In determining your
budget for in office finishing, review your monthly lab bills
and see how much is spent on edging, tinting, grooving, etc.
If your bill is less than $300 per month, you probably shouldn't
look any further. If your bill is $500+ and you know that
you can increase the lens processing end of your business
by being competitive with a quicker turnaround, then go ahead
and make that estimation of increase and begin putting your
budget together.
The criteria to assess are: number of
jobs per week, amount of lab bill, existing personnel, cost/ease
of hiring in your geographical area, space available. On
average, you can save $20 per RX on your lab bill by in-office
finishing.
GOOD=Small Budget
| Lensometer |
Average Space Requirement |
| Horizon II Pattern
Edger |
200 Sq. Ft. Maximum |
| Blocker |
150 Sq. Ft. Average |
| Hand Stone |
100 Sq. Ft. Minimum |
| Groover |
|
| Tint tank/6 pot w/gradient
|
No. of Jobs Week: 50 or less |
| Assorted Pads & Supplies
|
Payback: 800 Rx's |
|
Skill Level: Average or Above |
| Total |
|
BETTER=Medium Budget
| Marco Lensometer |
Average Space Requirement |
| 7E Patternless
Edger & 4T Frame Tracer |
200 Sq. Ft. Maximum |
| Blocker |
150 Sq. Ft. Average |
| Hand Stone |
100 Sq. Ft. Minimum
|
| Groover |
|
| Tint tank/9 pot w/gradient
|
No. of Jobs Week: 50-200 |
| Assorted Pads & Supplies
|
Payback: 1,500 Rx's |
|
Skill Level: Average |
| Total |
|
BEST=Medium Budget
| Automatic Lensometer
|
Average Space Requirement |
| 7E Patternless Edger
& 4T Tracer |
250 Sq. Ft. Maximum |
| Automatic Blocker
|
200 Sq. Ft. Average |
| Software & PC
|
150 Sq. Ft. Minimum |
| Hand Stone |
100 Sq. Ft. Minimum
|
| Tint tank/9 pot
w/gradient |
No. of Jobs Week: 200 +
|
| Assorted Pads & Supplies
|
Payback: 2,000 Rx's |
|
Skill Level: Average |
| Total |
|
In this scenario, you would
have a computerized, fully integrated finish lab. The
capabilities of the edger have increased to include
automatic grooving. The patient data is entered once
into the Visual Lab package and then electronically
transmitted along with the shape data to the blocker
and edger. This type of lab also gives you the capability
to transmit shape data through remote site to your lab
for surface work. The skill level has decreased from
the requirement for the pattern edger and this should
be taken into consideration when assessing your labor
requirements.
Also, remember that lens stock levels
will increase with the increase in jobs finished in-house,
which will require more space.
No matter which option you decide on,
the more work you do, the quicker the pay back.
