Glasses in about an hour: why we brought finishing back in-house

If you need an eye exam, give us a call at 402-493-8266—our team will take it from there. If you already have a valid prescription, just walk in. In many cases, we can have your glasses ready in about an hour.

Get a New Glasses Prescription

Alright—here’s the backstory.

Years ago (back when I was in undergrad), I used to finish glasses in our office at Exclusively Eyecare. That meant I was the guy cutting lenses, fitting them into frames, and making sure they were right before they went out the door. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was satisfying—because patients got their glasses faster, and we controlled the quality.

Then we stopped doing it.

Not because we didn’t like it. Not because it didn’t work. We stepped away because—at the time—outsourcing finishing made more sense. The infrastructure, the equipment, the staffing… it was often more efficient and cost-effective to let the labs handle it. They had scale. They had systems. And honestly, it worked pretty well for a long time.

But things changed. A lot.

What changed (and why we decided to stop playing “hurry up and wait”)

Over the last several years, managed vision care has shifted. Labs have shifted. Staffing has shifted. And the part that matters most is this:

We were losing control over the things that impact patients the most—time, quality, and cost.

Lab delays became more common. Turnaround times stretched out. And in too many cases, it felt like the patient was paying more… to wait longer… for fewer options.

That’s not the direction we want for our community.

So we made a decision: bring finishing back in-house.

Why glasses in an hour (in-house finishing) matters

When we finish glasses in-house, we can control what we can control.

That means we can:

• Cut/edge lenses here

• Mount the lenses into the frame here

• Keep a stock of common lenses here

And when you put those together, something magical happens:

Many single-vision prescriptions can be done in about an hour.

Not every single pair. Not every scenario. But in many cases? Absolutely.

The four big reasons we did this

Here’s why we brought it back:

1) Speed - People are busy. Kids break glasses. Someone sits on their frames. Life happens. If we can get you seeing clearly today, why wouldn’t we?

2) Quality control - We're picky. In the best way. When we finish in-house, we can catch problems early and make sure what you’re getting is something we’re proud of.

3) Reliability - Outside labs aren’t “bad.” But they’re not in our building. When we rely on them, we also rely on shipping, staffing, backlogs, and all the other things we can’t fix from here. Bringing it in-house reduces that vulnerability.

4) Patient experience - It’s hard to feel taken care of when you’re waiting weeks for something you need every day. We want this to feel easier, faster, and less frustrating.

And yes—we can often lower cost and raise value

One of the best parts of bringing finishing back in-house is we can offer better value without playing the “add-on game.”

So we made it simple:

Every frame includes our Everyday Lens Package

All of our frames include:

• Single-vision lenses

• Glare-free (anti-reflective) coating

• Impact-resistant polycarbonate

In other words: you’re not starting with bargain-bin lenses and then paying your way up to something usable. You’re starting with lenses that make sense for real life.

Quick note about managed vision plans

Some managed vision plans require the use of their lab. When that happens, it can affect turnaround time and options—because we have to follow the plan’s rules.

We’ll help you navigate that and we’ll be transparent about what it means. But when we’re able to use our in-house process, that’s when you get the full benefit: speed, control, and consistent quality.

Have a prescription already?

If your prescription is still valid (we follow the expiration date printed on it), we can fill it. We’ll measure you here to make sure everything fits and functions the way it should—because the best lenses in the world don’t help much if they’re not positioned correctly.

Of course, not everyone is single-vision. If you need progressive lenses or bifocals, we can absolutely take care of that too. Those lenses are more customized, so they typically need to be ordered and are considered an upgrade from our Everyday Lens Package—meaning they take a bit longer than our “about an hour” single-vision option.

Ready to do this the easy way?

Need an exam? Call 402-493-8266—our team will take it from there. Already have a valid prescription? Walk in. In many cases, we can have your glasses ready in about an hour.

Get a New Glasses Prescription

We brought finishing back in-house for a simple reason: our patients deserve faster service, better control, and better value—without sacrificing quality.

FAQ

1. Can you really make glasses in an hour? In many cases, yes—especially for single-vision prescriptions using in-stock options.

2. What’s included with your frames? Single-vision lenses with glare-free (anti-reflective) coating in impact-resistant polycarbonate.

3. Can I bring my own prescription? Yes—if it’s still valid (we follow the expiration date printed on the prescription). We’ll measure fit/PD in-office.

4. What can make it take longer than an hour? Higher prescriptions, special options, frame availability, peak times, and some managed vision plans that require an outside lab.

5. Do managed vision plans affect turnaround time? Sometimes. Some plans require use of their lab, which can change timing and available options.