Profits Up, Stress Down: How In-house Finishing Transforms Optical Practices
If you’re considering starting an in-office finishing lab, you’re probably weighing the pros and cons. And you likely have one big question: “Will it be worth the effort, time, and money required to get an in-office finishing lab off the ground?”
Dr. Ansel Johnson, founder and clinical director of Vision Salon Eye Care Associates in Blue Island, Ill., talks about why it is worth it to start an in-office finishing lab and how Briot Couture by Visionix will make it easy for you to do.
A Better Bottom Line
Dr. Johnson started considering a switch when he saw that it was time for an edger upgrade anyway. “I wanted something that was easier to train staff without a lot of optical experience and can handle more complex orders,” he said.
Since making the move to in-house finishing, Dr. Johnson has seen an uptick in his practice’s capture rates and, as a result, profits. “Patients are much more likely to buy eyewear if they know they can pick it up the same day or the next,” he said. “We consistently blow patients away with how quickly we work. And we can offer single vision and bifocal orders at competitive prices, with our services backing the products.”
He noted another advantage to in-house finishing: “It gives us the flexibility to order and edge those high-margin lenses, like premium anti-reflective, Transitions, sun lenses, high index and polycarbonate options. That really boosts our profit per job.”
In fact, Dr. Johnson said that by handling finishing in house, his practice has increased the profit per pair by $50 to $100 or more, depending on the lenses. “That’s real, measurable profit that goes directly back into the practice,” he said.
Simplifying the Process
Another concern for many ECPs considering in-house finishing is the complexity of the process and the system their staff will need to learn.
“As an ECP, I wanted a system that was precise, easy to use and didn’t require a steep learning curve for my team,” said Dr. Johnson. “Briot Couture delivers all that — and more. My staff picked it up quickly, which saved training time and helped us get productive fast.”
Ease of use combined with high functionality have made this a worthy investment for Dr. Johnson. “What impresses me most is how intuitive it is,” he said. “The touch-screen interface walks you through every step, and the intelligent bevel placement means fewer adjustments and less risk of breaking or warping frames.”
“The 3-D tracer and sophisticated algorithms with adaptive sensing edge technology make even complex jobs like wraparound frames and high-base curves simple and accurate. With Briot Couture, we’ve reduced remakes, improved our turnaround time, and confidently finish jobs we used to outsource. It’s a true plug-and-play solution that makes in-house finishing not only possible — but profitable, with less stress.”
Standout Features of Briot Couture
- Virtual 3-D lens simulation
- TrueScan tracing for high-base frames
- Free shape modification, correction, and repair
- Wavefront-based technology
- TruFit bevel program
- Angular drilling (0 degrees to 30 degrees)
- Internal databases
- Touch-screen interface
- Remote updates
- Torque Management Software to reduce slippage
Dr. Ansel Johnson is the founder and clinical director of Vision Salon Eye Care Associates in Blue Island, Illinois. He received his bachelor's degree in biology from Illinois Wesleyan University, in Bloomington, IL, and a Doctorate degree from the 4-year Doctor of Optometry program at the New England College of Optometry in Boston, Massachusetts. He has completed a post-graduate certificate from the Optometry Executive Program at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. To contact him: eyedrj@visionsalon.com
This article originally appeared in Invision magazine in Sept. 2025: https://invisionmag.com/profits-up-stress-down/
**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.
