“Come up to the lab, and see what’s on the slab!”

For some strange reason, that line, from a song in the cult movie favorite “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” occasionally pops into my mind when I visit an optical lab. Don’t ask me why. The song is sung by a wild, cross-dressing character named Dr. Frank-N-Furter and has absolutely nothing to do with fabricating prescription lenses. Not even slab-offs.

But Dr. Furter’s invitation reminds me that there is always something new and interesting to see when visiting a lab. As 20/20’s lenses and technology editor, I visit a lot of labs and invariably come away impressed with the equipment and processes, as well as the technical know-how of the management and staff.

As you may know, labs have undergone a technological transformation in recent years, largely due to the advent of digital, or free-form lens surfacing. Nearly all labs today surface lenses digitally, thanks to the introduction of more compact, affordable surface generators that are within the reach of small and medium-sized labs. The proliferation of digital surfacing systems, often used in conjunction with robotic production systems, has increased prescription accuracy, shortened turnaround time and enabled labs to offer new levels of lens customization. As a result, eyecare professionals can now offer their patients more products to address their vision needs and fit their budget, including many private label brands. Improvements in lens materials and coating technology have also significantly expanded the range of products now on the market.

While we’re acknowledging labs and the equipment and lens companies that equip them, let’s also credit the developers of lab management software and computer systems, which function as the lab’s brains and nervous system. The continual improvements they’ve made to their products enable labs to route a patient’s data to the production department and ultimately, to the shipping department, with speed and efficiency.

If it’s been a while since you last visited your local lab, you should schedule a visit soon. I think you’ll be impressed. Tell them Dr. Furter and I sent you.

Andrew Karp
Group Editor, Lenses and Technology
[email protected]