In-office versus wholesale labs

Breakthroughs in coatings, lens material base, and substrate technology provide patients with greater visual acuity and comfort than ever before. The introduction, acceptance, and widespread use of new materials-such as Trivex, super-hyrdophobic, and anti-reflective coatings-and innovative lens-fabrication processes-such as digital surfacing-evidence this trend.

Advancements in technologies-such as the "trace-and-transmit" method-have become much more viable as the costs of new lenses and treatments have increased. Trace-and-transmit is where frame and patient data are sent directly to a wholesale lab, rather than on-site lens edging performed by the dispensing practice. (See Figures 1 and 2.)

A long-standing industry estimate notes that 52% of all optical lens edging is performed at retail locations, whereas 48% is done at wholesale labs. The complexities and potential costs/risks of on-site lens processing have set the stage for a dramatic shift in where patient lenses will get finished over the next 2 to 4 years.