AR we'll edge the lens and clean with the approved lens cleaners.

—Steve LaDuke, production manager, Katz & Klein, Inc., Sacramento, Calif.

GETTING A READ

Q What are the plusses and minuses of digital vs. manual lensometers?

A As with all technical equipment, lensometers have evolved over the years, and two basic breeds now exist: the manual lensometer and the digital version.

Today's digital lensometers offer a much higher degree of accuracy. A verifier used at Toledo Optical will scan over 1,000 points across the surface of a lens, in contrast to viewing a lens through a single spot.

Also, more times than not, a digital lensometer will be more user friendly. This does not mean that manual lensometers should now all be cast off as boat anchors.

We've found manual lensometers to be stable, less subject to calibration issues, and equally as precise as their digital counterparts in the hands of the well-trained. As lens designs become more sophisticated, it's wise to invest in a quality lensometer.

—Jeff Szymanski, vice president, and Bob Lommerse, general manager, Toledo Optical, Toledo, Ohio

Sharp Move

Q Can dull screw driver blades can be sharpened effectively? If so, what' s the best method?

A The easiest way to sharpen a screwdriver blade is to use a screwdriver sharpener—a spring-loaded jig with wheels. The jig allows you to position the screwdriver at the proper angle for sharpening and holds the screwdriver in place. You'll also need a knife-sharpening stone. Position the screwdriver in the jig and roll the jig back and forth on the stone to the desired sharpness. If not squared on the file, the blade can slip while tightening a screw, resulting in a ruined lens or optician's thumb, a painful puncture.

—Wes Palmer, director, sales and marketing, Optic Blue Precision Lens Laboratory, Lubbock, Texas

If you have a question you'd like to have answered in Ask the Labs, send it to Karlen McLean. Email: Karlen.McLean@wolterskluwer.com or Facebook: Facebook.com/EyecareBusiness. An archive of past Ask the Labs columns can be found on the Eyecare Business website at EyecareBusiness.com.