2026-01-19 – Weekly Optician News : Cutting remakes by 18%

Last week, our community engaged in thoughtful discussions around practical problem-solving in daily opticianry. Members shared insights on reducing lens remakes, with a focus on continuing education strategies. Technical discussions included calibration practices for edgers and preventing common issues like AR coating crazing. There was also an interesting thread on tools trusted for measuring scleral sagittal height, showcasing the diversity of expertise within our group.


This Week’s Hot Topics

CE plan that cut remakes 18%
This thread explores how a specific continuing education plan significantly reduced lens remakes. It’s a valuable read if you’re looking to improve efficiency in your practice.
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Best LED handheld magnifier for daily demos
Members are sharing their go-to LED magnifiers for patient demos, discussing what works best in various lighting conditions.
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Edger calibration and staff habits
Explore the discussion on how staff habits can impact the calibration of edgers, and what practices help maintain performance.
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Preventing AR crazing during frame heat
Dive into practical solutions for preventing AR crazing, a common issue when applying heat to frames.
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Why your near PD is smaller
A detailed explanation on why near pupillary distance measurements are typically smaller, with tips for accurate assessments.
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Pupilometer stage fright at 2:15
This light-hearted thread discusses those times when pupilometers seem to have a mind of their own.
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Tools you trust for scleral sagittal height
Colleagues are exchanging recommendations for reliable tools to measure scleral sagittal height.
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Autorefractor needed coffee this morning
A humorous take on autorefractors underperforming without their “morning coffee.”
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Reducing edge chips on 1.67
Tips and tricks on minimizing edge chips on high-index lenses, essential for maintaining lens integrity.
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CR-39 name origin
A fascinating discussion on the history behind the name CR-39, offering a bit of optical trivia.
Read more here


Thanks for staying connected with us. We’re always here to support each other in navigating the daily challenges and joys of our profession. Until next time, take care.

1 Like

I’ve cut AR-crazing remakes by pre‑adjusting the demo and noting any spots that would need heat before ordering, then removing pads in warm water and only cold‑adjusting at dispense — “measure twice, edge once.” Minor caveat to @Marta_Ops on daily edger checks: with stable humidity, an every‑other‑day 50 mm puck cut still flags >0.2 mm drift without slowing the morning rush.

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And quick example: we cut remakes by doing a 5‑minute ‘Monday calibration’ — trace a metal test ring, verify size with a caliper, and nudge the edger until it’s within ±0.05 mm; it’s ‘measure twice, cut once.’ Small caveat: AR jobs behave better if you lower chuck pressure a step and use fresh blocker tape, otherwise micro‑stress sets you up for crazing.

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One thing that moved the needle for us is a 20‑second “tilt check” before ordering: measure panto and wrap, enter them for compensated powers, and confirm the corridor still lands where you expect — non‑adapt remakes dropped fast. If your LMS doesn’t compensate well, I note “fit at 8°/5°” on the job and keep the OC a touch low; @Lena’s explainer is solid: https://www.shawlens.com/compensated-lenses/.

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