IcareLabs Blog

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 HR and Rock 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.