From Review of Optometric Business, reviewob.com

Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, of EyeLux Optometry in San Diego, describes how an in-office finishing lab provides the advantages of lens finishing with a faster turnaround time, lower cost, fewer redoes and better control over quality. Keys to success: Maintain a lens inventory large enough to service 80 percent of single-vision jobs within an hour, and employ a full-time lab technician. An in-house finishing lab is not for every practice, Dr. Chou cautions. Click on the links following this video to access online worksheets to calculate if your volume justifies the investment in equipment, inventory and personnel.

Calculate if In-House Lens Finishing is Cost Effective
The volume of jobs that are required to support in-office lens finishing is a calculation that must be made on an office-to-office basis. Consider the following factors.

Cost of equipment. Lens finishing equipment can vary in cost, depending on the make and features. A new system that includes an edger and tracer/blocker can run to $50,000. Complete used systems can be purchased for much less.

Costs to be factored in. Your costs include labor, maintenance, pro-rata consumption of occupancy and utilities. There are also start-up costs for stock lens inventory.

Managed care plan requirements. Finally, the equation may change with implementation of the new Eyemed contract, which requires non-single vision jobs to get sent to an outside Essilor lab. Participating practices also are required to replenish single-vision stock lenses from their lab.

Worksheet/Calculators
Santinelli "Profit Analysis"
AIT "Profit and ROI Analysis"