ask the labs

Hot Regional Jobs

Karlen McLean, ABOC, NCLC

In conjunction with our annual regional ECP survey, EB asked wholesale laboratories across the country what's hot lens-wise in their respective areas.

Q What lens trends are popular in your region?

SOUTH

No-Glare and the premium ARs that we provide with the latest super-hydrophobic, scratch-resistant top coats are hot. Our in-house AR allows us provide premium AR but value AR as well. Value ARs allow ECPs to tap into that middle market between premium and generic.

—R.D. Haley, president, Premier Optics Corp., Charlotte and Fayetteville, N.C.

We're seeing an increase in digital lenses of all types. Poly is always up, and there is a slight increase in 1.70 index lenses. We've seen an increase in wraps with polarized lenses, with around 20 percent using front mirror coatings.

—Jon Jacobs, vice president, Superior Optical Lab, Ocean Springs, Miss.

WEST

Our top-selling lens product is Inscribe, our in-house digitally back-surfaced free-form lenses. Trivex lenses are also on the move up.

—Tom Pfeiffer, director, sales and marketing, iCoat Company Lab, Santa Fe Springs, Calif.

MIDWEST

We focus on our high-index proprietary products. Digital progressives are growing in popularity. Photochromic lenses are also on the uptick as we move into the sunnier time of the year.

—Kathy Baldauf, lab manager, Vision Dynamics Lab, Louisville, Ky.

Full backside digital lenses as well as dual optics lenses, with higher growth in the designs that have a compensated Rx. Single-vision digital lenses are gaining momentum as well. There's a movement toward high-index lenses, specifically 1.70 and 1.74 lenses. Another hot button is packaging, bundling lens options with AR and Transitions to offer one product and one price to consumers.

—Robert Gustin, vice president new business development, Walman Optical Company, Minneapolis

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. An archive of past Ask the Labs columns can be found on the Eyecare Business website at www.eyecarebusiness.com.