What You Need To Know About Used Ophthalmic Equipment

By Lela Perkins


Running a successful eye care practice is a challenge. The landscape of ophthalmic equipment, technology and instrumentation is constantly changing. It may not be possible for you to invest in every new piece of ophthalmic device available in the market since this can be very expensive. A better option is to consider buying used ophthalmic equipment.

A large number of optometrists are realizing the importance of using such devices in their practices. Used machines perform in the same manner as new machines and you can get them at a lower price. Many professionals have the misconception that second hand devices are not that good.

If the second hand instruments you want to buy are inspected by a technician, you can rest assured that they will function very well. Purchasing second hand instruments will help you save money that you can use for other things in your business such as office decoration, hiring staff and other things.

Office decor is important because it displays the level of class and professionalism of your practice. It can boost the confidence of your clients. With more staff in your practice, you can be able to provide your customers with many of the services they need. Opting for cheaper second hand machines allows you to spread your budget to cater for all aspects of your optometry practice.

Basically, there are three options to choose from when purchasing second hand instruments. One of them is buying items that another practice has been using. The main disadvantage of this option is that the instruments do not come with a warranty. The second option is buying refurbished instruments and the third one is buying remanufactured instruments. This applies mostly to high end eye care devices, which are reconditioned and placed back into the market.

In order for devices to be remanufactured, they are dismantled, repaired and rebuilt to meet the original specifications of the manufacturer and then reassembled. The end result is a used machine that is as good as new but is sold at a price that is much lower than that of a new machine. The common devices that undergo the remanufacturing process are those which are more than two years old.

Refurbishing ophthalmic equipment on the other hand is usually done to devices that are less than two years old. It can be performed by an equipment dealer or manufacturer. This process involves cleaning up the devices and replacing any broken components. Refurbished devices do not undergo the same rigorous teardown and rebuild that remanufactured devices undergo and they may therefore appear older than remanufactured devices.

Once you decide whether to source your instruments from a practice or to buy remanufactured or refurbished devices, you should then think about the best place to get them. One good option is buying devices from optometrists who are retiring because it is very likely for you to get high quality second hand instruments in this way.

The other good option is to visit auction sites that offer high quality second hand ophthalmic devices and choose the items you need. When buying instruments for your practice, it is wise to ask for relevant documents for the instruments. It is also wise to ensure that the prices of the used ophthalmic equipment match the quality of the devices.




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