By Anastasios Fokas, OD
Anastasios Fokas, OD
and Stephen Rossi, Licensed Ophthalmic Dispenser
Using a digital lab provided by the same company that manages your contact lens inventory streamlines your practice’s operations. One-stop shopping also lets you provide dependable, quality service to patients.
When you have a trusted partner like a contact lens distributor that you have worked with for years it is a great thing when that partner also can provide optical laboratory services. That is the case for our practice as we use Optical Distributor Group (ODG) and Digital Eye Lab (DEL), both divisions of the newly formed ABB OPTICAL GROUP, for our contact lens and spectacle lens needs.
College Point Optometric Associates, P.C.
Opened
1913; the practice has been in the same location for 100 years and the office has some of the first doctor’s instrumentation and copies of newsletters from optometric association meetings from the early 1900s.
Latest Purchase of Practice
Anastasios Fokas,OD, in 2009
Locations
1
Doctors
Three
Support Staff
Five
Comprehensive Examinations
About 5,500 annually
Annual Revenues
More than $1 million
We have used digital freeform lenses from DEL in our practice since the company’s launch in 2007, and it was one of our jobs that was the first job ever produced by DEL. We chose to introduce DEL into our practice because we wanted to provide the highest quality digital lenses to our patients. We knew more and more patients were moving out of their conventional bifocals and single-vision lenses and were looking for an opportunity to see the world in digital clarity. We wanted to be ahead of the curve with our move to digital and away from traditional progressive designs. By providing patients with an optimal vision solution, we were also distinguishing our practice as a provider of the latest technology.
Deciding to work with DEL was one of the easiest decisions we’ve ever made, as we were attracted to the lightning fast turnaround of uncut and finished work, superior quality workmanship, as well as very competitive pricing. Here is how we use Digital Eye Lab, which in addition to both Optical Distributor Group and ABB CONCISE, are divisions of ABB OPTICAL GROUP, to fulfill all of our patient’s vision needs.
Stephen Rossi,
Licensed Ophthalmic Dispenser
Wide Range of Lenses Produced By DEL
Since the start, DEL has been 100 percent exclusive to digital lens fabrication technology. Every lens is produced adjusting for even the slightest variation in prescription, face measurements and frame measurements. This results in eyewear that is truly personalized to our patient’s needs and lifestyle.
DEL has a large selection of lens designs, materials and coating combinations to choose from. Our practice regularly orders digital lenses from Seiko, Shamir, Indo, and of course, DEL’s Proprietary Personalized Digital 5.0 lens series. The Digital 5.0 lens series is available in a wide variety of materials including high wrap +8 base designs. When I needed to order a -23.00 1.74 custom Bi-Concave design, I knew DEL would be able to complete the job with ease because of their extensive designs and materials available.
Additionally, DEL has a number of lifestyle-specific designs available, including those for: driving, working and today’s fashion and sports frames.
Cost-Effective Solution
DEL has very competitive pricing which has saved us considerable money in the cost of digital lenses. The digital lens availability that DEL offers our practice has meant a strong differentiation from the “big box” retailers and other competitors. We are committed to offering our patients digital lens designs and we order 100 percent of our digital product mix from DEL. Because of this, we are able to provide patients with better vision, at a stronger profit margin for our practice.
The convenience and savings provided by DEL is responsible for a large part of the revenue that is generated in our practice. By ordering from DEL we are fitting patients with eyewear solutions that cannot be shopped elsewhere.
Yet, the greatest profit for our practice comes from the increase in patient satisfaction–the “wow” factor that we see on the faces of our patients when they wear DEL lenses is outstanding! This is what translates into a real increase in revenue and is a fantastic practice builder.
One-Stop Shopping Solution for Fulfilling Patient Needs
The one-stop shopping concept from ABB OPTICAL GROUP has been beneficial to our practice because of the logistical benefits of contact lenses, DEL lenses, stock lenses and finished work coming from one place the next day. Most digitally surfaced lenses with AR can be turned around and sent back to us in 48 hours or less. We are able to place all of our orders for contact lenses and spectacle lenses online. However, if the need to speak to a representative over the phone arises, a customer service line is available, in addition to our individual rep, whom we usually would turn to first.
When it comes to the benefits of DEL, really only one thing matters and that is patient satisfaction. Happy patients is what drives our business and leads to increased profitability. It is that simple.
We are then able to quickly get the product into a frame and on the face of our patients and revenues into the practice. The happy response we see from our patients to the superior optical quality of DEL lenses could not be better.
High Quality Product and Rapid Turnaround of Jobs
Since lens technology is one of the most important parts of a patient encounter in our dispensary, it almost always dominates the conversation. The confidence in DEL to deliver high-quality, cost effective products in a timely manner allows us “sell” our services to our patients. The “high-definition” aspect of DEL products is something my patients relate to as most are used to the high-definition televisions and technological world we live in today. Our dispensary is technology-driven and DEL delivers on our brand of providing cutting-edge products.
The ability to customize lens designs only enhances the “lifestyle dispensing” philosophy of our practice. We provide personalized lenses and eyewear services to meet our patients’ needs. The most important thing we can do is to make sure they’re happy so that they will come back for another pair or refer our services and product offerings to their friends and family!
Related ROB Articles
The Optometrist to Dispensary Hand-Off: An Open Dialogue Can Improve the Outcome
Pediatric Lenses: Encourage Parents to Buy Best Possible Lenses for Children
Anastasios Fokas, OD, is the senior partner of College Point Optometric Associates, P.C., in College Point, NY, and Stephen Rossi, Licensed Ophthalmic Dispenser, is the practice’s director of ophthalmic services.
