ask the labs
Old and New Free-Form Finances
Karlen McLean, ABOC, NCLC
PRICE DROP
Q: Will the wholesale price of free-form-produced lenses ever drop?
A: We may see designers of free-form products introducing new lenses at a lower cost to wholesale labs and under different brand names to fill a void in the mid-tier price point category and to also offer designs with different benefits to the consumer.
For some examples, look at other industries: We've never seen the prices go down on Lexus automobiles, but Toyota did bring out the Avalon, which is built on the same assembly line and costs less than a Lexus. Both are nice vehicles, but with different benefits to the consumer. Free-form, customized lenses are like the Lexus: they have added benefits over a lower-priced product. So I don't predict a drop in pricing of premium customized lens products.
— Mike Fussell, sales and customer service manager, Robertson Optical Laboratories of Atlanta, Ga.
ANTIQUE ANTICS
Q: Someone came in recently with an antique metal rimless frame that she wanted her own Rx lenses put into. What should I caution her about and otherwise do before sending this job to the lab?
A: First, make sure the patient is aware that this would be totally at her risk; that the risk is very high, and the frames are not replaceable. She should also be warned that many of the nosepad configurations and possibly temple tips can no longer be replaced. Another concern with a rimless model is that many old rimless styles had straps that the edge of the lenses slid into, and if the patient has very much Rx correction, the lenses may be too thick to fit into the straps.
On a positive note, because these frames typically have a high gold content, many times a broken part can be soldered to look as good as new. If the frame is in nice condition and the nosepads still have some life in them, we've seen some good-looking glasses made from antiques. And, they can be a good investment.
— Steve Sutherlin, president, and Mike Sutherlin, vice president, Sutherlin Optical, Kansas City, Mo.
| RISK MANAGEMENT |
|---|
| Q: Is now really a good time to consider in-office lens production, or not, and why? A: Current manufacturing trends indicate continued advancements in lens material technology and optics acuity (therein cost) for several years to come. Contrast this to more commoditized frame materials (read: tolerance consistencies), as well as online ordering without traditional front-end eye exams … and the perfect storm for eyewear providers could be developing. The advancements made by lens equipment processing companies—digital surfacing and finishing manufacturers—have helped mitigate some of the risks associated with this potential lens-to-frame quality imbalance. End processing of eyewear will continue as a relatively secure business endeavor both at the retail and wholesale levels. — Steve Swalgen, national director – lab business, Santinelli International, Hauppauge, N.Y. |
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.
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