Lens comparison for patients of non-dispensing doctor's office

[OpticalNewbie]

For offices that only do exams but don't sell glasses, is there a consumer guide to steer patients to help them select a progressive lens from the popular retail outfits they will go to, even if the quality snobs here might look down on them? Or does anyone here at least have thoughts on the lenses most patients will actually be choosing from? I'm new to this and don't know how the options compare. e.g. how does the Lenscrafter Signature HD lens compare to whatever Costco, Walmart and Pearle Vision Offer? How do the different Walmart high index lenses compare? (they have Zeiss, Seiko and Nikon among others, though I don't know what models).

For comparison purpose if you want one example, consider one patient with a high prescription and some difference between the eyes, e.g.:
O.D. -6.00 Cyl -1.50 095 Add +2.00
O.S. -9.50 Cyl -0.75 090 Add +2.00

Thanks.

[TLG]

For offices that only do exams but don't sell glasses, is there a consumer guide to steer patients to help them select a progressive lens from the popular retail outfits they will go toThanks.

Yes, there is a consumer 'guide'; we call them 'Opticians'.
What I'm saying is that this decision belongs in the hands of the person fitting the eyewear, not the one who did the eye exam...or a pamphlet.

WELCOME TO OPTIBOARD! First post and you already called us 'snobs' - still nice to have you along!

[uncut]

Pssst....Tony! We got called "quality snobs"!

I agree with Tony, about the guide. You have to remember that the "flavor" brand used at some of the chains you mentioned changes with the political and economic winds!

Welcome to the forum, opticalnewbie!

[Johns]

For offices that only do exams but don't sell glasses, is there a consumer guide to steer patients to help them select a progressive lens from the popular retail outfits they will go to, even if the quality snobs here might look down on them?

Hi, I'm one of those "snobs".

Let me rephrase the question for you. "Hi, I'm a consumer, and want to buy cheap glasses somewhere, but want to get all the information about them from a pamphlet."

Correct me if I'm wrong (wouldn't be the first time today), but that's the way I'm reading it.

[idispense]

Are there really that many customers that ask about the technical differences between specific brand name products as opposed to asking the difference between free form versus non-free form or generic product versus a brand ? I can count on two hands the intelligent engineer types that have asked me about technical difference between brands , but usually they bought elsewhere based on price thinking they were getting a deal then came back asking me to solve their vision problems with the new glasses . Those vision problems usually turned out to be centration and seg height and fitting problems not brand problems .

The first mistake made was to select branded lens versus branded person with the education and experience to properly select, fit, and adjust those branded lenses.


However there is terrific value in the sale by selling /explaining a "Brand" they can identify with over a non-brand. That is the value added portion of using Nikon or Zeiss or Kodak . The brand commands premium dollar and is best compared against non-brand in the decision making process. You do not wantthe customer to have an interbrand war or conflict.


The lesson for me was to concentrate on "normal flow customers " as opposed to shoppers who were really price people not brand people at all.

The point being that we need to move customners in a flow from 1 point in the eyewear/lens selection process to the next. The technical customer is motivated by wanting quality and talking quality so the first step from a Dr is to sell that customer on the branded expert who possesses the knowledge to answer those questions . A non-dispensing Dr should not enter that portion of the process regarding which lens to buy . He should sell the referral to the expert that is branded to know which individual product brand to use for that technical patient's visual needs.

A non-dispesning Dr should have no part in product selection other than which dispenser to refer to.

[thelittlestnixon]

It is, or should be, up to the optician to make the decision regarding lenses, not the one doing the exam. Opticians are the ones that have to keep up with current technology in lenses so that they can choose what is best for the patient. But... if you really want to recommend a lens you can always choose the most expensive one. :D

[Robert Martellaro]

Those vision problems usually turned out to be centration and seg height and fitting problems not brand problems.

Indeed. I tried to play golf a long time ago- the ball would go to the right or to the left, but only rarely down the fairway. I even tried some extremely pricey, hi-tech clubs, but it made no difference. The only time the clubs made a difference was the time I rented a set that were to short- I'd take my swing and miss the ball completely.

OpticalNewbie,

Locate two or three of the best opticians in your area and refer your clients to them.

[EyeCare Rich]

OpticalNewbie,

Locate two or three of the best opticians in your area and refer your clients to them.

+1 for this idea!!!!! Completely up to the trained and educated optician to choose which lens would fit the patients needs. It is more than just the Rx that you need to consider. It would be nice to say that one lens would fit all, but without ALL the information from the patient, there could be many.

Welcome to the site OpticalNewbie.

[Judy Canty]

I sense a consumer post.

[AustinEyewear]

Cheaper almost always equals lower quality. Sorry. And with your Rx, you better not go cheap.

[OpticalNewbie]

I suspect the negative posts are all dispensing opticians and have difficulty grasping that not all eye doctors sell glasses. Its seems an appropriate customer service to give some guidance to patients who will buy their glasses elsewhere rather than leaving them stranded and clueless. Being able to provide guidance would help prevent defection of patients to doctors at those retailers. Its sad that some people here have trouble grasping there isn't an obvious source of information to steer patients to and that its a logical business tactic to provide them neutral guidance on where to go depending on their needs. A large fraction of the public is going to buy lenses from Costco, Walmart, et al., no matter what your fantasies are that they'll go and find the perfect private optical store. The sales people at each major retail chain will likely be pushing their own brand. How do the lenses compare between chains? Yes, the selection changes as someone pointed out, but that doesn't magically remove the utility of being able to provide some guidance.

[OpticalNewbie]

I'd suggest its of use to dispensing opticians here to be able to answer the question "Why should I got to you rather than a chain?" more specifically than a vague reference to quality, and to communicate that to local non-dispensing doctors. Eyecare is a business even if many here aren't focused on that aspect of it, I'm considering what business advice to provide to an eye doctor.

So I'll add alternatively you could give guidance on explaining the cost/benefit of using a private optician rather than a chain. Why should they be steered to one? What is the benefit, how much difference does it really make and how to explain that? How should the best local opticians be selected? What lenses should they look for to help assess the quality of an optician?

[scriptfiller]

I like the new lense from Essilor... The Essilor Acquisition. Helps you gobble up everything in sight.

[EyeCare Rich]

Love it, that's funny! As Larry the Cable Guy would say, I Don't Care Who You Are, That's Funny, Right There!

[Robert Martellaro]

I like the new lense from Essilor... The Essilor Acquisition. Helps you gobble up everything in sight.

Ha! And if you don't buy into the Acquisition, be prepared for the 'Inquisition'. It's old school, but it gets results.