I use a single vision lens
I use a progressive lens
Sometimes I use a single vision, sometimes a progressive
other, please explain
When a patient has a balance lens and is wearing progressives I have always used a single vision lens for the balance lens. I have never had a problem with this and it saves the patient a little money. They seem to appreciate it. This is assuming that the patient has no vision or no useable vision in the balance eye.
I was talking to another optician today and he uses progressives for both eyes. He thought it odd that I had used a single vision lens.
So I am interested in what you do.
Most good labs supply ballance lenses at 1/2 price anyway. How much you want to save them?
Would you uses a SV ballance for a lined bifocal?
Chip
I explain to the pt what the options are and allow him/her to choose.
Last edited by Wes; 10-10-2011 at 08:48 PM. Reason: Other, please explain.
Wesley S. Scott, MBA, MIS, ABOM, NCLE-AC, LDO - SC & GA
“As our circle of knowledge expands, so does the circumference of darkness surrounding it.” -Albert Einstein
Better half price of a single vision lens versus a progressive. For a lined bifocal I use a lined bifocal because it shows. With a progressive you can't tell.Originally Posted by chip anderson
Depends on the degree of vision and binocularity the client manifests.
B
If the pt wears progressive, I'll offer SV on the balance side, but only with a conversation about how much vision they actually have in that eye. More often than not, we got with SV. If it's a lined BF or TF, I'll definitely match the style (otherwise that defeats the purpose of a "balance" lens!). But if there's very little or no vision on one side, there's no reason they have to pay for a progressive if they're not going to use it. Most patients are appreciative of this sensitivity.
It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.
We usually use a single vision lens for a balance lens when the person is in a progressive. However, there are times when a person can "count fingers" that the doctor feels that the person should have a progressive because it may do him or her some good and a person gets used to having at least something there.
My patient had an artificial eye, there was no vision. In this case would anyone use a progressive?
I wouldn't. Unless the patient didn't care how much they cost and insisted they be of the same design. I still might try to talk him or her out of it, but it's my job to educate the patient, then help them make a decision, not make it for them.
It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.
If the eye is dead, or light perception only, I'll use single vision. It gets more complicated if the acuity is counting fingers only, or better- then it's case by case.
Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself. - Richard P. Feynman
Experience is the hardest teacher. She gives the test before the lesson.
In this case, I can't think of any good reason to use a PAL. Even if the PAL is half price, SV will be less expensive.
A few good reasons, IMO:
An artificial eye wearer often goes to great lengths to appear cosmetically normal. A single vision lens doesn't create the same lower lid, cheek image sizes as a multifocal would.
A multifocal skews the rim of a frame, dynamically different from right to left, sometimes creating adjustment issues, like dissimilar cheek touch, and pantoscopic changes to the finished product. The key word is balance, here.....Balance weight, texture, magnification, material lifespan and function, color, AR reflex...if used.
If the Dr. writes balance on the Rx form, we offer sv if they're getting progressives. We also put them in trivex, poly or 1.67 for safety.
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
She picked them up, they looked just fine and she was happy.
Happy client, happy Happylady...........I LOVE HAPPY ENDINGS!
I also explain to the patient and let them decide, sometimes its about cosmetics and sometimes its about money. My practice has alot of senior citizens and alot of them are more concerned with the money rather than cosmetics.
Depends on a number of factors.
Of course the cheepst for the client is a single vision lens.
But that's not alwasys an option, with bifocals for example, it just looks better with two bifocal lenses.
Also when vision is just good enough, single vision might interfere with reading. Burring the bad eye even more.
It's something I test and discuss with the patient.
Our pricelist always said, Balance lens 50% off (If available.) Retailers started rejecting slight scratches , so we just ran them as normal job.
If the patient wears bifocals then of course I match it with a bifocal lens.
???
Last edited by tonyg; 11-09-2011 at 07:06 PM.
Chip, Can you tell the cosmetic difference in a lined bifocal and a SV balance???? And is 1/2 of $75.00 as good of a savings as $1.00?
No. Why would you except to up the cost?
I would charge the patient for 1/2 pair of progressives and 1/2 pair of SV.
Very simple, use a single vision lens. it is cheaper for the patient therefore you are providing a much better service. why charge them for a premium lens that has no benefit? simply charge for one progressive, and one single vision.
Donald W Summers,B.S,A.B.O.C,N.C.L.E
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