IcareLabs Blog

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.