Free-Form Lenses: What They Are and How They Work
Free-form is a manufacturing method, not a lens brand. Here is how it differs from conventional surfacing, what 'digital' really means, and how to verify a compensated job on the bench.
Blog | Optical Industry Insights, Guides & Tools for Opticians
Actionable insights for opticians and eyewear retailers. Learn how to measure PD remotely, optimize optical workflows, choose the right tools, and grow your business with modern digital solutions.
Optician License Requirements by State (Including Apprenticeship Routes)
Twenty-one states license opticians. See the requirements for every state and DC: apprenticeship and school routes, exams, and a link to each board.
Optician Salary: What Opticians Earn by State, Workplace and License
The median optician earns $47,260 a year (BLS, May 2025). See pay by state and workplace, whether licensed states pay more, and a cost-of-living adjusted ranking.
Eyeglass Nose Pads: Types, Sizes, Replacement, and Why They Leave Marks
Screw-in, push-in or slide-on: identify the mount before you buy, why pads turn green, why they leave marks on the nose, and the cases where the pad is not the problem at all.
Optogrid Is Now on Android: Measure From Your Phone
The Optogrid mobile app is live on Google Play. Same photo-based measurement workflow as the browser version, on the device that already has the camera. The iOS version is in progress.
Add Power by Age: Expected Reading Addition Chart
A sourced add power by age reference table, how to use it as a dispensing sanity check, and how to verify ADD against the actual prescription instead of guessing from a patient’s age.
SILMO Paris 2026: The Fall Optical Trade Show Guide for ECPs
SILMO Paris 2026 runs September 25 to 28 at Paris Nord Villepinte: roughly 900 exhibitors, design-led rather than transactional, and now the closest thing North America has to a fall trade show since Vision Expo West ended in 2025. This guide covers dates, the Silmo d’Or awards, an honest SILMO vs. MIDO vs. Vision Expo comparison, and logistics for ECPs deciding whether to make the trip.
TR90 Glasses Frames: What the Material Is and Who It Is For
TR90 is the trade name most opticians use for Grilamid TR 90, a transparent nylon resin made in Switzerland that bends without snapping. Here is what the material actually is, how it holds up against acetate and titanium, and who should be steered toward it at the dispensing table.
Slab-Off Lenses: Correcting Vertical Prism Imbalance
Slab-off (bicentric grinding) corrects the vertical prism imbalance that builds up when an anisometropic wearer reads through a multifocal. How the correction works, regular versus reverse slab-off, a worked Prentice's rule example, and the alternatives a lab can offer instead.
How Long Does It Take to Adjust to New Glasses?
Most people adjust to new glasses in days to two weeks, up to a month for progressives. Learn what's normal, the red flags, and when to see your optician.