A patient walks into their optometrist’s office with two objectives: First, they want an eye exam.

This will help them determine if they have any vision health concerns. They also want to leave with a new pair of glasses or contact lenses, which can change their look and boost their self-esteem.

Patients can only get a new look if their optometrist has the right equipment. This equipment is needed to cut and shape optical lenses to the right size.

That is why every optometrist must consider what lens-edging machines they might purchase for their office. The lens must fit perfectly into the contact or frame of the glasses, and this is only possible with the right equipment.

We have an important decision to make. We should consider the benefits of some of the best lens-edging machines available today. Let’s look at the Essilor Mr. Blue 2.0 and the Briot Attitude 3 for that purpose.

 

What is the Essilor Mr. Blue 2.0?

A good optometrist wants to use the best equipment and create products their patients need. The Essilor Mr. Blue 2.0 fits that bill.

This machine has some incredible features that make it worthy of consideration for any optometrist’s office. Among the attributes that make it so special are:

All-In-One System

The Essilor Mr. Blue 2.0 accomplishes a huge amount of work all in one package. It can perform the following tasks:

• Tracing
• Centering
• Blocking
• Edging

These tasks used to require different machines or required someone to send them out. But that is no longer true with your shop’s Essilor Mr. Blue 2.0. This speeds up the process of making the lens that the patient needs. It may even allow you to provide it the same day they visit your office.

Smart Bevel Technology

Modern frames are a bit different from the types of frames popularized by previous generations. You need a machine that can bevel those frame types. It should also make precise lenses that fit well. That is another area where the Essilor Mr. Blue 2.0 stands out.

This machine produces lenses that are the best fit for fashionable and even sports frames. No matter what frame your patient needs, the Essilor Mr. Blue 2.0 can make a lens that fits perfectly.

User-Friendly Touchscreen

The Essilor Mr. Blue 2.0 is a powerful piece of technology. However, it does not need to be overly complex. The more user-friendly, the better, and that is exactly what you will enjoy with this machine.

A user-friendly touchscreen makes it easy to enter the commands you need and helps you cut the lens to the exact size you want.

These are just some of the hallmark features of the Essilor Mr. Blue 2.0 that make it such a special machine. Now, let’s also look at the Briot Attitude 3 to see what options exist.

What is the Briot Attitude 3?

Visionix is the leading company that created the Briot Attitude 3. They have many reasons to be proud of this machine. A remarkably powerful and useful lens finishing and cutting system exists. It has become popular in optometrists’ offices across the country.

Just like the Essilor Mr. Blue 2.0, you will want to learn about the great features of the Briot Attitude 3. Here are some of those features:

3-D Tracing

This machine does a complete 3-D scan of the glasses frame that the patient chooses. This allows it to insert the lens perfectly into the selected frame. Those frames can vary in size, shape, and other features. The Briot Attitude 3 can accurately map the exact outlines of the frame to fit the lens, which is important.

Available Drilling Features

Some models of the Briot Attitude 3 have drilling features. These features allow you to create holes in the frame of the selected glasses. This means that the team can complete the work of creating the perfect pair of eyeglasses for the patient much more quickly.

Patients are excited to get their new eyeglasses. The quickest way to help them is to make the glasses right in the eye doctor’s office.

High Volume Capabilities

Nothing is worse than learning you have to wait longer for your eyeglasses. This is because many other pairs come before yours. With the Briot Attitude 3, this isn’t a concern. It can create a high volume of perfectly cut lens rapidly.

This is just the start of what the Briot Attitude 3 can do. It shows why people love this machine. With this machine, optometrists can better help their patients, and patients can get the products they deserve faster than ever.

Essilor Mr Blue 2.0 vs Briot Attitude 3: Features Comparison

You know more about our two leading contenders in the lens-edging machine space. Now, the question that you must ask yourself is how the two compare to one another. A side-by-side comparison of their various features is the best way to understand the value that each machine offers:

Edging Technology

• Essilor Mr. Blue 2.0—This machine uses a hybrid edging method. It can grind and mill simultaneously.
• Briot Attitude 3—This machine is best known for its beveling technology, which it uses as its main edging technology.

Drilling and Grooving

• Essilor Mr. Blue 2.0—This option includes an integrated drilling system as a standard. It can drill the necessary holes to make the various frames your patients request work.
• Briot Attitude 3 – Also features an integrated drilling system so you can get the work done quickly.

Lensometry Integration

• Essilor Mr. Blue 2.0 – Automatic lens detection is a significant selling factor for this device. It is far superior to trying to do this process manually.
• Briot Attitude 3 – This model has lens detection. However, you usually need to enter information manually before using this feature.

User Interface

• Essilor Mr. Blue 2.0 – Enjoy the easy touchscreen with guided controls. These features help you find exactly what you need from the machine. You don’t have to bumble through this process anymore. It is all explained to you step-by-step.
• Briot Attitude 3 – Enjoy the large touchscreen on this device as well. You can also follow through with some guided workflows to learn the steps that you need to take to accomplish what you set out to take care of.

Productivity

• Essilor Mr. Blue 2.0 can make a new lens in about 90 seconds. This is true once you know how to use all the machine’s features and functions.
• When set up correctly, Briot Attitude 3 can make a new lens a bit faster than the Essilor Mr. Blue 2.0.

This head-to-head comparison gives you some idea about each machine’s value. Now, let’s take a quick look at the pros and cons of each device so that you can best determine which one is right for your practice.

Essilor Mr. Blue 2.0: Pros and Cons 

Always weigh the pros and cons of any device before springing for it for your practice. With that in mind, some of the upsides of the Essilor Mr. Blue 2.0 include the following:

• Premier Technology—This device has some of the most superior technology for cutting the perfect lens. Don’t take that reality for granted.
• The advanced technology enables precise cutting of every lens created with this device.
• Compact Storage—You won’t need a lot of space to store this device. It can fit into even the smallest spaces.

Cons of the Essilor Mr. Blue 2.0

A few cons are also present with this device, including:

• Cost – This option is among the most expensive on the market.
• Learning Curve—Learning how to operate this machine might take some time. Give yourself the time and space necessary to figure it out.

Briot Attitude 3: Pros and Cons 

Don’t forget to also look at some of the benefits of the Briot Attitude 3 as well, including:

• 3-D Tracing – Use the built-in 3-D tracing in the Briot Attitude 3 system. This will give you exact cuts for your lens. You will get exactly the type of lens you need.
• Durability – This machine is built to last and can withstand a lot.
• Open Software System – The software in this machine is open-source. Someone can transfer it to other types of software in the future.

Some downsides to consider when looking at the Briot Attitude 3 include:

• Manual Entry Steps – Certain functions must be entered manually rather than performed automatically.
• Complex Interface – Not everyone finds the interface the most straightforward possible. Some complexity exists there that must be considered.

Which Lens-Edging Machine is Right for Your Practice?

So there you have it, a breakdown of some of the top lens-edging machines on the market. Now, you must ask yourself which of these machines makes the most sense for your practice.

Both machines carry a high price tag, so you will want to evaluate your needs carefully before investing. Ultimately, the answer might come down to the amount of time you have available to invest in learning how these machines work. The Essilor Mr. Blue 2.0 machine is easier to use than many other machines. However, the Briot Attitude 3 has special features you might not want to miss.

Step back, ask yourself how much time you can truly put into learning each machine, and decide based on that. Before you know it, you will have a brand new lens-cutting machine in your office ready for use with your patients.