SACRAMENTO, Calif.—VSP Vision Care has signed an agreement with Essilor of America to produce Crizal coatings at VSP’s facilities near here. Although VSP has long been a distributor of Varilux and other Essilor lens products, the move represents a new level of cooperation between two of the industry’s leading companies.

The coating center, adjacent to the VSP optical lab, will have the onsite capability to apply Essilor’s Crizal lens products: Crizal, Crizal Alizé, Crizal Alizé with Clear Guard, and the newly-launched Crizal Avancé with Scotchgard Protector. It will be one of a select number of U.S. optical labs producing Crizal lenses in-house.

“The addition of Crizal’s leading-edge technology to the VSP Sacramento Lab is a further expansion of VSP’s commitment to deliver high quality products and an outstanding service experience to our customers,” said Bill Conner, president of the VSP Laboratory Division.

“VSP is focused on strengthening the eyecare delivery system by expanding our relationships with organizations that work with private practice doctors," Conner told VMail. "This announcement is one part of our ongoing effort to lead the way in providing high-quality products and services to doctors that reduce cost, speed delivery, and increase choice.”

Bob Colucci, president of Essilor’s Independent Distribution Division, said, “We are thrilled to have the VSP Sacramento Lab join the Crizal supply network . VSP has established a reputation for superior customer service, and introducing in-house Crizal production will improve VSP’s service delivery times for doctors and their patients nationwide.”

VSP operates three wholly-owned optical labs located near Sacramento, Columbus, Ohio; and Dallas, Texas.