Glass Availability

[skirk1975]

What is left in the United States for Hi-Index glass lenses? I heard that Zeiss on longer does any in the USA?

[fusion]

You can thank the lawyers and the polycarb council for that one. Glass lenses, still a staple in the rest of the civilized world are not available from Zeiss in the US because, gosh darnit, someone just might break a lens and have a good lawsuit to file. so let's give all those -11.00 and up patients something else and sell them on the idea that they see just as well...

(did you hit a nerve?) :cheers:

[ikon44]

still do a fair bit of glass here in the uk, last pair was a -12.00 in 1.9
the patient loved them.
:cheers:

[mirage2k2]

I had a great pair of 1.8 glass lenses made for me in the UK :)

Live in Australia now and they grimace when you mention the stuff :D

[Clive Noble]

Yup... we still do glass, although I'm happy to say it's down to under 5% and usually because, for some antiquated reason, it's still much cheaper than plastic, especially PGX against Transitions....... half the price!!!!!!

Many times we have tried to change 'High Minus' patients from 1.7 1.8 or even 1.9 into high index plastic to find they reject it

I have to be honest, there is something quite good about glass! but awful to work with......... that's progress ehh?

[fusion]

I think a customer/client/patient should be able to read a disclaimer that discusses the "issues" with glass and gives them the option of signing it and accepting whatever small risk there is. There are too many people in the US that need a 1.8 or 1.9 glass lens that are greatly inconvenienced by the lack of availability, and have to go outside the US to buy it.

Is there a legislator out there with some moxie willing to do something nice for some consumers?

[chip anderson]

fusion: From what our opticians associations and lagers have told me. A disclaimer signed by the patient does not exempt you from liability. You being the mfg. or dispenser. While I do think the glass fear and the lawyer fear is ridiculous on this subject, if their reason for not producing is fear of liability, then a signed whatever won't help.

Chip

So every time you have lost sale, or dissatisfied customer because of this please remember to say: "Thank you 9th Circuit".

"

Chip

[Jacqui]

I thought high index glass was still available from Xcel and maybe Vision-ese.

[Framebender]

You're supposed to be out fishing, traveling, getting a good suntan or something fun! Not posting about glass!! I have to look to you guys to figure out what retirement is going to be like. I'm dying out here!! At least tell me you're headed to the pub by 2:00pm!?!

I hope you're having fun buddy!!:cheers:

[RT]

Actually, it's just the law of supply and demand in action. The total glass market in the US is somewhere around 3% (or possibly less by now) of jobs sold. Ultra High Index glass would be a small fraction of that. There's just not enough demand for most manufacturers to go through the expense of producing tooling, building inventory, developing new designs, etc.

[mirage2k2]

Perhaps there is a way of forming a material that is part glass and part plastic, a hybrid, that contains the best of both.

As a consumer, I personaly feel there is no comparison between glass and its plastic counterpart with respect to optical quality. But high index glass is dangerous (I have had some close calls ) and, as you guys know more than me, it is a nightmare to work with.

[Jacqui]

X-cel Optcal http://www.x-celoptical.com/ stll lsts 1.70 and 1.80 sem-fnished

[Clive Noble]

You're supposed to be out fishing, traveling, getting a good suntan or something fun! Not posting about glass!! I have to look to you guys to figure out what retirement is going to be like. I'm dying out here!! At least tell me you're headed to the pub by 2:00pm!?!

I hope you're having fun buddy!!:cheers:

Course I'm having fun.... I'm typing this in the pub on my wireless laptop, and talking of glass....I'm waiting for the next pint to arrive

Later!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!