buyer’s guide

SPECTACLE LENSES

Alicia Hoglund and Susan P. Tarrant

NEW AND UNIQUE

Signet Armorlite has launched the Kodak Unique DS progressive lens, which incorporates the features and benefits of the original Kodak Unique PAL into a dualside lens design. According to the company, it is a fully digital, dualside progressive lens that offers significant improvement in the reading area for many prescriptions, while providing excellent visual performance in the intermediate and distance viewing areas. It also introduces the next generation of Vision First Design Technology, called Vision First DS Technology, which uses reverse optical engineering to leverage both sides of the lens, providing smooth lens power and minimal swim effect. The lens is available with six corridor lengths, starting at a 13mm minimum fitting height. Materials include 1.50, 1.60, 1.67, polycarbonate, Trivex, Transitions 1.50 and 1.67, poly and polarized 1.50, and photochromic and polarized options in gray and brown.

SIGNET ARMORLITE Kodak Unique DS

INFO: signetarmorlite.com

getting in touch

Shamir introduces InTouch, a freeform progressive lens that serves what the company is calling “a new reading zone”: the distance at which smartphones and other digital devices are held. InTouch is an everyday freeform spectacle lens design with an enhanced corridor that provides visual comfort in the 15- to 27-inch zone. Patients will also notice a quicker transition of ADD power in the intermediate zone with the lens, company representatives report. The lenses are available in CR-39, SuperLite 1.60, SuperLite 1.67, SuperLite 1.74, polycarbonate, as well as DLC Trivex, and can be ordered through Shamir Autograph partner labs.

INFO: shamirlens.com

SHAMIR
InTouch lenses

ADD IT UP SOFTWARE

vpQuote’s Vision Plan Calculator is an affordable, Internet-based patient payment calculator that quickly calculates a patient’s financial responsibility based on his or her vision plan benefit, frame selection, and lens type, as well as any enhancements. Calculations are performed for optical sales, including vision plans, Medicare, Medicaid, cash, Rx sunglasses, non-Rx sunglasses, optical shop employees, and safety glasses. The calculator includes a feature allowing ECPs to put the benefits of a vision plan side by side with the dispensary’s own customized fee schedule, which lets dispensaries compare custom pricing to the vision plan benefit and offer the most cost-effective value to the patient. Also, staff can print calculations for patient review in real time, helping them to make a purchasing decision. INFO: 540-213-2100, vpquote.com VPQUOTE Vision Plan Calculator

MISCELLANEOUS
Very X-traordinary Eschenbach has introduced X-Vision, an economical 8x binocular. Ideal for all patients, the compact, lightweight binocular features multi-coated lenses, reverse Porro prisms, semi-internal focus, and diopter adjustment, providing a crisp, clear image. X-Vision comes with a case with a belt loop, wrist strap, and cleaning cloth. INFO: 800-487-5389, eschenbach.com

COBURN TECHNOLOGIES Exxpert Finishing Series

AIT INDUSTRIES WECO E.3

EQUIPMENT

A TRUE EXXPERT

Gerber Technologies’ Exxpert Finishing Series, the next generation of the company’s Excelon series, offers high-speed milling, external drilling, and the widest range of standard and custom bevel options available—all with affordable system package pricing, company reps say. The Exxpert series’ edger, tracer/blocker, and drilling unit utilize Coburn’s modular design and are compatible with each other, allowing ECPs to create more than 15 possible system configurations.

INFO: coburntechnologies.com

EASY AS 1, 2, E.3

AIT’s WECO E.3 patternless edging system has integrated tracing, blocking, edging, and drilling, perfect for small spaces or for those wanting a simple, but fully featured edging solution. The system features a 90mm grinding wheel that allows for accurate bevel placement. It also features automatic polishing, intuitive touchscreen interface, continuous 3-D mapping, and a variety of bevel programs.

INFO: aitindustries.com

IT’S TRIPLETS !

Iness and Jess D are the new additions to Essilor Instruments USA’s entry-level Triplets Finishing Family. Each unit of the system—tracer, blocker, and edger—can be configured any number of ways to best meet the needs of the retail finishing lab. Iness is a new blocker featuring a parallax free optical system for maximum accuracy, a large touchscreen, and a 500-job database that is expandable to 1,000 jobs. The new Jess D is a digital edger that has all of the features of the existing Jessie and Jess edgers, plus tilted integrated drilling.

INFO: essilorinstrumentsusa.com

ESSILOR INSTRUMENTS USA
Triplets Finishing System