Article

Taking the next step: in-house lens fabrication

For the ophthalmologist considering diversification by setting up an in-house lens fabrication lab, the benefits are numerous: the ability to trim costs, speed up delivery time of glasses, and offer better quality control. Perhaps the two most compelling reasons for doing in-house work are patient satisfaction and additional profits.

"In-house work carries the potential for huge profits," said John Corsini, president of Super Systems Optical Technologies, based in Cincinnati. "By doing it all, you will have more satisfied customers whom you can retain for the additional profit."

However, careful planning and analysis are key to the decision to undertake this commitment.

"It's definitely becoming more common, because ophthalmologists are starting to realize what type of profit is available in the optical sector of the market from the dispensing end. From an optometry standpoint, it's the largest contributor to their bottom-line profit and they don't have the larger fees through surgery like the ophthalmologist. The profits can be astronomical," Corsini said.

A practical approach is first to install a dispensary, and progress to production-a move that could, according to some experts, triple or even quadruple profits.

Qualified and reliable personnel to run the equipment is yet another consideration. With today's equipment, however, it's not necessary to hire someone with lots of experience, Corsini added.

"That's the nice thing about the technology today. It allows someone who is new to the process to get into it really easily, without needing 20 years of experience," he said.

Super Systems Optical Technologies offers a number of services for ophthalmologists who may want to develop their own in-house labs. Lab layout and a full cost analysis are just some of the services. Super Systems can also help ophthalmologists locate all of the equipment necessary, either through their direct products or through outsourcing.

Newsletter

Don’t miss out—get Ophthalmology Times updates on the latest clinical advancements and expert interviews, straight to your inbox.

Related Videos
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) The Residency Report: Study provides new insights into USH2A target end points
Lisa Nijm, MD, says preoperative osmolarity testing can manage patient expectations and improve surgical results at the 2025 ASCRS annual meeting
At the 2025 ASCRS Annual Meeting, Weijie Violet Lin, MD, ABO, shares highlights from a 5-year review of cross-linking complications
Maanasa Indaram, MD, is the medical director of the pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus division at University of California San Francisco, and spoke about corneal crosslinking (CXL) at the 2025 ASCRS annual meeting
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) ASCRS 2025: Taylor Strange, DO, assesses early visual outcomes with femto-created arcuate incisions in premium IOL cases
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) ASCRS 2025: Neda Shamie, MD, shares her early clinical experience with the Unity VCS system
Patricia Buehler, MD, MPH, founder and CEO of Osheru, talks about the Ziplyft device for noninvasive blepharoplasty at the 2025 American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS) annual meeting
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) ASCRS 2025: Bonnie An Henderson, MD, on leveraging artificial intelligence in cataract refractive surgery
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) ASCRS 2025: Gregory Moloney, FRANZO, FRCSC, on rotational stability
Sheng Lim, MD, FRCOphth, discusses the CONCEPT study, which compared standalone cataract surgery to cataract surgery with ECP, at the 2025 ASCRS Annual Meeting.
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.