HANDS ON - Ask The Labs
by Karlen McLean, ABOC, NCLC

CLOSE SHAVE

Q I had a patient who is a senior citizen request shaving glasses. What does he mean, and how can I help him?

A There are several solutions for shaving glasses. These include near point lenses designed for the distance from the mirror to the face. For hyperopes, these lenses can be thick. Create wide enough A and deep enough B measurements to compensate for looking to the side and down while shaving.

You can bump the power by 1/8 or 1/4 if the full distance is used. Bear in mind also that most men lean forward when shaving.

Also, bifocals—a flattop 35 or 45mm seg set high—are another solution. Set the seg height higher than normal so the shaver is looking through the seg when shaving. The seg power must be set at the shaving distance from the mirror.

Finally, a pair of task-specific lenses such as near variable focus computer or office lenses could work but may not be the best choice. Peripheral vision looking that far to the side in this type of lens may not be as sharp as the other choices.

—Kim Scheidler, ABOC,
director of education, Sutherlin Optical,
Kansas City, Mo.

GOODBYE, BLUR

Q I've heard that polycarbonate lenses can blur peripheral vision. Is this true? If so, what improvements are being made to fix the problem?

A Restricted peripheral vision in polycarbonate lenses is caused by the poly manufacturing process. Injecting molding using approximately 200 tons of pressure per square inch can cause this
phenomena.

The pressure distortion shows up in the periphery. Poly material seeks the area of least resistance—the thickest part of the lens.

There is a patented process in the marketplace now, ECM-9, that uses less than 10 pounds of pressure. No pressure during processing means no peripheral distortion in the lenses.

Incorporating aspheric and atoric into polycarbonate lenses also helps improve peripheral vision.

Asphericity and atoricity reduce the optical errors that can occur in spherical lenses.

—Nicholas Niejelow, president and CEO, Optima, Inc.,
Stratford, Conn.

CREDIT WHEN CREDIT'S DUE

Q Can you recommend a few of the steps that I should take to ensure that I receive faster and more efficient credits from the laboratories with which I work?

A Pay attention to the basics: Include proper documentation and return the lenses. Pay attention to details and accuracy. Write legibly, and be sure to include the complete patient name, original order number and invoice date, and the reason why the lenses are being returned. If you can, send a copy of the original invoice—that's extremely helpful. Remember, if the lab doesn't have all the information it needs, it will have to call you back, and call backs take time. You may want to ask your lab to provide information about what its standard turnaround time is for credit.

—Cindy Parker, vice president, Optiks Unlimited, Inc., Orlando, Fla.

If you have a question you'd like to have answered in Ask the Labs, send it to Karlen McLean. Fax: 215-643-1705. E-mail: mcleank@boucher1.com. An archive of past Ask the Labs columns can be found on the Eyecare Business Website at www.eyecarebusiness.com.