Nosepad blues

**drk** · 12-06-2004, 04:46 PM

I have officially stopped using silicone nose pads. Maybe it's just Hilco (which I doubt), but I'm tired of changing everyone's pads every 3-6 months. (Especially the "illogic").

I'm going acetate or vinylon.

Does anyone have better luck with another supplier? I generally love Hilco.

**rsandr** · 12-06-2004, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by drk

I have officially stopped using silicone nose pads. Maybe it's just Hilco (which I doubt), but I'm tired of changing everyone's pads every 3-6 months. (Especially the "illogic").

I'm going acetate or vinylon.

Does anyone have better luck with another supplier? I generally love Hilco.

Silicone pads feel best as soon as the Px puts them on, but they do seem to go off quite quickly.
A hard non porous material fitted properly should be better.

**For-Life** · 12-06-2004, 05:04 PM

I was wondering myself about switching to the silicone with metal pieces inside if it would do a better job. It is a lose/lose situation. You use a harder material and it feels less comfortable, so you use a softer material and it wastes away.

**Andrew Weiss** · 12-06-2004, 05:07 PM

We've been using Fairway Optical's silicone pads and they seem to last better. Maybe 9 months? or a year? Depends on the patient and their facial oils/sweat composition (or makeup).

**Spexvet** · 12-06-2004, 05:57 PM

drk,

Be careful, I mistakenly bought some PVC pads, and they STINK, as in smell bad! I'll continue with silicone - if patients complain, I offer more durable, but less comfortable pads, and they usually choose to continue with the more comfortable ones.

**PAkev** · 12-06-2004, 09:05 PM

Also,
Those silicone nosepads have gotten quite pricey.

I just reordered a replacement kit in hard acetate material. Now when folks ask for the pricey silicone pads I can honestly say I don't have any.

**Jedi** · 12-06-2004, 09:38 PM

The first thing I thought of when I looked at this thread was, nosepad blues? more like, nosepad greens.

**drk** · 12-07-2004, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by Jedi

The first thing I thought of when I looked at this thread was, nosepad blues? more like, nosepad greens.

Gross!:)

I'm glad it's not just me. I am able to fit people now in just 3 sizes of basic, inexpensive, durable nosepads, screw-on or push-on, and have a second drawer of pricey "specialty" nosepads that cost them plenty!

What's more, I've the guts to charge enough to actually break even on the materials! I will be rich, soon enough!

Seriously, though, it sure makes things simpler.

Hey, frame manufacturers make them in acetate or vinyl or something. Rarely silicone.

PS: We went the silicone/metal pad route for awhile. They're worse!

**Johns** · 12-07-2004, 11:17 PM

Does anyone explain to the px how to care for the silicone nosepad ? We tell them to put a drop of hand soap on each pad, rub it under hot water, and when you hear it "squeak" they're clean. Besides not having to change the pads very often, the clean pads cut down on "slider" adjustments.

**Spexvet** · 12-08-2004, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by Jedi

The first thing I thought of when I looked at this thread was, nosepad blues? more like, nosepad greens.

face cheese?

**Lee Prewitt** · 12-08-2004, 12:59 PM

I have had good luck using pads from eye toys 877-779-9111. Ocassionally have to replace pads more than once a year but it doesn't seem very often.

**Andrew Weiss** · 12-09-2004, 11:44 AM

Thanks Johns. We'll try that and see what happens.

**Bev Heishman** · 12-10-2004, 09:52 PM

We tell the patient to swish their glasses in dish water daily and rinse. This cuts down on a lot of trapped body oils and works well with all the AR we sell. For the persistent no AR with slider problems we tell the patient to swish and if there is still a problem, we suggest using an alcohol wipe weekly. This pulls the oils out of the pad. We even do this in office.

As a customer service feature we also switch a lot of pads around from the manufacturer because the hard ones do not feel comfortable. We tell the patient that these need to be changed frequently as they are not as rugged. We charge $2.00 a pad after a year of wearing the glasses. This is also dependent on the initial frame cost. If it is a higher end frame it is free for 2 years. To do this build some of this into your mark up.

**Specs** · 12-11-2004, 11:36 AM

For those who are not going to carry the silicon pads, you are not servicing your clients best interests. If they are more comfortable with the silicon pads you can lose a current client or a potential client, by not serving their needs. Please don't tell me that silicon pads would be unethical for you to put on. When you buy a car its accepted that the tires will need to be replaced this is no different. Its the part that takes the direct wear and tear daily. Should tire manufacturers stop carrying more comfortable ride, more expensive tires because they may need replacing at some point? I don' t think so. Let your client decide, just explain the differences and costs.

:cheers:

**Johns** · 12-11-2004, 09:09 PM

Don't most offices carry a wide variety of noespads ?

It's not like it cost a ton of $$ to stock them.

**harry888** · 12-11-2004, 10:45 PM

Nosepads are like tires on a car, they wear out.

The softer ones that give a more comfortable ride definately need replacement more often

I've also noticed a difference in the "porousness" of different silicone brands. In addition to breaking down at different rates, some brands tend to discolor very quickly (like old soft lenses did when sorbic acid first came out in too high a concentration, pretty pinks and greens). This is separate from the green nose cheese reaction of the metal with sweat.

Like Lee, I also like EYE TOYS.

Harry

**harry888** · 12-11-2004, 10:52 PM

PART DEUX,

I look at nosepad replacement as a way to get the customer to book another appointment for an exam or at least look at some specs.

It gets them in the office. Isn't that how successful retailer Walmart works? No more same day service, cuts down on the number of visits to the store where they may buy other things.

Harry