Last week we did a post about Progressive Lens Comparisons and lens plots. We are continuing this theme as our optical blog readers have asked for more non-biased posts about lens technology and performance in layman’s terms.
I am not claiming to be an expert on the subject but I did work for a lens company for many years so have some knowledge and understanding about how confusing all the data can be. I have scoured many progressive lens articles and CE courses and have been reading as much as I can about this subject and will continue to make recommendations for good resources on the topic of lenses technology and education resources.
The late Michael DiSanto who was a master optician, an independent industry trainer, past president of the Opticians Association of Ohio sadly passed away last year of Cancer but his educational materials live on and provide a wonderful resource. One of his recommendations on managing progressive lens choices was to “start a toolbox/streamline design choices. It is not possible to pick one design and use if for everyone regardless of need but to work with the best products the industry has to offer within a manageable group of lenses. These lenses do not all have to be from one lens supplier unless you want them to be”
The specialization of today’s progressive lenses provides you with the opportunity to offer your patients many choices to meet their individual needs which can be overwhelming for them. The toolbox idea is goes like this – a good toolbox won’t have over 300 different types of screwdrivers, but it will have a selection of specialized choices to get the job done. But how do you use this analogy to select the lenses in your toolbox?
Your tool box can’t hold all the options but it should have all the basics, if you need a “specific tool” not in the tool box, you order it! Here is a “Tool Box” Example from some the lenses and materials we know best:
Progressive Lens and Materials Tool Box
Michael’s recommendation on how to create a progressive lens tool box was basically this:
- Define up to three general-purpose lenses used. These are the standard progressives that form the basis of the progressives prescribed and are the foundation of the pricing charged
- Choosing a progressive is a functions of brand – yours not the manufacturer’s e.g. does the brand of lens support who you are as a brand – can you get the add-on treatments and materials that are needed in that design for the variety of patient in the practice
- Choose a manufacturer that supports and trains staff to help make the practice more successful
- Lab costs, pricing, service that fit with your needs
- Create a 3x 3table with Good, Better, Best columns with General Purpose, Short Corridor and Computer as the rows (see above)
- In the “good” column add two or three general purpose choice designs that you dispense.
- In the better column add in their improved or evolved designs, thin and light materials and treatments like Sunsensors, Transitions, Trivex, Polarized etc.
- In the best column go one step further than the better column e.g. super high-index like Hoya’s 1.70 material
- Choose a least two designs for each box but no more than four
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- How to Sell Digital Ophthalmic Lenses
You should recommend all patients buy Free-form PALS. They offer the best optics, and it nets the practice a better margin.
Don’t give me the excuse that you’re a -1.00. JUST DO IT
Great Info LC
” Good, better, best” is a starting point. I think this can be fined tuned as this only addresses “price, price, price”. How about “best” in every price range? picking the right material for the power is a start. 1.70 and 1.74 are not the BEST for low powers. Have we forgot what ABBE is. Please don’t tell me that is not important. Have you ever seen any “optical”device with Poly lenses that was worth a pile of “essilor”? Yes we must consider what gives the best vision and the design is part not the whole. + to -3 Trivex, 3 to 6 1.67, 170. 6 and above 1.70 or 1.74. In some cases the 170 is a better choice due to its higher tensile strength,can be surface with a 1.0 center because it is harder, higher ABBE 1.70(36) 174(32) poly(30) Trivex (43-45), Cornea (45) Choose the right material then the design. NEVER without AR. Funny how more light to the retina the more contrast and sharper we see.
I like that you have at least have a starting point. Please don’t forget the driving reason for that patient is to see better. I am not going to pick a lens design, lab, or manufacturer based on how nice a “toaster” they give for a prize!
“AtLast”???? That piece of crap made your list is when you lost me entirely. There are so many great “FreeForm” lenses from SV to Progresive and the price point may really surprise you if you check with an independent lab who processes them “IN-HOUSE”! They are less that the old Standards you listed and in most cases much better. Yes I know the ‘ol line of that’s what the insurance will cover. You don’t talk the technology LensCrappers is gearing up for it. Personally I beleive private practice has a much stronger hand right now. Lets talk vision! Chains talk fashion, price and warranty. “where’s the BEEF”? “HELLO McFLY” REMEMBER THE “VISION” THING?
My advice is two things: #1don’t stop learning and question a lot what you hear and see. # STOP making excuses(lazy) or being afraid of new technology.
Yes, this is basically the Good, better, best and has to be fine tuned, it is meant to be the basic tool box. The lenses in the grid were just suggestions and examples. The idea is to create your own grid and select appropriate lenses and brands you have good experience with or want to try. Not being afraid of new technology is a great point. Any additional input for a future post is welcome so keep those comments coming. Thanks.
In my class on PAL Selection Strategies I advise folks to ‘choose a family’- by this I mean to select a vendor and make lens choices from that one vendor. Vendors create lens designs that compliment one another and offer something for every patient. For example Shamir offers a basic PAL, short corridor (Picollo), wrap design (Autograph Attitude) and individualized design (Autograph II). All of the vendors work this way and ‘choosing a family’ of designs for a practice makes sense from an ease as well as financial position- the more you buy from one vendor the better chance you have of negotiating prices. Also- check out http://www.thelensguru.com to view plots of many modern designs and learn about them before offering to patients. The design always makes the difference and regardless of the brand name, manufacturer or even fabrication method, is the single most important part of selecting a progressive for a patient.
Thanks Jenean good input, tell us more about your class if you can!