The private-label lens phenomenon

Article

Several members of the lens industry came together Friday during a forum at Vision Expo East to discuss the rising trend of private-label progressive lenses.

New York City-Several members of the lens industry came together Friday during a forum at Vision Expo East to discuss the rising trend of private-label progressive lenses.

There are currently over 100 private-label designs on the U.S. market. As the market continues to expand, managed care will have to contend with these private-label lenses and lens casters will play a more aggressive role.

“Managed care has become a cancer, for lack of a better term. I’m not afraid to say it. The stronger and the bigger they get, we become slaves to managed care and until we stand up and say we’re not going take it anymore, they’re going to continue,” says Lloyd Yazbek, president of Central One Optical, a laboratory in Youngstown, OH. But, he says, managed care plans will be pressured into private-label lenses.

With the development of free-form lens processing technology, lenses can be personalized for individual patients.

Private-label, free-form lenses offer:

• Flexibility for the lab

• Price tier potential for the ECP

• Strong profit margins for both the lab and ECP

• Competitive advantage

• Quality designs

“The bad rap on free-form is that people think it’s a cheap lens-it’s not a cheap lens,” says Yazbek.

If an eyecare professional wants to start selling private-label lenses, Michael Palkovicz, president of I-See Optical laboratory in Blackwood, NJ, says marketing and staff education are the most important factors.

“When you market it in your practice, you market it as the best-that it is able to be designed to meet the needs of that patient,” says Yazbek.

Kurt Gardner, national sales and support manager for Indizen Optical Technologies, says that ECPs are faced with an immense amount of competition, so they should play up the exclusivity of the product.

“You’re building your practice brand on the brand of the laboratory,” says Gardner.

At the same time, Gardner warned, “You don’t want to over-promise. There’s no such thing as the perfect progressive, although we’re trying.”

Recent Videos
The Vision Council CEO Ashley Mills overviews what is new and exciting at this year's show, running from February 19-22 in Orlando, Florida, and provides a free registration code for those still looking to register.
Walline, OD, PhD, FAAO, outlines how to predict myopia progression and delay its onset in an exclusive interview with Optometry Times.
Jeffrey Walline, OD, PhD, FAAO, overviews a presentation he gave on the Bifocal Lenses in Nearsighted Kids 2 (BLINK2) cohort study at the Collaborative Community on Ophthalmic Innovation (CCOI).
Danica Marrelli, OD, FAAO, at Glaucoma 360 discussing visual field testing for patients with glaucoma
Walline, OD, PhD, FAAO, states that the best way to learn the benefits of artificial intelligence for your practice is to stay on top of continuing education attendance.
Jeffrey Walline, OD, PhD, FAAO, gives an overview of the AAO's 2024 and what to expect in 2025 and beyond.
Dr Jamie Kuzniar discusses higher order aberrations and premium scleral lenses
Abby Gillogly Harsch, OD, FAAO, FSLS, shares a specific complex case of scleral lens fitting that she presented on at this year's GSLS.
Sherrol Reynolds, OD, FAAO, values the ophthalmic-optometric collaboration on display at the summit, running from February 14-17, 2025 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.