Challenge, Accepted.

The team at Bouquet Mulligan DeMaio Eye Professionals, P.C., is not one to back down from a challenge. Not when it comes to lenses.

With two locations in central Pennsylvania, the practice includes five optometrists, one ophthalmologist, 14 certified opticians, one surfacing lab, and two finishing labs. The labs are stacked with well-seasoned opticians with more than 300 combined years of experience.

Led by founding member James Mulligan, OT, ABOC, the practice processes about 40 lenses per day and is often sought out for those special jobs that only a team filled with lab rats can handle—and that includes custom sports eyewear.

We asked Mulligan to bring us through five recent special requests that his lab staff handled like pros.

1. THE Rx CHALLENGE.

A patient traveled over an hour to see us. She wants a pink, round frame. Oh, and her Rx is -22.50 with some cylinder!

We work with her to select a suitable frame with minimal decentration. A bi-concave lens was ground in high-index material with -5.00 on the front cure.

We carefully place the bevel so the temples fold with minimal front bevel placement. She was thrilled!

2. THE SAFETY CHALLENGE.

We received a call from a local glass ampoule manufacturer that wants options for Rx safety eyewear that will fully block the wavelength of sodium light. We scramble to come up with Rx-able ANSI-rated eyewear that totally blocks the 580nm range, yet still allows the proper transmission for indoor use.

3. THE CUSTOM CHALLENGE.

A cycling team from Brooklyn wanted us to make 10 plano and 10 Rx custom Oakley cycling glasses in the team colors. We used Xray Blue with Black Iridium lenses with the team’s name etched on the lens. We calculate the radius of curvature to get the print consistent on wrap lens. Our deadline was met, and the team was ecstatic.

4. THE E-CHALLENGE.

Harrisburg University invited us to help at the First Annual Hue Festival, the largest esports tournament in the U.S., featuring over 25 teams. (It was amazing!) Because it is online gaming, we make Zeiss BlueProtect lenses for the team members.

5. THE FLASH CHALLENGE.

Our Oakley Rep asked me to make a flashy pair of sunglasses for a Philadelphia Eagles sideline reporter (his Rx was out of range for Oakley). We use a red mirror polarized Zeiss progressive in combination with a chrome modified aviator frame.

He requested the word “King” be etched on the left lens. The job looked fantastic. Eagles quarterback Nick Foles noticed the glasses so we made him glasses, too (and we got a visit to Eagles training camp out of the deal).