ask the labs
PAL, Sales & Styles
by Karlen McLean, ABOC, NCLC
PAL'ING AROUND
Q What tips do you have for getting seniors in PALs?
A First, the patient must be motivated to give PALs a fair shake. If they tried PALs years ago and they didn't work, it's time to try the new technology we have today.
Features like less peripheral distortion and personalization ease adaptation to today's PALs. Proper frame adjustment is a key factor in PAL adaptation, as well.
It's also very important to take the right measurements. Use only a monocular PD taken with a pupilometer, and take the exact vertical measurement of the frame. Ask your lab to help you troubleshoot PAL patients.
One of our clients had a book-keeper who tried several pairs of PALs and couldn't adjust to them. We met with the patient at the practice and found that the wrong PD was used, plus the frame needed more precise adjustment.
Once we corrected those errors, the patient saw well, and the practice learned how to correctly measure and fit PALs moving forward.
— Lawrence Lahr, executive vice president, Eye-Kraft Optical, Inc., St. Cloud, Minn.
EXTREME PAL DESIGNS
Q What PALs work best in large frames?
A The first thing I think about from a lab point of view is blank size. What PAL has a diameter big enough to meet the specifications in regard to seg height and monocular PD requirements?
Dispensers should use a layout chart appropriate to the lens brand and design they're working with to determine the lens' viability and usage before placing the order and before the patient leaves the office.
Second, choose a PAL that's aspheric and horizontally balanced so the patient will not have the swim and sway effect.
— Chip Robertson, vice president, Robertson Optical Laboratories, Greenville, S.C.
| Sporting PAL Options |
|---|
| Q What are the best progressive addition lens styles/designs for hunting and fishing? A Soft PAL designs tend to be the overall best solution, and individualized free-form designs kick up the visual performance. Our lab is finding that polarized photochromic lenses with a backside AR are working well for fishing. Hunting is more challenging with all the visual zones needed for various types of hunting environments and tool/firearm use. One solid hunting solution we've found is fitting patients with a clear pair of PALs with AR on the front and backside, and then customizing plano clip-ons. Use yellow-copper tints for target shooting, brown for field hunting, and gray for bright sun. Clip-ons allow them to have several choices that fit over their PALs. — Gerry Shaw, president, Western Carolina Optical, Asheville, N.C. |
If you have a question you'd like to have answered in Ask the Labs, send it to Karlen McLean. Email: mcleank@lwwvisioncare.com. Fax: 215-643-1705. An archive of past Ask the Labs columns can be found on the Eyecare Business website at www.eyecarebusiness.com.
![]({"src":"/media/qayfieko/52008.jpg","focalPoint":null,"crops":[{"alias":"thumbnail","width":1110,"height":700,"coordinates":null}]})