A Guide To Buying Used Ophthalmic Equipment

By Lela Perkins


In order to run a successful optometry practice, there are many challenges that you have to overcome. One of them is dealing with the challenge of buying high quality instruments at affordable prices. Buying new ophthalmic instruments can be very expensive. Fortunately, the option of purchasing used ophthalmic equipment is viable.

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.

Used devices as safe to use as long as you let a technician inspect them first and assure that they are in good working order. By choosing to buy second hand instruments, you can reduce the amount of money you need to spend on ophthalmic equipment. You can use the money you save to invest in other areas of your practice such as hiring employees and office decor. This is very beneficial particularly if you are establishing a practice.

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.

Generally, you can get second hand instruments for your practice in three ways. One of them is purchasing second hand devices from an optometrist. However, these instruments usually do not have a warranty. Another option is to buy remanufactured instruments and the third one is to buy refurbished instruments. These two options mostly apply to high end ophthalmic instruments. They are reconditioned and resold.

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.

After deciding which kind of used instruments to buy, you should then decide where to purchase them. You can opt to buy instruments from professionals who purchase devices from retiring eye care professionals. They usually sell high quality used instruments.

Another option is to search for high quality used ophthalmic equipment from auction websites. As you buy instruments for your eye care practice, it is essential to ask for relevant documentation. It is also essential to ensure that the prices quoted for the instruments are worth it depending on the quality of a device.




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