P.O.G. LABS, a full-service wholesale lab based in Creston, Iowa, has launched an online optical education program to help eyecare professionals of all skill levels learn about wholesale lab processing. The six-part series, 4YouLab L.I.F.E. (Lab Information for Eyecare Professionals), focuses on the relationship between the lab and the ECP to bridge the gap of communication. The main goal of all the trainings is to ensure the lab is receiving the best technical data from the ECP to create the perfect pair of glasses. The training takes into consideration how the lab can effectively communicate their data needs.

The trainings are recorded sessions that include live conversations between lab executives and actual ECPs looking to learn more about the particular subject. Each training session in the six-part series includes an optician leading the training discussion who has been involved in both settings as a lab tech and eyecare professional. The program leader/presenter is carefully selected for each training based on their expertise in the subject matter.

“There are many misconceptions about lab processing in the optical industry, and we hope that in these trainings, we can begin the conversation of learning together as lab and ECP,” says Alex Tamerius, executive vice president of P.O.G. Labs. “We as a lab know that in the busy atmosphere of the eyecare professional’s office, some critical aspects of actual lens manufacturing may not be discussed with actual dispensing opticians. Where many labs fall short with their customers is actually communicating the important information that labs require for the best results. We also realize that we do not see the everyday struggles of the ECP, which is why we think it is an absolute necessity to include actual ECP customers in our training discussions and to have a program presenter that has knowledge from both sides.”

The 4YouLab L.I.F.E. training sessions cover the following topics: Lens Coatings; Online Ordering Pros and Cons; Quality Assessment, Final Inspection and Industry Standards; Digital Free-Form Designs vs. Branded Progressives; and Wholesale Finish Lab vs. ECP Finish Lab. All 4YouLab L.I.F.E. sessions can be viewed on-demand at P.O.G. Labs’ YouTube Channel.

–Andrew Karp