IcareLabs Blog

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!