Future Technologies?

[Steve Machol]

What technologies - both near and longer term - have the potential to transform the eyecare industry? What are your predictions for the future?

[Alan W]

In 1984, about the same time I was helping drop in the first 1-hour lab in Anaheim, California, down the freeway was a company that did a lot of work with lasers.

My wife worked with a woman who's husband was a controller for them. He informed me that they had puchased an old Shuron generator and were in the process of creating a laser head that would essentially do what the generator did.

6 months later he invited me to see the contraption. It was . . . a contraption. Regardless of its size, it worked, and the surface came out toric and finished to a fining ready. However, the power requirements etc. made it impractical. It took up the ame space of the Shuron plus it had tons of cooling lines etc. It was a 50 watt laser.

Last year I used a 50 watt laser to create printing plates that would would print contact lenses with 20 times better resolution that a Wesley Jessen opaque. The technology was sold to a competitor of there's. The laser used was a three axis laser and with exception of a couple boxes that sat under the desk, it all fit on top of the desk in about 25% more space than a sewing machine.

I just recently discovered that technology for precision optical use is available. It is also used to make original molds for some progressives in Germany.

The technology is here. Its just a matter of time. And, soon, any decent optical store will surface. The real problem is whether it will hold up against casting. . . . remains to be seen . . . . I would think.

[John R]

Originally posted by Alan W
He informed me that they had puchased an old Shuron generator and were in the process of creating a laser head that would essentially do what the generator did.

6 months later he invited me to see the contraption. It was . . . a contraption. Regardless of its size, it worked, and the surface came out toric and finished to a fining ready.

What type of lens material was being cut ?

[Alan W]

If memory serves me it was CR39. I believe they also attepted to do it on glass, but that didn't work.
Keep in mind this is 17 years ago. Now, different types of lasers make it possible to handle almost any material.

Keep in mind i am not an expert on lasers and had nothing to do with the project. But, over the last year, from the consulting work I did using a laser, I discovered there are applications for lasers that come very close to our need if not right there.
Also, we can't ignore the excellent work that's being done with high velocity water jet, which eliminatesa variety variables.

I'd love to sink my teeth into that technology. I just know there's an edger out there on the drawing boards that will use high velocity water jet that will surface and polish then flip over and , cut, bevel, and polish slicker than elephant snot!

I gotta get over to Radio Shack and buy me some parts. Anybody got a garden hose I can cut up? How about a good war surplus motor?

[Texas Ranger]

A client today brought in a brochure she got from her eye doctor's shop touting the new Sola/Safilo Enigma lenses; So what's the deal? To me they look like the pt is being treaed for goiter, like bulging frog eyes. are their lens design and power range limitations? who processes them? etc?

[PAkev]

My Safilo rep was in a few days ago and told me the Engima is not actually available yet as they continue with their select test market.

It beats me why they would go to the extremes of creating all the hype without having a tangible product available. Anyhow, I understand the frame and lens package will be available through select labs at a cost of around $200.

PAkev

[Texas Ranger]

Kevin, I guess one of the "test market shops" is in my market.

[EyeManFla]

Alan's coments follow a discussion I had with my friends at National Optronics about the laser driven generators and edgers.......but don't stand in line just yet.

[Homer]

My guess is that the Bio-medical research will soon come up with body parts for correction, enhancement and even replacement. This will only be a stop-gap measure while we are developing the technology and the "right" to "manufacture" perfect human beings.

Just think how many of us will be out of work then! In the meantime, some of us with a few good years left might start to get crosstrained to become dispenser and fitters of replacement body parts including eyes. I'll bet some of you can see this quite clearly already.

In the meantime, I'll just keep on doin' what I am doin' and watch the new and go to trade shows and be prepared for the next paradigm shift and dream about being young again with all new replacement parts. This could get dangerous.

[Magician]

Homer, I think us 'old timers' are pretty safe - as far as needing to become body part specialists. That may happen but not in our lifetime.


As for the industry.... I think over the next couple of years you will continue to see;

1) larger laboratories built and/or consolidation of smaller labs into the larger ones. There is economy in scale.
2) continued growth in 'robotic' equipment. And those places utilizing it first, will be those listed above.
3) less sales personnel from the vendors. Less people covering larger areas.
4) a few more lens materials will show up, as well as, a few more progressive lens designs.
5) we could witness Sola downgraded from a major vendor, to a status along side Signet/Armorlite. Hopefully, they will get it together and disprove me.
6) I think Hoya will continue to struggle in the US for another 2 years. Those that do not like the French (Essilor) seem to like Hoya even less - again an opinion, no supporting facts, just an observation.
7) the OAA could go either into the dumpster, or if they follow through with recent discussions, become stronger. However, I do not see a 'meeting of the minds' between a national group and the state groups. Too many ego's involved for a quick solution. And, although opticians are certainly not overpaid, they can certainly support a national group if they want to. Do we not expect Teachers (who are notoriously underpaid) to support their organizations - regardless of cost?

I rambled on a bit, sorry. And I mixed several threads into my answer. Again sorry, but it all just kept typing by itself.

[Jim G]

1). Continued surgical "inventions" to sculpt the cornea to correct for virtually any visual deficiency.
2). Laser/single point diamond 3/4-axis lathing of lenses to provide an optimal aspheric/atoric lens to the Rx.
3). New lens materials that are lighter, stronger and with a higher index. Also, continued improvement in the performance of plastic photochromic lenses.
4). A slowdown (stop?) in the integration of both labs and retail.
5). Further weakening of optician licensing requirements.

[Jackie L]

1) More companies like Sola and Safilo becoming "partners" in eyewear tech. (by the way, Al, Enigma offers more peripheral vision that ANY other SV lens out there, to my knowledge)

2) Better materials like the Tri-vex will be offered by various lens manufacturers as we increase the demand to better the optics.

3) Perhaps the Europeans and Asian developers will test market product in the US sooner than later.

[Homer]

except for the things i mentioned, of course .............

or we could have a blessed with the passage through earth's orbit of the 12th planet (Nibiru) in which case they may "download" a great deal of technological advancement that we have been working on for the past 3,600 years since their last visit......

or, due the the nature of egos, both inside and outside of the optical industry, we could have another world war which will either greatly increase our push for new technology or ...... well all bets could be off on that one.

:bbg: Homer :bbg: