At Charl Laäs Optometrists, our friendly team of optical dispensers make sure that you receive great service and expert advice. With our wide selection of optical eyewear at hand, we ensure that every patient leaves the practice with a smile.

We have two dispensing rooms, ensuring every single patient receives individual attention and professional service from one of our dispensers.  In total, both dispensing rooms are stocked with over a thousand spectacle frames, making sure that we can meet all tastes, fashion trends and budget requirements.  Brands that we carry include sophisticated ranges like Silhouette, Blackfin, Elle, Daniel Hechter, Ad Lib and Champion, sporty ranges like Adidas and Ruby Project, fashion connoisseur ranges like La Coste, Converse, Calvin Klein, Woow and Charmant, and specialist children’s ranges, to name but a few.  We also have sport specific sunglasses and for the ultimate in sunglass technology, we stock Maui Jim sunglasses.

Good service, expert advice and a wide selection of optical eyewear ensure that our patients walk out of the practice with a smile.

What we do

The optical dispensers are trained to interpret the prescriptions issued by any optometrists or ophthalmologist. By considering the patient’s prescription, working environment and lifestyle,  they can provide tailored advice for the perfect choice in frame and lens.

We make use of electronic instruments to measure our patient’s unique facial dimensions. These measurements are critical to ensuring that the ophthalmic lenses are correctly designed, glazed and fitted into the chosen frame.

On collection, the final fitting and frame adjustment is done with the patient to ensure the spectacle fits comfortably and accurately. For our first time wearers, advice is given on wear and care of their new spectacles. All patients are reminded to bring the spectacles back for regular servicing and adjustments.

Should the spectacle frame ever get misaligned or broken during its use, the dispensers can assist you with adjustments or repairs where necessary.

Behind the scenes

After the frame and lens selections are completed, and measurements are taken, the ophthalmic lenses are ordered from one of the top international lens manufacturers like Hoya, Zeiss, and Essilor.

All the measurements taken during dispensing, coupled with the frame shape and prescription, is given to the manufacturers via an online order system.  Using sophisticated design software, each progressive ophthalmic lens is then designed based on the patient’s unique requirements.  Once completed the lenses are sent to our practice via an international courier.

When the ordered lenses arrive at our in-house glazing lab, they are thoroughly checked to make sure all the required specifications are met, including prescription, lens type and coatings.

The lenses are marked up according to the measurements taken prior with the patient and with the aid of the Nidek ICE intelligent blocker the lenses are centred and blocked ready for glazing.  The frame shape is also electronically traced into the state of the art Nidek Lex 1000 edger. With all the fitting measurements fed into the glazing software, the lenses are then glazed, guided by the electronic edging software to ensure that each lens will fit perfectly into the frame.

The Nidek Lex 1000 edger allows us to fit standard, semi-rimless (nylor) and full rimless frames on the premises, giving the dispenser complete control of each lens being glazed. Keeping the complete glazing process in-house ensures each ophthalmic lens fit is customized to allow for the best fitting aesthetics coupled with a secure, snug fit in all types of frames, including hand manufactures acetate frames.

Once the glazing process is completed, each lens is safety beveled to ensure no fine chips or cracks will develop when the lenses are mounted in the frame. After final assembly, the spectacle is cleaned in a sonic jewelers bath and send for final checking.

Our quality controller performs a 15 point quality control check to ensure the prescription is accurate, the correct lens material, design type and coating were used, the dispensing measurements are met within a 1.00 mm tolerance margin, the frame is aligned, the hinges are oiled and that the lenses are scratch free.  When everything is perfect, the patient is notified that their spectacles are ready.