IcareLabs Blog

Social media has become an integral part of how we communicate, connect, and share information. For eyecare professionals (ECPs), leveraging social media platforms can be a powerful tool for building brand awareness, engaging with patients, and educating the public about eye health. However, it's essential to navigate this landscape thoughtfully and ethically to maximize its benefits. In this blog post, we'll explore how ECPs can effectively utilize social media to enhance their practice.

We've all committed to it, and the majority are sticking to it: "No lenses outside of ANSI Standards." As an industry, we rely on ANSI to define what's acceptable and what's not. If a pair of lenses meets ANSI Standards after being fitted into the frame, we can be confident that the patient will receive functional glasses.

Are your single vision patients looking for some relief from their digital devices? Our new Heritage Relief digital single vision lenses will be exactly what the doctor ordered to help reduce your patient's eye strain. Let's find out who these designs are best suited for and what they can do in our latest blog.

It's quite surprising to learn that 75% of current eyewear patients expressed their interest in purchasing Transitions® prescription lenses if given the option. This statistic highlights a significant opportunity for eyecare providers to cater to their patients' needs and preferences more effectively while increasing average sales price (ASP).

In today's digital age, online reviews wield significant power over businesses. While positive reviews can boost your reputation and attract new customers, negative reviews have the potential to tarnish your image and deter potential clients. However, negative reviews aren't necessarily a death sentence for your business. In fact, they can be valuable learning experiences and opportunities for growth if handled correctly.

March 2nd is Dr. Seuss’ birthday and the kick-off to National Reading Month which celebrates and encourages reading for all ages. Here at Eye Q Eyewear, this classic children's author has a special place in our hearts as we design and manufacture the Dr. Seuss collection of children’s eyewear.

We've decided to partner with our favorite local lab (IcareLabs, of course!) to offer a promotion in celebration of Dr. Seuss and National Reading Month! From now until the end of March, we will donate $1 for every Dr. Seuss frame sold by IcareLabs. Even better, they have generously offered to match us 1 for 1 with a donation for a total of $2 per frame! 

Hot off the heels of the 2024 Transitions Academy, the new Transitions Gen S lenses will be hitting the market soon. What are the launch details? Are demos available? What makes these new lenses so great? Find out all of that and more in this blog.

EssilorLuxottica has announced that they will be discontinuing several older lens designs within the Varilux product line at the end of this month as part of a push to simplify their product offerings. This will benefit us all and make choosing the correct lens for your patient easier than ever. We'll take a look at what products are going away as well as give you recommendations for replacements in this blog.

In today's digital age, data reigns supreme, especially when it comes to understanding your business and its online presence. For optical practices looking to enhance their marketing strategies, improve patient engagement, and boost overall success, leveraging powerful analytics tools like Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is essential. In this blog post, we'll delve into the reasons why optical practices should embrace GA4 and how it can revolutionize their operations.

Years ago, polarized mirrored lenses could only be done with custom coating. These days we now have the option to get pre-coated mirrors too. So what is the difference and is one better than the other? This blog will cover all the ins and outs of both custom coat and pre-coated polarized mirror options. We think you'll agree there is a clear winner between the two!

Safety lenses and safety frames are an established and consistent section of the overall optical market with prescription safety being a built-in segment of business required by many employers for their employees to safely do their jobs. So the question is, what are you doing to make sure your optical is also getting its fair share of this business?

In the heart of IcareLabs, beyond the machinery and technology, lies a bond that goes beyond the business realm – a connection that considers our accounts not just as clients, but as an integral part of our extended family. For 56 years, this family has been the cornerstone of IcareLabs, shaping it into the optical powerhouse it is today.

Discover the cutting-edge technology and exceptional vision quality of Varilux progressive lens technology. Varilux has been at the forefront of progressive lens innovation for years. With each new iteration, the technology and design have continued to evolve, providing wearers with an unmatched visual experience. From the early days of the original Varilux and Comfort lenses to the advanced materials and manufacturing processes used today, the evolution of Varilux has been driven by a commitment to excellence and a desire to meet the ever-changing needs of your patients.

As the year 2023 comes to a close, many of us have likely already started making New Year's resolutions. Setting goals and making plans for the upcoming year are undoubtedly important. However, I would argue that it is equally important to take the time to reflect on the past year.

As we bid farewell to 2023, we are both thrilled and saddened to announce the retirement of Scott Payne and Skip Payne from our organization. It is with a mix of excitement and nostalgia that we reflect on their leadership journey at IcareLabs, which began in the early 2000s following the passing of their father, our beloved founder, John Payne.

Don't let holiday shipping delays cause you undo stress! Discover effective tips to ensure your packages arrive on time and your patients remain happy.

In the vibrant tapestry of our community, IcareLabs stands as a beacon of excellence, integrity, and resourcefulness. These aren't mere words but the guiding principles that fuel our commitment to making a positive impact. When an opportunity arose to align these values with a local non-profit, we leaped at the chance.

As part of our new dispenser series of blogs this week, we're going to dive into some simple tips for taking seg height measurements. Following these tips will not only ensure proper fit but also lead to more comfortable adaptation and overall lens performance.

The optical world has so much to offer to patients needing glasses but there just isn't enough time in the world to explain all of the upgrades and benefits that these features can bring to an individual. That's when posters, brochures, or even displays come in handy!

We've recently expanded our Legacy house brand progressive lenses with the new IcareLabs Legacy MDO lenses. These PALs are an amazing freeform digital design geared towards mobile device users with an extended visual field in both the near and distance zones. Check out what makes this new design so great.

"Price is what you pay; value is what you get" is one of Warren Buffett's most famous quotes. While a lot of people are familiar with this quote, many do not put this into practice. Understanding value vs. price is key for not only your sales dollars but also your patient's satisfaction and return business.

At the end of 2022, we officially launched our Supply Frame program and we had no idea just how popular it would prove to be! Obviously, many of our customers love the convenience of being able to order their patient's lenses and frames together for faster turnaround time. We now have even more Modern Optical frames to choose from.

If you're like most workers in America today, you're probably tired and having trouble sleeping. Work seems to follow you everywhere - from the dinner table to family gatherings and even into bed. It's time for a vacation, or as our friends across the great pond call it, a holiday. Whatever you want to call it, you definitely need it.

Someone once said that knowledge is having the right answer while intelligence is asking the right questions. As eye care professionals, we often have the right answers for our patients. We have gone to school or apprenticed, studied hard, and took the boards. We should know the answers.

Now, we all know that even the most reliable wholesale labs like ours can make the occasional mistake. After all, we're only human, and sometimes things slip through the cracks. But let's face it, there's nothing more cringe-worthy than dispensing a pair of glasses that are just plain wrong. It's a blow to your reputation as an optician and shakes your patients' confidence in your abilities.

Imagine entering a whole new dimension. A dimension that goes beyond sight and sound and delves into the mind. In this world, you would only have one pair of glasses, with no sun protection or glare protection. Style would matter only in clothing and accessories but not in eyewear. Digital eye fatigue would be the norm, expected and accepted.

Email marketing has been around almost as long as the internet. These days though, many practices still either don't use email marketing at all or are not using it to help increase their sales. So what are the best ways to drive patients back to your store for another pair of glasses?

Before becoming the new Onboarding Account Manager here at IcareLabs, I worked for over a year in our finishing department mounting lenses for your jobs. With over 10 years of retail optical experience and being ABO certified, I wanted to share some tips for mounting lenses into Zyl frames. Hopefully, these tips can improve your finishing process to help keep your patients happy.

Mark Twain, in response to a newspaper article reporting his death, hilariously stated that "The reports of my demise are greatly exaggerated". This famous quote could have been used by our industry numerous times over the past few decades.

As most know by now, June 27th is National Sunglasses Day. I am pretty sure that most of us are not planning a big cookout, family time, and presents. It does fall on a Tuesday which already has its own purpose. Who doesn't enjoy Taco Tuesday? I believe tacos cover 4 of the 5 major food groups, but I digress.

In the world of optics, precision and innovation have led to significant advancements in lens technology. Aspheric lenses have gained recognition for their ability to improve visual clarity, reduce distortion, and enhance overall comfort. This article explores the numerous benefits of aspheric lenses and highlights why they should be considered for various applications.

This blog is coming to you live from New Orleans, LA. where Essilor is kicking off training to sales teams on the upcoming Varilux XR and XR track. Tina Farrell, our Director of Account Management, and myself were fortunate enough to be part of these trainings.

Over the years working with ECPs, I was always shocked to hear how many offices don't sell or even offer anti-reflective coating to their patients. Even with more budget-friendly offices, you are doing a disservice to your patients by not at least offering it.

Today we celebrate 55 amazing years thanks to our amazing team members. We would also like to thank the many eyecare professionals across the USA who have supported us over the years.

Let's take a look at what 55 years looks like in numbers.

In our final installment of this three-part series on optical formulas, we are going to look into compound lenses and the optical cross.

As we continue to expand our supply frame offerings, we now have safety frames from Hudson Optical available. As with all our supply frames, you can order them with prescription safety lenses all in one shot directly through your myIcareLabs account. This provides faster turnaround time and better service levels.

When we first started writing blogs and sending out our monthly IcareFocus Newsletter, we did not know what to expect. We are often humbled by the amount of interest in our blogs. We are also sometimes surprised by the success of some and the lack of interest in others.

The newly revamped Crizal portfolio has a coating to meet any patient's needs. As the leader in anti-reflective coatings for over 20 years, Crizal has been at the forefront of bringing new technology to the market for ECPs. Now the new formulations provide five amazing options that continue to outperform the competition.

Gone are the confusing, hard-to-pronounce names. This simplified product lineup makes it easier than ever before to dispense the right Crizal coating to the right patient.

Mirror coatings are back in style and becoming increasingly popular every day. Knowing how to order a mirror coat to obtain the patient's desires can be challenging, but with these helpful tips and information, this process will become a breeze.

Here at IcareLabs, we pride ourselves in making learning a priority. Our sales, marketing, and customer service teams are constantly utilizing different resources to stay up to date with current products. This allows us to share with our customers the benefits of these new products as they roll out.

The Varilux brand continues to grow with the launch of the new Varilux XR progressive launched in June of 2023. These lenses will feature the latest in bleeding edge progressive technology. Let's breakdown what makes these lenses so amazing.

As an eyecare professional, finding ways to have your practice stand out in the sea of big box retailers and chain stores can be a bit overwhelming. One of the best ways to do so is by focusing on a cause for your marketing efforts. So what is cause marketing and how can it benefit your optical shop?

I know that this is going to be a touchy subject for many of you. With the current economy, we are hearing a bunch of noise about consumers not being able to handle it anymore. They have reached their limits and don't have any money left to spend. You are hearing this and in many cases anticipating a substantial drop in exams and purchases. 

In today's modern lab with digital processing and the high percentage of jobs being processed with non-glare coating, cribbing has become the norm.  While many might be used to receiving cribbed lenses, I would figure that some do not understand why.

We're proud to announce you can now order Eye Q frames for your patients. Eye Q Eyewear is a family owned and operated frame vendor. We now offer 16 collections to choose select frame styles from, including Dickies, Ecko Unltd., and Dr. Seuss branded frames. These frames are available to order with our supply frame system making it easier than ever to provide great lenses and affordable frame packages for your patients.

Eyezen™ lenses are becoming more and more popular with patients across the board. The Eyezen family was originally released for young presbyope patients that needed an additional boost but the line has since expanded and they now have options available for almost everyone that wears a single vision lens! 

Another year down and many great lessons learned over the course of this past year. We've completed several equipment upgrades and fine-tuned numerous processes within the lab itself. Along the way, we've zeroed in o areas for improvement in the New Year. Let's take a look at what we learned and what it all means for us heading into 2023.

You asked and we listened! Wiley X safety frames are now available for purchase directly through your IcareLabs account.

In our never-ending quest to be the easiest lab in the USA to work with, we've added a large selection of Modern Optical frames. We can now process complete jobs with these frames faster than ever before with no need for you to send the frame to us. We are very excited to provide yet another option to help expedite your patients' glasses without having to sacrifice quality.

In September we covered the science of tinting lenses in part 1 of this series. This month we will finish up with some detailed steps for tinting and applying UV coating, then close with some troubleshooting tips. 

Our world is one of constant routine. Whether it's a morning routine or a physical/mental health routine, everyone has a schedule established.

This is no different from your patients’ eye care routine. If you're already conveying the proper communication, your patients know that it's important to visit for regular eye exams. However, how do you ensure they are actually visiting for these exams? What's more, how do you encourage them to visit your practice for more than just an eye exam?

Many jobs require necessary eye safety equipment which gives you the opportunity for a true second pair sale. If there is one thing patients love when picking out their frames it's having options. Safety frames are no different, so we are proud to announce we now offer the complete line of ArmouRx safety frames. This line has several options to choose from to fit the needs of just about any patient.

The next evolution of Crizal treatments are here with two brand new formulations to meet your patient's needs. Launching today and available here at IcareLabs, the new Crizal Sapphire HR and Crizal Easy Pro anti-reflective coatings will give your patients the best experience on the market today.

Chances are that if you have an in-house finishing lab then you tint your own lenses. In this 2 part series on tinting lenses, we are going to go over some of the basics of tinting while digging into the science behind achieving good results.

Signet Armorlite has just introduced KODAK UVBlue Lens, a prescription lens designed to filter out harmful High Energy Visible (HEV) Blue Light. This new lens will be perfect for most patients concerned about the many hours spent staring at the latest streaming content or TikTok trend. For ECPs, it means KODAK Lens blue light technology you trust is now available in two levels of protection:

With the end of 2022 on the horizon, we are seeing ECPs across the country looking for ways to maximize their profit margins. Most of us in this industry expect the ebbs and flows throughout the year, and with the back to school rush behind us, how do you end the year in the black?

Through our customer feedback, we have learned that the best lab to work with is the easiest. With our recent online upgrades, working with IcareLabs has never been easier!

YouTube is the second largest search engine out there. We use it for entertainment, education, even falling asleep! It’s become an indispensable tool for day-to-day living—especially among millennials.
So why don’t most eye care practices have a presence on YouTube?

Crizal announced two new coatings with their Sapphire HR and Easy Pro. These new anti-reflective coatings will help you meet your patients' needs better than ever before. These anti-glare treatments include new technology within the trusted Crizal formulations that continue to improve the premium AR brand your patients know and trust.

As of July 1st of this year, Google has launched their new Google Analytics 4 standard. As an eyecare professional, what does this mean for you and why should you care?

The answer is simple. If your practice wants to measure, track, and/or increase your website's online presence, then you need to make sure you have this set up ASAP! This blog will help guide you in the basics and where to find everything you or your IT team will need.

We are often asked to add tint to Transitions and Polarized lenses. This is never a good idea and comes with risks in both safety and lens durability. 

Blue light protection for patients continues to be a priority for many ECPs.  The damaging effects of HEV or blue light are just starting to be fully understood. We know your patients are looking for an affordable, clear lens option to protect their vision and overall eye health. That is why in the fall of 2019 we launched our Blue Guard family of lenses. 

Over five years ago, we launched our Heritage line of digital progressives with three offerings. These three designs very quickly became some of our best-selling lenses. Today we are very excited to announce that we have launched six new Heritage freeform digital designs. Along with our proven Heritage, Heritage Plus, and Heritage Ultimate lenses, we have added an ultra-premium design with our Heritage Xtreme.

On top of these four everyday designs, we have also added the Heritage Single Vision, Heritage Office, Heritage Desk, Heritage Sport, and Heritage Driver lenses. These new options will better service SV patients, occupational lens wearers, and patients looking for lenses best suited for playing sports or driving.

Essilor of America is excited to announce the launch of the Varilux Liberty 3.0 progressive lens on May 10th, 2022. Backed by the Exclusive Path Optimizer™ technology, the Varilux Liberty 3.0 is a perfect solution for patients who are new to presbyopia.

Having been in the optical industry for most of my adult life has spoiled me. Like many of you, I have multiple pairs of glasses covering all my needs. For many of us, we probably have multiple pairs for a specific need. This is just what you do when you are in the industry; you try new products and add-ons and enjoy their benefits.

Your practice’s digital presence is often one of the first ways people get to know your business. From browsing your website to scrolling through your Instagram, both current and potential patients rely on your online marketing channels to learn more about what your practice has to offer.

Essilor of America has announced the launch of the new Eyezen® Kids lens for April 12, 2022. This will be an add-on to the proven Eyezen family of lenses.

To better assist our customers and improve thickness and cut-out, we are expanding our database to begin storing frame information, including the shape and measurements of each frame. This is a brand new tool in our battle against thick lenses and cut-out issues.

From working at home to learning online, technology has become an integral part of our lives. Along with the greater need for digital devices, comes the potentially harmful overexposure to High Energy Visible (HEV) Blue Light.

Previously, most of our exposure to HEV Blue Light came from the sun, but now we are also exposed through screens, LED lights, and energy-efficient lightbulbs. The increase in HEV Blue Light exposure could contribute to sore eyes, affect our mood, and disrupt our sleep.

These days there are likely many eye care and optometry practices in your area. It can be tough to show potential clients who you are and get them through the door.

So, you need to show them who you are, and the easiest way to do that is by building up your online presence.

Signet Armorlite believes in supporting Independent Eye Care Professionals and this commitment is clearly on display with the introduction of the Kodak Lens Smiles - a new optical growth program that can deliver up to $15,000 in benefits to your practice.

Author and motivational speaker John Maxwell once said that “everything worthwhile is uphill." While this is a true and profound statement, I don't think that it is something that most of us do not know. So many great quotes speak to this same subject. For example, John Hawkins once said that "if success were easy, everyone would do it."

But why is it this way? Does success have to be hard? Why are the best things in life often difficult to obtain? We could get deep into the weeds with this subject and never find our way out. To avoid this, let’s narrow it down a little. Let’s simply look into being just a little bit more successful in your optical business.

Being on the first page of Google’s search results isn’t a miracle or the luck of the draw. It takes strategy, work, and time to see your website show up. Fortunately, part of this strategy is quick, easy, and free—like setting up a Google My Business (GMB) listing for your practice.

Whether you’re looking to increase awareness of your business or convert search traffic into patients, having a GMB increases visibility. If a Google user has to spend more than 5 seconds looking for an answer, they’ve already moved on.

My name is Tina Farrell and I am so excited to be part of the IcareLabs team. I have worked in the optical industry for over 33 years and have been a customer of IcareLabs for over 15 years. Working with them from the outside only grew my desire to be part of something so special.

While it has been many years since I have dispensed glasses, the memories of troubled patients are still fresh in my mind. I had the blessing of being trained under a master optician back in the days when this still meant something. I wish I could remember half of what he shared with me.

Through this training early in my career, along with hundreds if not thousands of calls working with dispensers over the last 18 years I've been with IcareLabs, I feel I have become pretty good at troubleshooting issues with a pair of glasses.

Much like a complex recipe, troubleshooting seems challenging from the outside. However, when broken down into individual steps it becomes effortless. In comparison with cooking, following each step in sequence makes even the most complex dishes seem easy.

It’s no secret that new products create excitement. When you’ve got stunning new eyewear to show off, a trunk show is a perfect way to generate interest in the products — and your practice! So, what exactly is a trunk show?

With this year almost complete, 2021 has truly been a year for the history books; in more ways than we can count. Earlier this year, the 3rd generation of Payne leadership took the helm at IcareLabs. I proudly accepted the position of President alongside my cousin, Tyler Payne, stepping into the Executive Vice President role and my brother, James Payne, as our Vice President of Technology.

We are also blessed to have the brilliant wisdom of Scott & Skip Payne to continue guiding us in their Senior Advisor roles. I know my grandfather would be proud to see how far we have come as a company and as a family.

Last month we asked for some input from our readers, both customers and prospects, on what content they would like to see in our newsletters. We had some good responses; one request was on fixed/variable progressives. While we have dug into this in the past it might be time for a refresher.

Recently we had the opportunity to give back to our community and help enrich the lives of elementary students in our community with the Great American Teach-In. This annual event invites local businesses to come and speak to students directly about what they do and how they do it.

Never in the history of optics have your patients had so many options to choose from. With hundreds of progressive designs, multiple photochromic options, and a vast array of materials it is easier than ever to fill their needs.

We know that cancellations without notice can negatively affect your optometric practice. It’s not always an easy task to provide every patient with the best experience and care from their arrival to their departure.

Doing your best to give your patient an experience that’s hard to forget (of course, in a positive way) will contribute to a decrease in patients not showing up for their scheduled appointments. It will also increase great reviews and word-of-mouth referrals, which can greatly contribute to attracting new patients to your business.

The other day I had the pleasure of reading a very good article featured in 20/20 written by Palmer R. Cook, OD. He dug very deep into Chromatic Aberration and the effects it has on patients.

Part of my job here at IcareLabs is assisting our customers with trouble shooting problem patients. Often the issue is clarity or blur when not looking through the optical center. Lenses work great while looking straight ahead but with even minimal eye movement the clarity goes away. We always look at Rx, base curve, and lens design. This is the lowest hanging fruit.

Keeping employees on the manufacturing floor happy is one of my key goals. Let’s face it, the job can be physically and mentally stressful. I am constantly looking for something to engage the employees in some fun and stimulate some good feelings about how special each and every one of our employees are to IcareLabs.

Transitions lenses have a new digital availability guide now available for all ECPs. This is an easy way to look up all of the amazing Transitions photochromic technology, right at your fingertips. With all of the different combinations currently on the market, it can sometimes be a bit confusing. Luckily, this online guide takes out all of the guesswork.

Over the next year we will try to post a few articles geared towards those who are new in the industry or maybe those looking for a little refresher. We will simply title these our "Optics 101 Series".

To create a good pair of glasses that offer the best optics, fit, and comfort all start with the frame. Frame choice is the foundation that can either make or break the satisfaction for your patient.

The main goal of opticianry is recreating perfect 20/20 vision for your patient. The second goal should be doing this with the thinnest, lightest lenses possible. This will give your patient added comfort and good cosmetics. We are going to break this down into 5 parts of how to give your patient the best overall satisfaction, comfort, and performance of a pair of glasses.

Kodak Lens is one of America's most trusted brands. While many ECPs are familiar with their progressive lens options, did you know they also have premium branded anti-reflective coatings? Let's take a look at all three no-glare coatings offered by Kodak Lens and see how they can best meet your patient's needs.

Following up on the huge success of the new XTRActive Polarized lenses, Transitions will be launching the new XTRActive New Generation technology. We'll take a look at availability, features, and the expected launch date in this blog.

LinkedIn is known as a great social media for growing your professional network or looking for new employees, but you can also leverage it for your retail optical store. All it takes is a little out-of-the-box thinking on your part and you can easily add another online resource for your patients.

If polarized lenses are not an important part of your patient care plan, they should be. Almost everyone could benefit from a pair of polarized lenses as they simply reduce glare better than other products on the market.

While the subject of base curves comes up multiple times a day in my discussions with our customers, I have avoided writing about it for years for three reasons:

1. It is a complex topic that confuses many.
2. It is not seen as important to others.
3. It gets misunderstood by the majority of the rest.

Similar to religion and politics, it's a subject that can destroy friendships. The correct base curve is always a battle of which of 3-key factors is the most important: optics, fit, or cosmetics. But, it does not have to be this way.

Shamir makes two of the most popular occupational lenses on the market today with the Shamir Computer and Shamir workspace lenses. While both lenses are similar, there are key differences that you need to understand to dispense the correct one to the right patient. Once you know when to use which lens, you'll see patient satisfaction increase along with your sales.

When ordering your uncut lenses there are several things you can do to help ensure the best cut out and avoid costly redos. One of the most important frame measurements is the ED, yet we consistently see this has the most confusion on how to get the correct measurement. This blog will show you the correct way to measure a frame's ED.

It can be hard to get reviews for your practice in general. But when a negative review comes through, it can be easy to regret asking your patients to leave one in the first place.

Negative reviews are bound to happen, so when they do, here’s how to deal with them.

Everyone wishes they could boost their sales, right? Increasing revenue for your optical dispensary is as easy as 1, 2, 3 when you use the good/better/best rule of optical sales, educate with needs-based conversations, and shoot those shots for 2nd pair sales. Let's take a look at how implementing this strategy can have a major impact on your bottom line.

One thing we have consistently been asked over the years is how small business owners in the optical industry can give back in a meaningful way to their community. Being able to utilize your unique skills as an OD or an optician is only one step in the process. The Essilor Vision Foundation can partner with you to help provide frames, lenses, and eye exams at no cost to underprivileged children and their family members in your area.

Varilux progressive lenses have been a juggernaut in the optical industry for over 6 decades, and for good reason. Constantly building upon and improving progressive lens technology, they are not a company that rests on their laurels. Let's take a look at why the Varilux family of PALs is still one of the best options available for discerning patients.

We have all been there, shorthanded, and in need of a new team member or two. While this always seems like a daunting task for a small business owner it doesn’t have to be.

With a little preparation and a plan, your next hiring experience could be a good one.

Summer is right around the corner. Many states across the USA reopening (yay). There has never been a better time to offer prescription polarized sunwear for your patients. Understanding how to communicate the benefits of polarized glasses to your patients is the key to dispensing their next favorite pair of sunglasses.

Have a look at the available options here at IcareLabs and questions you can ask them to find the best pairing for your patients.

Few retail businesses around today can get by without having some presence on the world's most popular search engine. Of course, we are talking about Google. Did you know there are several free features Google My Business makes available to business owners?

Benjamin Franklin once said that nothing is certain except death and taxes. I think we can all agree that he missed the certainty that your customers will not properly clean their lenses. It is not an industry secret that the majority of wearers have some very bad habits when it comes to cleaning lenses.

Facebook certainly isn’t dead. In fact, it’s the world’s third most visited website. And even though almost 2.7 billion people actively use Facebook, the answer to “should I use Facebook” is still: it depends. 

The Varilux Phsyio W3+ launched in the mid-2010s quickly becoming a fan favorite in the Varilux family and has replaced the Physio Enhanced in the Varilux line-up. The Physio W3+ contains several patented technology ensuring your patients will love their new progressive lenses.

Offering high adaptability and lens aberrations, let's take a look at why this lens has become so successful and hear from our resident optical expert on what to expect when wearing these lenses.

Last month I closed off a blog by quoting John Wooden. Of course I knew who John Wooden was, but only after a little research did I find out just what a great man he was. 

John Wooden is most remembered for his years as the head basketball coach of the UCLA Bruins. During a 12 year span his team won 10 National Championships in the late 60s into the 70s. This is success even above what we are currently seeing with Nick Saban at Alabama – Roll Tide!

While his success as a coach is beyond greatness, he is remembered as much for his wisdom as he his for his coaching. He was truly a great man in many ways. He lived a life that was dedicated to others, not just his team, but everyone he came in touch with. 

It being March, with all eyes turning to the NCAA Basketball tournament, I thought I would share 3 of John Wooden’s principles to live by. The core that drove Coach Wooden’s philosophy was based upon a card that his father gave him when he graduated elementary school.

Kodak Lens is now offering free weekly webinars to all ECPs. These webinars are informative and fun while helping teach you about the Kodak Lens portfolio, sales strategies, Kodak Lens branding leverage, and how the Practice Plus program can benefit your optical dispensary.

Plus you can be entered to win a free pupilometer through the end of March 2021!

March has been named Workplace Eye Wellness month by Prevent Blindness, a long-term pioneer in non-profit eye health awareness across the world that started in 1908. They've spent decades researching and collaborating with ECPs with the mission to prevent blindness and preserve sight.

One of their keys to focus on this month is digital eye strain. Here are several great tips you can pass along to your patients (and your employees) to help with this common issue.

Remakes have been, continue to be, and probably will always be a sad part of our industry.
Depending on who you ask, remakes range from 5% to 15% nationally. Remakes are not only
costly and thus frustrating, but they're also a massive negative to your patient.

Let’s remember that your patient is actually a customer. Most importantly they are a customer that you would like to return to you over and over through their lifetime. Remakes for any reason cause your customer to spend the time that they  most likely do not have to come back to your office with any problem, only to be followed up with another return visit to pick up their “fixed” pair of glasses.

Remakes also take up your and your staff's valuable time. The time that could be spent bringing in new business is being spent making an old job right. Whether it is an Rx issue, non-adapt to a progressive, base curve problem, material adaptation, or a simple fitting error, redos cost us all money and time. Regardless if your lab charges for the remakes or not, the truth is this: just like a head-butt, no one wins with a redo.

With all of this in mind let’s look at a few key ways to cut down on remakes.

Ever since we started offering the Guardian Safety Frame line with our stock frames last year, we've had more and more customers tell us they have been a huge success at their practice. This is not surprising considering their phenomenal selection and their great price points!

This blog will breakdown the entire Guardian Safety Frame catalogue so you can determine which frames will work best for your optical dispensary.

Wearing masks has definitely been a task for everyone. The difficulty is patched up even more with those wearing glasses. Fogging issues can be a real and ever severe problem for eyeglass wearers while utilizing the protection of a mask. I personally fall into the glass wearing, category so when IcareLabs started researching this FogAway product I was super excited!

We had tried a couple of other tricks and even a few over the counter products and nothing worked well on lenses with AR coatings. I have to admit that I was a bit suspect, but I was willing to try anything to quit dealing with my glasses fogging up.

After more years than I would like to count of managing teams in both retail and wholesale environments I have learned one very important fact – I would be nothing without my staff. They have always been just as they are now, my greatest resource. A high-performing staff can make a business or practice great while a low-performing staff can kill one. Having a great team creates an atmosphere that is contagious. Your customers will want to be part of it and will continue to come back as a result of it.

It takes work to create good team driven employees that want to serve customers. It doesn’t happen by accident. You will need a focused, strategic, and consistent approach to develop a customer service minded team. Here are a few key factors that could help you develop a team that will represent your practice well while creating a loyal customer base through superior customer service.

Transitions in partnership with Younger Optics have just introduced a revolutionary new photochromic polarized product. By combining all of the benefits of the proven XTRActive Transition product with Polarization your patients now have a product that performs like no other.

It’s 2021, and we are now firmly entrenched in the digital age. With everything from vision screenings to frame try-ons available online, eye care is becoming an increasingly digital business. It’s more important than ever for ECPs to have a modern, updated website.

But there’s so much more to a website than the way it looks. These days, user experience is the name of the game. Your site has to be easy to read, easy to navigate, and easy to understand. Bells and whistles aside, there are a few elements that every great eye care website has. They’re the foundation on which you can build your practice’s online presence.

With 2020 coming to a close, one thing that seems to now be part of the lexicon going forward is a renewed interest in keeping things sanitized. While we hoped this would be over by now, it is very obvious that Covid-19 will remain with us for at least a good portion of 2021.

In the past, simply dusting frames off once a week was about all the "cleaning" we did. Times have changed and our customers are demanding more out of us regarding sanitation. This takes time that many of us do not have, but it must be done.

Luckily, thanks to technology there are more tools than ever before to sanitize your frames and high usage areas in your optical dispensary. Let's take a look at 5 great options that can get the job done quickly and easily.

We are excited to announce 3 more amazing Shamir lens designs are now being processed in-house here at IcareLabs. The Shamir Relax 50, Shamir Relax 80, and the Shamir Genesis HD have officially joined the extensive line-up of phenomenal name-brand progressive lens offerings available to our customers.

As always, everyone gets our always fair, flat pricing included with these lenses. Let's get to know the benefits of each of these lenses along with their key features.

2020 has been an anomaly in many ways. This started off as the year of all things optical. 2020 was going to be 20/20 for our industry. Soon a pandemic rolled in and many opticals across the world were shut down to help control the spread of this unknown and deadly virus. Our economy crashed and when we were allowed to reopen we did not know what to expect. The pleasant surprise for many is the business came back.

Boy, did it come back! Even with the downturn, many people were ready to spend money on new glasses. Q3 was better than anyone could have predicted for our industry. While many are willing to spend good money on good products there are those who continue to be effected by this pandemic. This is not much different than normal times with haves and have-nots.

What progressive are you offering to those on a budget? Do you know these designs? Our industry needs to move away from flattops to grow. Having value options that work is the best way to move your value-minded patient away from bifocals.

One thing that isn't always at the top of everyone's list around the holidays is staying healthy. We are more focused on getting ready for the holidays and enjoying all the good cooking (myself included).

Is your practice encouraging employees to strive for healthy living instead of having that extra helping of mashed potatoes and gravy? Let's look at some easy ways to do just that along with numerous benefits that may surprise you.

What are you doing with your safety business? While many opticals utilize industries in their area to sublimate sales others seem to shy away from safety work.

ANSI prescription safety glasses are required at many businesses and worksites. A vast number of jobs across the country require their employees to wear specialty safety glasses to be able to do their job safely every day.

Hoya Vision Care has just announced that they will be phasing out all of their traditional PALs starting on November 1, 2020. Their announcement mentioned the need for simplification in the offerings. This will have a direct impact on us as we will start seeing our ability to order the Hoya traditional progressive lenses go away sometime in Q4 of 2020.

The PracticePlus program can be your complete office solution for your patients. From help with your in-office displays to name brand lenses and no-glare coatings your patients will love.

The program also includes easy to achieve goals that provide lifetime rebates for your optical. Right now, you can even get double your money back through the end of 2020!

A marketing calendar is an excellent internal tool you can use to plan out your year and keep everyone in your office aware of your plans and next steps. Having everyone on the same page is essential to ensure processes and goals are common knowledge. When everyone involved is fully aware of expectations and how you’d like to get there, the chances of success are maximized.

So, how do you begin?

2020 has been a long year. Covid has kept most of us bottled up at home and cabin fever has become very real to many of us. The good news is that we have made it through the summer. Going outside is now bearable as temperatures start to drop across the USA. So why not get out of the house? Our mental health could use a change of scenery and there is no better time than fall to go out and enjoy the fresh air.

Here are 4 simple activities that could help you break out of the monotony of being cooped up indoors.

With designs like the Autograph III and Autograph Intelligence Shamir has become well known in the premium digital progressive world. What many people do not know is they also offer several premium single vision design options too? These are a great option for more discerning single vision patients that are looking for a more natural visual experience.

The Shamir Autograph 3 single vision, Shamir Attitude 3 single vision, Shamir Relax, and Shamir Autograph 2 single vision digital lens designs can help increase your premium branded capture rate while subconsciously preparing your patients for the move into Shamir PALs once they become a presbyope. Let's take a deep dive into each design to see what each brings to the table and the type of patient that is the best fit for each.

Selling is simply about having a conversation with a person and helping them improve their lives. What other industry offers a better life improvement than ours? A recent study showed that people prioritized their vision over any other part of their bodies. We would rather lose limbs than vision.

We get to help create better vision for our fellow human beings every day. There are not many better callings than what we get to do. It should be rewarding, easy, and stress-free but we all know it often isn’t. So what can we do to try and keep it simple and not lose the sale?

A few years back Essilor shook things up a bit when they released the Comfort 2. There was a bit of panic that they might have made changes to the #1 selling PAL in history that might have not worked. Years later we all know that the changes made to the Comfort not only worked but worked well.

Back then Essilor looked into the "visual needs" changes that had occurred over the previous 10-15 years. Through this research, Essilor was able to update to venerable Comfort design to meet the needs of our modern patients.

Well, they have done it again with the launch of the Varilux Comfort Max. As our lifestyles continue to change so do the needs of our presbyopic patients.

Here at IcareLabs we strive to provide ECPs across the country not just with the best selection of high quality lenses for the best prices, but also with tools to help elevate your optical business. We understand that when one optical does well, everyone in our industry benefits from it!

That's a big part on why we write these blogs and provide our Resource Center to all ECPs at no cost, regardless of having an account with us or not. Most opticals across the country are spending a good chunk of their budgets on various marketing techniques, but what are some non-traditional marketing options you could be using to augment your other marketing efforts?

Transitions now offers an amazing and easy-to-use tool to show your patients the numerous color options they have for next pair of Transitions lenses. Being user-friendly and only requiring a computer (or smartphone) with a webcam, your patients can now try before they buy!

Running a business and managing staff has changed a bit over the last 20 years or so. There was a time when just paying your employees a fair wage, insurance, and a safe environment to do their job was enough to keep everyone happy.

Times have changed and so have employee expectations. We’ve all seen how companies like Google offer all kinds of perks to not only draw in good people but more importantly keep up morale.

Here are a few key ideas to make working for you more fun and rewarding. By following some of these you will improve your morale and teamwork. Most of these will cost you very little out of pocket when compared to how much they can boost your team’s morale.

Customer experience has become a hot term in the retail world. There are many folks out there making a very good living helping businesses improve their overall customer experience for their customers.

With all of this, there are many who still confuse customer experience with customer service. In reality, customer service is just one part of the actual customer experience. There are 6 elements to creating a great customer experience.

In January of this year, I posted a blog hoping to draw your attention to 3 important drivers of your business to focus on in 2020. These were capture rate, retention, and increase your average sales price (ASP) per sale.

Who could have foreseen the events that have transpired in our world over the last 5 months? The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken all of us to the core. Most non-essentialbusinesses were closed down for some period of time; many for months.

The optical industry was hit as hard as any. Most offices closed to all but emergency services. Opticals were shuttered or left to just do repairs and adjustments. Overall the industry saw up to an 85% reduction in sales. We are coming back strong but still learning to live in the new normal. While we could debate whether all of this caution was warranted or not, the facts remain, we all lost sales. Increasing your optical capture rate has never been more important than now.

Kodak Lens now has several fantastic custom printed options that your optical dispensary can take advantage of. These tailored options allow you to remind patients about your practice and the multiple options provided by Kodak Lens. Let's take a look at a few of these choices to get a better idea of how they can help your optical business.

Big news for fans of the Varilux family of progressive lenses. The new Varilux Comfort Max will be launching on August 11th, 2020! In this blog, we'll touch on everything that we know so far. We'll also take a look at where this new lens will be positioned among the many great Varilux lens offerings so you can be prepared when this lens launches later this year.

Thankfully, many of you have reopened and have started doing business in this new normal Covid-19 world we find ourselves in now. We are strong and resilient and will recover from this, but things have changed. As 2019 closed out our economy was booming. We were seeing some of the lowest unemployment levels in history, consumer confidence was high, and all was good. Then along came this virus and everything has changed.

Unemployment is at 15% and many believe it is closer to 20% with those on temporary furlough included. The consumer confidence index crashed in April to its lowest point in 6 years. We are starting to hear from a sizable group of economists that we have already entered a recession. In this politically polarized world we live in I am not sure just what to believe. I do think we all can agree that our consumers have to be shaken. Even those not affected by lay-offs or decreases in business will be a bit more conservative with their money.

How can you keep your focus on the success of your optical dispensary?

These days online reviews can make or break any business. More so for small businesses like local opticians, independent ODs,  and optical dispensaries. Of course, a bad review is something most of us strive to avoid, but how can we shift our focus on getting more of the positive reviews to be posted by all of the satisfied patients that love the new glasses you've just dispensed to them?

As optical dispensaries across America begin to open back up, it has never been more important to make sure we are all following the CDC's guidelines to protect staff and patients. This handy guide will give you the best practices for ensuring your frame offerings are disinfected.

With the start of easing restrictions put in place due to the Coronavirus pandemic, there has never been a better time for your optical business to focus on value products, house brand lenses, and house brand no-glare options. Many Americans have found themselves with tighter budgets than usual. These products give you the ability to lower your price points while keeping your margins intact. 

Many practices shut down due to state and federal guidelines that helped us flatten the curve for the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently, some practices are still closed but look to be opening soon. Many have recently opened back up. Here are the American Optometric Associations suggestions for re-opening your practice while still practicing safety and social distancing guidelines.

Lens technology continues to grow along with the needs and wants of our patients.  More of them are seeking the best vision possible out of their lenses. While high end, compensated lenses more than fill their needs. They have also become viewed by many as a necessary evil. I believe with better understanding, almost all will see them as a necessary good with a few minor drawbacks.

In the relationship between the lab and the optician, nothing is more agreed on than the aggravation of redoes and remakes. No one wins when a job has to go back to the lab to be redone.

Above all else, the patient has to experience a delay in receiving their new glasses. Often these delays can harm your reputation as an eye care professional. When the delay goes on long enough it could cost you return business and even force a refund and lost sale.

The hard part has been done. Your marketing efforts paid off and you have a new patient. Now comes the next step, what do you to keep them coming back year after year?

Retaining your patient base might be the most important job you have. Your goal should always be to turn a first-time buyer into a stark raving mad fan of you and your business. The good news with this is that it will not cost much. You will not need an expensive marketing program to accomplish this.

It all starts with you and your staff. Make a few changes and focus on a few tasks and you will see your retention numbers grow.

Here are 8 keys to improving your customer retention.

Across the USA and the world, many of us find ourselves at home or with reduced hours due to the current Covid-19 pandemic. We should all absolutely take this extra time to finally get some of those things at the bottom of our to-do lists done around the house, make more memories with our loved ones, and do a little bit more self-care as well.

Even after adding all of that and more into our schedules you may find yourself with the need for something to do. Why not add in some extra optical training for yourself too? Essilor and Shamir have provided two great options that are free for a limited time to help scratch your optical itch during these times.

Essilor has announced the release of the third wave of Transition Signature GEN 8 lenses. This follows the first 2 waves of GEN 8 released in July and October of 2019. This is great news as the roll out for GEN 8 is now complete.

We also have a sneak peek of the new Varilux Comfort Max progressive lens that you won't find anywhere else!

Online marketing for your optical business has never been more important or easier than right now. Social media platforms are here to stay and have been one of the largest influences on our culture in the last 20 years. With all of the various social media services and tools available though, it can seem like a daunting task to market your business successfully even if you're familiar with the basics.

Luckily for you, IcareLabs is here to help! This blog will cover several of the best free and paid options to help ensure your optical dispensary has a great online footprint so your patients can easily find you.

The power of a brand name cannot be underestimated. You see it every day in what sells with your frame selection. Companies and corporations fight for brand name recognition as they understand the value.

A global survey found that 59% of respondents prefer to buy new products with a brand that they know. No other product in our lens industry has a more recognized name than Kodak Lens. While Kodak cameras are no longer hot sellers thanks to the smartphone, the name continues to hold on.

Marketing your optical business in 2020 is vastly different than what it was even just 10 years ago. No, we don't have flying cars like The Jetsons quite yet, but almost everyone has on-demand access to just about any information they want 24/7.

So what does that mean for your optical? How do you make yourself stand out in the sea of white noise that is the Internet? We are going to take a look at 3 tried-and-true options to accomplish your 2020 optical marketing goals in this blog.

2020 is undoubtedly the year of all things optical. IcareLabs wants to make sure you not only meet your optical sales goals for the year, but we want this to be the best year you have ever had!

You, like many others, use the new year to make resolutions and/or promises to make changes in your life. Making a resolution is the easy part, sticking with it is another thing altogether. This is why there is a waiting line at the gym in January and by June you would be surprised if you had to wait for a machine. The number one reason that resolutions fail is that we treat them like a sprint and not a marathon.

We try and make too many or too big of changes that are just too hard to stick with. Let's focus on some small doable goals for 2020. Keep it simple and have some fun. 

We have just finished an update with our state-of-the-art surfacing equipment which enables us to surface the Varilux X Series lenses in-house. With this, we are now able to produce the full line of Varilux digital products in-house along with the full line of Crizal products.

This enables us to be your one-stop-shop for Varilux and Crizal products!

IcareLabs is proud to now offer the new CR-39 semi-finished NuPolar mirrored lenses. What does this mean for your practice? Consistent colors assure you that your patients will be happy with their glasses and redos will always match.

Let's dive into the NuPolar line to see exactly what makes them such a great product for patients looking at polarized lens options.

Always striving to better ourselves so we can better serve our customers, the myIcareLabs.com customer portal has just finished a big upgrade! You asked, and we listened.

After logging into your myIcareLabs account, you can process your check payments with us 24/7. Using our new eCheck option has no extra costs or hidden fees. Simply enter your information and your payment will be posted to your account the next business day.

In the ever-growing world of digital single vision offerings, Essilor and Kodak Lens have just released information on their new designs.

These great new lens options are designed to help patients deal with digital eye strain and visual fatigue.

Let's take a look at each and see what they bring to the table.

Point-of-purchase materials are a key factor in any optical shop to help drive sales. Usually referred to as POP, there are several varieties you can choose from.

No matter which type of POP you pick, they are almost always a net positive for your dispensary. One thing is sure though, if a patient doesn't understand how a product benefits them then they are considerably less likely to purchase it.

Let's take a quick look at the common types of POP and the best ways to utilize them to help increase your optical sales.

Here at IcareLabs, we understand that every job we process is more than just a number. Every lens tells a story. It's your patient that we get to help recreate perfect vision for!

Our customer service team understands this too, which is why we've geared our entire company around being able to provide your practice with the best customer service possible.

We are able to maintain a 98.3% answer rate. When our accounts call us, we answer!

What is blue light?

Blue light is at the bottom end of the visible light spectrum with the shortest wavelength and the highest energy. Blue light is often referred to as violet or violet light. Blue light is just above ultra-violet (UV) in the light spectrum.

Blue light is defined as visible light ranging from 380 to 500 nm. In some circles, blue light is broken down further into 2 segments – Blue-Violet (280 – 455) and Blue-Turquoise light (455-500nm).

Before we get to breaking down the blue light products that we carry here are a few key points you need to know.

In 2018, the US lead the world in sunglass sales. These sales generated over $5.8 billion dollars in revenue.

A 2016 survey found that about 86% of Americans wear sunglasses on a regular basis but only about 12% of Americans wear prescription sunglasses.

Why are we not capturing a larger portion of this lucrative Sunwear market? Where are we missing out? 

You asked and we listened! After getting feedback from our customers that they would like lenses with blue light protection that can be demo'd for patients; IcareLabs is proud to now offer our new Blue Guard lenses that will be able to do just that!

Let's take a look at availability and how this new line will fit into our other house brand and name brand lens offerings. We'll also breakdown what your patients can expect with this fantastic new option providing protection from harmful UV and blue light.

SeaVision was founded in 1991 and has been manufacturing innovative and market-leading prescription dive masks and swim goggle lenses for divers and swimmers all over the globe.

In 1994 when one of our employees and his son were scuba diving off the coast of Florida, he noticed the brilliant colors that his underwater camera had captured. Research showed how light and filters affected the human eye and he came up with a way to use Magenta and Yellow lenses in his dive mask that brought a whole new underwater experience into view.

Fortunately, he worked for one of the largest independent optical lens laboratories in America and was able to put his ideas into production. This allowed other scuba divers, snorkelers, and swimmers that same opportunity to see the underwater world in a whole new light.

For the last 8 years, we have been proud to offer you our premium house brand IceAR anti-reflective coating. Over this time, it has become a staple product for many of our customers offering a durable 2 year warranty value proposition for their patients.

We are excited to announce the addition of our latest in-house non-glare coating, IceAR with Silk!

With all of the options available in lens designs and materials, we truly are working in the golden age of optics. Never has there been more options and custom designed products to cover the vast array of our patients' needs. From specialized Single Vision products for young readers to fully compensated digital progressives offering wide field of views.

While we get plenty of training on these new products I find that many of us question when to use high-index lenses and why. Many do not understand the benefits and fear the drawbacks. 

In this brief article, I hope to clear up some misconceptions while giving you some parameters of when to use high index. 

Here at IcareLabs we believe that every practice should have easy access to the resources they need whether they have an account with us or not. That's why we've redesigned and launched the new IcareLabs Resource Center. Your one-stop shop for all of your ECP and POP needs!

Our family had no idea how drastically all our lives would be forever changed when my grandfather, John W. Payne, founded IcareLabs 51 years ago. In 2008, John was posthumously inducted into the Lab Division Hall of Fame. I am beyond honored to announce one of his sons, and my uncle, Skip Payne, will be inducted into the Lab Division Hall of Fame in 2019!

At IcareLabs we were founded with one simple goal in mind; to provide the largest selection of high quality lenses for the best possible prices. Over 50 years later we still believe this is one of our strongest selling points. We also understand that every practice needs to be able to offer options for every patient.

From the high-end, top of the line digital progressive lenses to value driven lenses for more budget-conscious patients. We know that the most successful practices are able to accommodate their patients needs and budget constraints.  We strive to handle all of those jobs for you. Let's take a look at everything IcareLabs can bring to your dispensing table.

With the launch of the new Transitions Gen 8, IcareLabs wants to make sure your practice has all the tools necessary to make 2019 your best year yet. Our previous blog on the Gen 8 launch has the availability chart and much more.

This blog will go over some key strategies and best practices to help your optical dispensary sell more Transitions lenses than ever before!

Transitions Gen 8 is now available and processed in-house here at IcareLabs. The first wave of the Transitions Gen 8 launch is underway and if you have not already heard about the advancements, we will breakdown exactly what you and your patients can expect from the latest in photochromic technology. 

Transitions Gen 8 technology will not only help increase your Transitions sales but also increase your patient satisfaction.

In September of 2018 we took a look at the differences between fixed corridor vs. variable corridor digital progressives. While this is a good explanation of how to get the best out of each, fixed corridor progressive lenses can give you a new arsenal to keep your patients happy. 

We are seeing more of our customers choosing fixed corridor for their patients progressive glasses and for good reason. This blog will give you best practices when fitting your patients with fixed corridor progressives. The first step is using a product that allows for fixed corridor length. Shamir, Seiko, and our house brands (Legacy and Heritage) give you this ability.

We are all in the business of striving to help each patient recreate perfect vision and we always hope every patient leaves satisfied. While we know that won't always be the case, there are some key drivers that will help to achieve those lofty goals!

Every patient is different and even in patients with similar Rx's the end result for their lenses can have a wide amount of variance. This is all based upon their individual needs.

From older traditional progressives like the tried and true Varilux Comfort to newer top of the line digital progressives like the Shamir Autograph Intelligence, and even with simple single vision lenses or new technology like Eyezen single vision lenses, every patient has a wide variety of options available to them.

Here are 4 easy ways you can increase patient satisfaction at your optical dispensary:

Kodak Lens now offers 2 options to help you upgrade your office and set your practice apart from the rest with one of America's best known brands and it's Kodak Lens Corner Educational Center or the Kodak Lens Experience. 

Take advantage of the solution that best fits your practice's needs while helping drive patients through the door and give them hands on point-of purchase materials that help them understand the benefits of various lens upgrades.

Let's take a look at both options so you can see what Kodak Lens can do for your bottom line.

Crizal anti-reflective coatings are known around the world as an industry leader in providing quality AR coatings and for good reason. In my previous blogs, we've discussed Crizal Easy, Crizal Alize, Crizal Avance, and our IceAR.

Here at IcareLabs we also process the flagship Crizal Sapphire 360 and Crizal Prevencia in-house. This blog post will provide you with everything you need to know to explain the benefits of Prevencia treatments to your patients.

When my father started IcareLabs over 50 years ago, we had no idea just how far we would come all these years later. Our family moved to Florida to pursue my father's dream of starting an optical lab, with not only the best prices, but also the best selection. At the time, none of us knew just how drastically our lives were going to be forever changed.

One reason your patients come to your practice is the customer service they receive. If they have a bad experience then they are less likely to return.

A good experience can give you precious word of mouth advertising and that unsolicited recommendation from one patient to another is more valuable than just about any other type of advertising for your practice!

Here at IcareLabs, we try to operate with the same kind of mindset. Last year 15% of our new customers were direct referrals from our current customers. We like to say we're big enough to meet all your needs, yet small enough to care. Ever wonder why that is?

Transitions photochromic lenses are an excellent way to increase patient satisfaction while also helping to increase your optical revenue and positively influence future patient experiences. It's a win-win for both you and your patients!

Over the last few years, blue light protection has become one of the hottest trends in optical. Showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon, we're being asked more questions from ECP's about all of the various options available for their patients.

There's a lot of things online and even commercials available that patients can find (even some misinformation out there too). So what blue light options will best serve your practice and your patients?

IceAR is IcareLabs proprietary house brand premium anti-reflective coating. We also offer the full line of Crizal coatings in-house and have talked about a few of them like Sapphire™ and Avance in my previous blogs.

IceAR can offer your practice another layer of service that will help ensure your practice is able to best serve the needs of every patient that walks through your door, regardless of their budgetary concerns. We'll also look at some of the amazing technology behind IceAR so you can get more familiar with the product itself. This allows you to answer any questions your patients may have.

In 2015, Essilor launched the Eyezen+™ lenses giving patients across the world a better alternative to traditional single vision lenses in prescription glasses. These lenses are geared toward the modern digital lives of your pre-emerging presbyope patients to help provide eye relief due to eyestrain.

While it's hard for me to admit, this year I reached the point in my life where my phone, tablet, and computer became a challenge to see thanks to small fonts. I started noticing at the end of my work day my eyes were tired and I had to come to grips with the reality that I needed help. In what seemed like overnight, I had become a pre-emerging presbyope. 

Kodak Lens recently released their newest version of their popular Unique lens with the Kodak Unique DRO progressive lens.

Building upon the ever change needs of modern presbyopes, reading habits continue to increase the time spent on mobile devices. Hours a day are spent using cell phones and tablets on social media, news, shopping, and driving directions. 

The Kodak Unique DRO uses Dynamic Reading Optimization (DRO) that helps enrich and enhance the reading area.

Following the breakout success of the Transitions Style Colors and Transitions XtrActive Style Mirrors and building up to the release of the new Transitions Gen 8, Transitions Optical has launched an exciting new Eyecare Provider (ECP) tool that can help your patients.

The Eyeglass Builder is a free website for your practice that can help guide your patients to the lenses and frames that will best fit their vision needs and lifestyle.

This pre-built website can even be customized with your practice's branding and contact information to help drive even more business through your doors.

IcareLabs was founded in 1968 with the mindset that we should be able to offer our customers the widest possible variety of lenses and services at the best possible prices. Over 50 years later, that sentiment is as true today as the day we ground our first pair of lenses!

One question I hear often from customers is "What makes IcareLabs different?"

KBco mirror lenses can help give your practice the consistent colors and selection your patients want. Unlike traditional mirror coated lenses, KBco mirror lenses come as a semi-finished blank which allows for consistent colors. As the lens blanks come already mirrored we are able to process these  2-3 days faster than traditional mirrors.

This gives you a high quality polarized mirrored lens that is consistent should you need to remake just one lens down the road. 

Kodak Lens has the tools to help you update your office while increasing your average selling prices by combining the strength of the Kodak brand with eye catching displays, signage, and an in-store “Educational Center”.

The Kodak Lens Educational Center is the centerpiece of the Kodak Lens Corner program. The two-sided educational display offers you a freestanding hands-on demonstration tool helping to engage patients. Patients are encouraged to pick up each frame and demo the effects.

The six, eye catching bright red frames demo no-lines, non-glare, advanced blue light protection, Transitions, high index materials, and polarized.

Transitions Signature 7 lenses made leaps and bounds over Transitions VI which launched a new era of photochromic lenses for patients to enjoy. Now the new Transitions Gen 8 is poised to revolutionize the industry once again!

(As of July 10th, 2019 Transitions Gen 8's first wave has launched, CLICK HERE to visit our recently updated blog post featuring the availability chart and more!)

Building off of the massive success of last years new Transitions 7 Style Colours and XtrActive Style Mirror options, your patients will now have the latest technology behind their new favorite pair of glasses.

Coupled with Essilor's Next Gen program that will help increase your optical sales through second pair purchases, 2019 can be your practice's best year yet!

Let's take a look at the roll out:

 January 31st marked the end of the wildly successful Ultimate Lens Package from Essilor of America.

On February 1st, 2019 the new Instant $100 launched which builds off of and improves an already successful formula. Now your patients will have more options than ever, and you can help increase your revenue like never before!

On top of that, the patients themselves will have the power to redeem their incentive INSTANTLY! This is the promotion the delivers patients, not paperwork!

(BLOG UPDATE: The Instant $100 promotion ended at the end of 2019)

With over 50 years of doing business, Icarelabs labs has seen its fair share of changes. No other year has seen more changes than 2018. On May 17^th, 2018 we celebrated or 50^th anniversary and made sure we purchased some great gifts for ourselves in the process.

Along with this fantastic milestone we went too 100% digital processing by adding an additional 3 digital generators and multiple soft polishers.

These upgrades gave us the ability to process even more digital designs than ever. We also introduced our second line of house-branded digital progressives in 2018. Always with a thought to our past as we press forward, we felt there was no better name than Heritage.

We all know the end of any year tends to be one of the busiest times for anyone in the optical industry. It can get a bit crazy between the holidays and patients trying to cash in their vision plans before they reset.

Now that has passed, many practices are seeing their lab bills in a new light and most likely thinking about how they can lower that bill so they can increase their bottom line without sacrificing the quality products that their patients have come to expect.

Just like your New Year's resolutions, there is no better time than the first of the year to take an objective look at what your current wholesale optical lab is doing for you and if there is any room for improvement.

Our myIcareLabs.com customer portal is your one stop shop for everything your practice needs to be able to run smoothly. This gives all of our customers direct access to everything you'll need for your account.

Built in-house by James Payne in 2008, the simple and friendly user interface gives you complete access to every benefit you receive by being part of the Icare family.

In a market flooded with over a hundred different progressive lens options how do you choose which one or ones to use? Should you be using a branded product or a house brand product? I simply say yes! You should be using both and here's why.

The myIcareLabs customer portal does more than just simply placing your orders. We've already covered how you can order stock lenses, print shipping labels, take care of lab credits, and easily find what you're looking for. 

How would you like the ability to track all of your jobs in progress or pull up completed jobs in on convenient location?

Crizal Avance UV anti-reflective coatings revolutionized the optical industry when it was introduced in 2012. It scored a 12.9 on the Bayer ISMT by providing some of the best scratch resistance across all materials. Even patients that are typically very rough on their lenses can now enjoy the benefits of anti-reflective coatings.

Crizal also launched backside UV protection for their full line of AR coatings. This helps absorb and prevent UV light transmission via backside glare. Let's take a closer look at exactly how the technology behind the coating has made such an impact.

Trying to find the correct price or availability for your patient's lenses can be a real chore. IcareLabs knows less time trying to find what you need and what it costs, means more time you can focus on your patients.

Two things are certain in life in the optical industry, taxes and warranties. While we can't help with the taxes, our 50 years of experience has helped IcareLabs make your warranty and credit process as easy as possible.

With our credit form you'll be able to easily ensure your account is credited properly.

Ever since the digital revolution took hold of the world in the mid-2000's with the rise of smartphones, tablets, and the dominance of laptops in the personal computing realm more people of all ages are feeling the effects of digital eye strain and harmful blue light.

The Vision Council has released the 2017 Blue Light/Digital Eye Strain Report, which shows some very telling numbers about this continuously growing share of the market.

Recently, our very own Director of Sales and Marketing, James Stephany, took time out of his busy schedule to give a lecture at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College.

This was a great opportunity for James to share his belief in the importance of opticians and their labs being on the same page. This cooperation is paramount in ensuring every patient can get the best possible pair of glasses to fit their needs and lifestyle.

Shamir set the bar very high with the success of the Shamir Autograph 2 and Shamir Autograph 3. This cemented their place in the optical industry as a leader with cutting-edge lens designs.

They've done it again with the recent introduction of the Autograph Intelligence:

In my previous blog posts I showed you how easy it is to order your stock lenses through our myIcareLabs customer portal. But what about checking out to receive your stock order?

Hello everybody,

My name is Troy Payne, part of the third generation of the Payne family here at IcareLabs. Since Graduating from the University of Central Florida (GO KNIGHTS!!!) with a degree in Entrepreneurship and Business Management, I have been working on the retail side of the optical industry full time.

As a wholesale optical lab, we do not wake up in the morning hoping we can create issues for you and your patients. It is actually the exact opposite. We love the fact that by partnering with you and your practice, we're able to provide your patients with the best vision possible.

One of our most praised functions in the myIcareLabs customer portal is the ability to easily order your stock lenses.

IcareLabs is committed to making sure your practice has the lenses you need, when you need them!

Crizal anti-reflective coatings can provide your patients with numerous reasons to return to your practice over and over again.

Ordering stock frames has never been easier thanks to IcareLab's easy to navigate myicarelabs.com customer portal.

We can offer your practice a wide variety of options that enable you to decrease the amount of time your patients are waiting for their new glasses.

As we have mentioned before, IcareLabs has been at this for 50 years now and has seen it all. We pride ourselves on finding solutions to problems and then implementing them.

One problem all labs and lab customers have experienced too often is input errors on phone and fax orders. As hard as we tried we could not come up with a phone or fax system that met our stringent accuracy standards.

So we created our state-of-the-art myIcareLabs online ordering portal:

Throughout my day, I am asked many questions here at IcareLabs. The one question that I seem to be getting more often is about fixed corridor progressives and how they compare with variable corridor in digital designs. When is one better than the other and what are the advantages of both?

I hope to answer that for you today.

Getting the most bang for your buck is usually a good idea, but when it comes to your optical dispensary how do you do that without sacrificing the things your patients have come to expect from you such as, high quality or fast turnaround time?

The most obvious answer is to get the best price on your lenses and services. Even if you're receiving great pricing, you may still be leaving money on the dispensing table.

One question we are often asked by new customers is how does your shipping work? 

IcareLabs was one of the first wholesale optical labs in the country to provide inter-state shipping.

With over 50 years of experience, we've learned that our customers know what's best for their business and patients.

That's why when it comes to shipping we give you control.

Did you know there are over 3 million active scuba divers and 11 million active snorkelers currently in the USA right now?

Many of them need prescription dive masks to properly see, but are used to having to settle with uncorrected vision underwater.

What does this mean for your practice?