Coldwater Vision Center has been finishing eyewear in-house since the 1980s, but recent advances in edging technology have turned an established capability into a strategic advantage for patients and the practice alike. Dr. Kristopher May and his team in Coldwater, Mississippi, say modern Briot/Weco systems from Visionix deliver faster turnaround, quieter operation, and a clear financial upside.
“The decision-making process for an edger used to be highly complicated,” Dr. May said. “You no longer need multiple pieces of complex machinery. Today’s devices offer a turn‑key experience, capable of adding features without being difficult to use or intimidating.” He points to the Briot Couture’s combination of a 3-D tracer, wavefront analysis, and advanced edger technology as a game changer. Those capabilities allow the practice to handle high prescriptions, steep base curves, rimless and drill-mount work, cosmetic beveling, and high-index materials without outsourcing.
The Briot Couture’s quiet, compact design is a practical benefit that keeps in-office finishing from disrupting patient care. Brushless DC motors and torque management systems reduce slipping and noise, enabling clinics to place equipment on the optical counter without specialized construction or soundproofing. “In my 38 years in the optical business, the Briot Couture is by far the best edger I have operated,” said Karen, the practice’s lab manager who runs the Couture. “It is user-friendly, easy to guide through jobs, and produces less disruptive noise for the office. From tracing the frame to inserting the lens, it provides precision every time and makes our turnaround time much more efficient.”
Faster turnaround has immediate patient-service benefits. Practices can deliver eyewear the same day or the next day, rather than the typical seven-to-10-day wait from outside labs. That speed matters for parents, students, and anyone with time-sensitive needs. Karen and the dispensing staff regularly turn jobs around in hours, and that ability to provide emergency replacements or immediate fixes — replacing a scratched lens or altering a bevel to make a thick lens look thinner — enhances patient satisfaction and retention. “Having glasses ready within an hour can mean so much to a student preparing for finals or someone about to take a driving test,” the practice’s optical manager said.
The Business Case for In-House Edging
The financial case for in-house finishing is tangible. Practices commonly save about $30 or more per job by avoiding external lab fees. On average, clinics can cut monthly lab spending by roughly 30 percent, depending on volume and the selected system. An example breakdown shows monthly gross profit increases of roughly $2,025 for a basic system to about $4,455 for a premium setup when factoring in job savings, in-house lens sales, and reduced lab costs. Those gains come from direct savings on outsourced work, increased capture of premium lens sales, and fewer remakes due to better quality control.
Adoption barriers are lower than many expect. Modern finishing systems have a small footprint, require only standard electrical and water hookups, and do not typically require major clinic renovations. Training is brief: staff can become proficient in a matter of hours rather than months. That allows practices to leverage existing personnel rather than hiring specialized technicians, keeping staffing costs manageable and preserving workflow efficiency.
Control of quality is another critical advantage. With in-house finishing, eyecare practices oversee crucial steps from frame and lens selection to final fit. That reduces the risk of errors introduced by third-party labs and shortens the feedback loop when adjustments are needed. The result is fewer remakes and higher consistency in the finished product — factors that improve both the patient experience and the bottom line.
Dr. May described in-office finishing as a “rare win/win for both patients and practices.” For patients, it means access to premium materials, personalized service, and near-immediate delivery. For practices, it brings cost control, new revenue opportunities, and powerful word-of-mouth marketing when patients walk out with finished eyewear while they wait.
For clinics weighing the move to in-house edging, Coldwater Vision Center’s experience suggests the quiet operation, intuitive controls and measurable savings make modern Briot/Weco finishing systems an attractive option for practices that want to improve customer service, increase profitability, and stand out in a competitive market. It’s a win for the patient and for the practice!
Standout Features of Briot Couture
Kristopher A. May, OD, FAAO is a graduate of Southern College of Optometry and completed a residency in ocular disease as well as his fellowship with the American Academy of Optometry. He served as center director for West Tennessee Eye Care and team eyecare provider for both the Memphis Grizzlies and the St. Louis Cardinals Triple-A affiliate Memphis Redbirds. Kris now owns a group private practice with three offices in northern Mississippi. He serves as adjunct and guest faculty at Southern College of Optometry and co-chair of the Mississippi Optometric Association Legislative Committee.
This article originally appeared in the Pro to Pro Series in 20/20 magazine in March 2026: https://www.2020mag.com/article/inhouse-edging-a-win-for-the-patient-and-the-practice-visionix
**Medical procedures, case studies, and practices mentioned in this content may vary based on regional standards, local regulations, and the discretion of providing healthcare professional. What may be considered appropriate and ethical in one country may differ in another.