LensTech Optical

12/19/2023

Crizal® Discontinuations December 31, 2023 Correction
Dear Sales Community,

We'd like to bring to your attention a correction regarding our previous distribution dated December 18, 2023. We mistakenly wrote that the recommended product replacement for Crizal® Alizé UV™ was Crizal® Easy™.

Please see the updated table below for the corrected product replacement for Crizal Alizé UV:
Thank you once again for all your support of the Crizal brand. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and appreciate your understanding.

12/18/2023

FYI

December 11, 2023

Dear Valued Customer,
This letter is to inform you that EssilorLuxottica has decided to discontinue from the market the following
products as of December 31, 2023.

 Crizal® Sapphire 360 UV™
 Crizal® Alizé UV™
 Crizal® Easy UV™

This decision has been reached in alignment with the ongoing goal to streamline product offers to our
customers. With confidence that EssilorLuxottica has the full suite of products that will satisfy the needs of our
customers, we are no longer producing the products listed above. The products listed above were already
removed from Managed Vision Care plans as of June 27, 2023. Effective January 1, 2024, these products
will not be available on any product catalogs of ordering systems and will be removed from the drop-
down list in VisionWeb.
Please refer to the tables below for recommended product replacement options.

Discontinuation Date: December 31,

2023 Replacement
Crizal Sapphire 360 UV Crizal® Sapphire™HR
Crizal Alizé UV Crizal® EasyPro™
Crizal Easy UV Crizal® Easy™

Thank you

09/28/2023

Heads up,

The below is some information we’re sending an e-blast to accounts but we wanted you to know as well-

Safilo is doing a system update to a new operating system on October 1st,2023 – This means that during the transition period of 10/1/23 through 10/8/23 Safilo will be accepting orders however there will be no orders processed or shipped. Safilo will begin processing all orders on Monday 10/9/23 and start to shipping out, however due to the scale of the transition not everything will ship out all at once so please expect delays.

Additionally, this system update also includes new account numbers which goes into effect 10/1/23 and Interstate will need those new numbers to be able to place orders going forward. If you have not yet gotten a new number, please contact the Safilo team for that information. Once you share the new number with Interstate we will be able to resume placing Safilo orders.

I know we have a few customers that heavily use Safilo so we’re trying to give them a heads up as best we can.

Thank you,

09/11/2023

FYI….

June 26, 2023

Dear Valued Customer,

Essilor of America has decided to discontinue following products as of August 31, 2023,
Definity® and Definity® 3
Varilux ® S SeriesTM
Crizal ® Avance TM
Other low demand PCATs
Increasingly low demand has impacted our ability to maintain inventory and the service level that our customers have come to expect. With confidence that Essilor has the full suite of products that will satisfy the needs of our customers, we are no longer producing the product listed above. Definity® and Definity® 3 products will be removed from Managed Vision Care plans by mid August, 2023. Varilux ® S SeriesTM and Crizal ® Avance TM have been removed from Managed Vision Care plan as of September 2022.
We recognize that this news may raise questions about what products you should use in the place of those that are discontinued. For Definity, Definity 3, and Varilux S series, please feel free to leverage the Varilux product portfolio which has a product solution for every presbyopia patient. Our recommendation is to replace Definity with Varilux Comfort Max and use NEW Varilux XR series in the place of Definity 3 and Varilux S series. As a reminder, please use Crizal® RockTM in the place of Crizal Avance.
Please refer to Exhibit B for the complete list of PCATs being discontinued including Definity, Definity3, and a few low demand PCATs. You may continue to order if inventory is still available but we cannot guarantee fulfilling orders as production has stopped. Essilor will credit a ONE- TIME ONLY RETURN of the remaining inventory for the lenses that are returned by September 30, 2023, (this includes obtaining your Return Authorization (RA) number and shipping of product).
As we are providing more detailed communication, please make sure you review all the exhibits:
● Exhibit A: Instructions for One Time Return
● Exhibit B: All PCATs discontinued
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact your assigned Essilor sales manager. To be efficient with removing the products from your systems, either you or your account manager can contact Dale Olson, at [email protected] for a history of your previous orders.
We wish you great success this year.

Sincerely,
Jeff Harrell
Vice President, Products Essilor of America

Exhibit A: Instructions for One Time Return
Essilor will credit a ONE-TIME ONLY RETURN of the remaining inventory for the lenses that are returned by September 30, 2023, (this includes obtaining your Return Authorization (RA) number and shipping of product). To return products please contact Essilor Customer Service via email at [email protected] to obtain your Return Authorization (RA) number and return the qualified inventory you do not wish to retain. The below instructions must be followed:
1. Do not mix other active, non-discontinued products in the return.
2. Clearly mark this is a discontinued product return on the outside of the shipment.
3. Standard return requirements still apply i.e.:
a. Cannot return inventory > 3 years of age
b. Must be in the original packaging
c. No damage or markings on packaging
4. If the return is not completed by September 30, 2023, it will be declined with no credit received and the inventory will not be returned to you.
5. Credits issued for returned lenses will be at the standard cost less any applicable discounts.

Definity and Definity 3
Product Description
DEFINITY 3 1.5 UC DEFINITY 3 1.5 SF DEFINITY 1.5 HC
SF DEFINITY 1.5 UC
DEFINITY 3 1.50 TGEN8 GR HC SFPAL DEFINITY 3 POLY HC
SFPAL DEFINITY 3 POLY UNC DEFINITY 3 AIRWEAR TGEN8 GR HC DEFINITY 3 AIRWEAR TGEN8 BR HC SFPAL DEFINITY 3 POLY POLAR GREY 3 HC
SF DEFINITY POLY SFPAL DEFINITY POLY UNC
DEFINITY 1.53 HC
SF PAL DEFINITY 3 1.53 UNC DEFINITY 3 TREXA TGEN8 GR HC SF DEFINITY 1.6 HC DEFINITY 3 1.67 UNC
SF DEFINITY 1.67 T&L UC DEFINITY 3 T&L 1.67 TGEN8 GR HC DEFINITY 3 T&L 1.67 TGEN8 BR HC
Low Demand PCATs
Product Description
PCAT Type Code(s)
0P21 SG86 0P22 SG87 1065 S303
1066 S304 0GA2 SET2 0C18 SU33 0D22 SV38 0GG3 SEZ0 0GF3 SEY1 0DS4 SCX9
1081 S825 1897 SS98
0AE9 SAI6 0AQ7 SAR3 0GT1 SFJ8 1056 S940 0P19 SG84 1465 S406 0FW7 SEQ1 0FW8 SEQ2
PCAT Type Code(s)
Exhibit B: Complete List of Discontinued Products
FSV ORMA FLAT SHARPVIEW 1809
FE05, FE06, FE07, FE08, FE09, FK90, FK93
ACCOLADE TREXA TGEN8 GR HC SFJ6 SFSV AS T&L 1.67 TGEN8 GG HC IHR SFL9 SFBF 1.50 DECENTERED EXEC CLR UN SO P CLR E NA Reg 68
0GS9 SFJ6 0GU4 SFL9 X759 7V98
A153 7D49

07/19/2023

There is a possibility of a strike occurring within UPS, one of our primary shipping carriers. While we remain optimistic that a resolution will be reached, we want to assure you that we are prepared in the event that it isn’t.

Our top priority is to provide you with exceptional service and ensure that your orders are delivered promptly. In light of the potential UPS strike, we have taken proactive steps to secure alternative carrier options, ensuring that we can continue to fulfill your orders without any interruption.

Should the UPS strike take place, we will provide you with detailed instructions and guidance on the alternative shipping options available for your orders.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to your sales representative or our customer service team.

07/05/2023

06/14/2023

Not many services that managed care does not get their hands into. Chemistrie clips are one of those items. Net around 16K-20K in pure profit without charge backs on Chem Clips with only one sale per day! It's easy to do if its demonstrated to the patient, and one of the highest reordered item we provide.

Learn about Eyenavision and the Patented Chemistrie Lens Layering System!

02/09/2023

FYI

The national public health agency is investigating dozens of eye infections linked to permanent vision loss and hospitalizations.

01/17/2023

 Optometric office looking for free standing rotator frame display. Call Holly@812-872-2020

12/17/2022

If you would like an updated PAL identifier follow the link below.

12/17/2022

12/16/2022

FYI

December 16, 2022
Dear Valued Customer,
As 2022 draws to a close, we want to say, “Thank You!” for your business and support!
We are finishing up this year installing upgrades at both our Ohio and Indiana laboratories. In early 2023, we’ll have greatly increased our production capacity with new machinery in both our surfacing and finishing departments. We have many exciting changes coming, below are some highlights:
• We’re rolling out new, more aggressive pricing for our Interstate House Brand Intellego Digital lenses, especially when combined with our ARx Family of Anti-reflective coatings (all customers will be assigned this pricing by default)
• Launching ARxHP Sky, a new high-performance AR with enhanced clarity and a blue reflex color.
• Eliminating confusion by dropping the LiteR/SlimR packages. SlimR will now price as 1.67 High Index and LiteR will now price as 1.0 center polycarbonate on our standard price list.
• After much customer surveying, we’re changing our standard edge from polished to matte finished edge on polycarbonate, trivex and high-index materials effective January 1st. The surveys concluded that most of our customers were for this change, provided we will polish when requested. In most cases the edge is covered by the frame eyewire, and with the vastly improved matte edge finish that comes from our new MEI edging equipment, the negative issues associated with polished edges (primarily lens retention in the frame and added reflections) are eliminated. As standard industry practice is to polish edges on rimless, we will continue to automatically polish both drilled and grooved rimless orders unless otherwise requested. Of course, we’re happy to polish any order that you’d like, just make sure to request a polished edge when ordering.
• We’ve just completed an extensive upgrade to our AR department that allows us to process the latest Crizal products on site including Crizal Rock, Crizal Sapphire HR, Crizal Easy Pro and New Crizal Easy.
• Like the rest of the country, in the past year we’ve continued to see rising costs throughout our business and have made every effort to use our investments to increase efficiency and absorb much of these costs. This year, we’ve updated our format and simplified our pricing to allow for a more logical and easier to read structure. Our updated pricing, which represents an average increase of just over 4%, will be effective Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023. For those of you who are part of a doctor alliance or group, they will provide you with guidance on changes that they are implementing.
Each of us here at Interstate truly appreciates your business and we wish you much success in 2023 and beyond.
Sincerely,

Raymond Art
VP Lab Management
Interstate Lab Group

10/10/2022

Great sunglasses and wrap sunglasses option!

08/22/2022

Varilux S & Crizal Avance UV will be removed from VSP formulary September 13. Varilux S Series and Crizal Avance UV will be removed from Eyemed, Versant and UHC when they update their catalogs later in September as well.

We recommend using Varilux X along with Crizal Rock as replacements going forward.

08/19/2022

8/16/22
Dear Valued Customer,
Our primary goal has always been to provide the highest quality eyewear while still accommodating the requests of your patients.
As you may be aware, some managed care providers have prohibited the use of tint over top of polarized and Transitions lenses due to potential film damage, performance impacts and patient safety concerns.
Regarding Transitions lenses, with the use of tintable hard coats, any subsequent tinting of the lens may adversely affect its performance characteristics, including but not limited to the photochromic performance and color/hue. The same can be true for polarized lenses.
Going forward, beginning Monday, August 22nd, 2022, Interstate Lab Group will no longer be tinting over polarized or Transitions lenses. Any order currently in process will be completed as originally requested.
There are many products available which will provide your patients with a wide variety of polarized and Transitions lens choices. We have provided quick links to our website (below) so you may browse available polarized and Transitions lens options. Our customer service team is always available to help with recommendations as well.

KBCo Polarized Lenses: https://www.interstatelabgroup.com/Uploads/library/Kbco/116542_OTH_KBC_2021_KBCO_Availability.pdf
Transitions Style Colors/Mirrors: https://www.interstatelabgroup.com/Uploads/library/Transitions/Style-Colors-and-Mirrors/Transitions-Style-Guide.pdf
Essilor & Xperio Sunwear Colors: https://www.interstatelabgroup.com/Uploads/library/Essilor-Sunwear-Colors/Essilor-Sunwear-Portfolio.PDF
Younger NuPolar Gradient lenses: https://www.nupolargradient.com/


As always, we greatly appreciate the trust you place in us every time you place an eyewear order. We are here to assist you!

Interstate Lab Group
www.interstatelabgroup.com

In-House AR & Digital processing and premium optical products from Essilor, Varilux, Transitions, Crizal, Shamir and other other ophthalmic lens producers.

08/04/2022

Below is the web site for Armourx safety. Current customers who have Titmus products can select up to 12 frames at N/C for your display and ordering purposes. You will need to contact your rep to submit a request and frame orders. Thanks!

ArmouRx is a leader in safety eyewear, offering safety glasses, frames, and side shields that combine quality, protection and fashion-forward design. Just add prescription lenses!

07/28/2022

FYI, offices who do safety work LT/IO/GK will no longer be supplying Titmus frames. We’ll be working with Armourx.

07/14/2022

Shamir managed care lens category.

06/28/2022

We’ve been instructed that as part of our Managed Care agreements we can no longer do “Billing Only” orders under any of the managed vision care plans including: Eyemed, VSP, UHC and Versant. These claims will now need to be handled by the ECP directly with the managed care provider.

We realize this is a pretty large change to our old processes and has the potential to impact some of our customers that have come to rely on us handling this for them. We will continue to process any billing only orders that are already in process today but beginning tomorrow 6/28/22 we need to follow this new policy. This isn’t just a “LensTech ” change, this is happening with all Essilor labs.

06/17/2022

Thinking about hiring from within but employee needs optician training? Enroll early…

06/14/2022

Varilux® Liberty™ 3.0 Lenses Categorized with VSP on June 15th!
Starting this Wednesday, June 15th Varilux Liberty 3.0 lenses will now be categorized, in Category K, for VSP. This is in addition to their categorization in the Standard categories of EyeMed, Versant, and UHC.

06/01/2022

Transitions Resources for ECPs - Find resources and sales materials to help you and your patients learn more about Transitions.

01/27/2022

Essilor Experts, no cost to you, great exposure for your practice packed with many benefits. Ask your sales rep today.

12/07/2021

Now Greencastle Indiana!