Dental Loupes

[DrTacoElf]

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Hey everyone,

I'm sure I will be buying loupes sometime in the near future so I become accustomed to them early becase I know I will eventually end up using them. Anyway I was wondering if there was such as thing as prescription loupes. I just got an eye exam, and although I'm 20/20 a lens of -.25 on my left eye and -.50 on my right eye makes things more detailed and crisp. Anyway I was wondering how much more (about) it would be to have a prescription added to basic loupes -- or do you think contacts would be a better option here costwise and usewise. (I've never worn contacts or glasses...).

I figured if i'm spending $1000 or more it might be nice to have the best vision possible. I'm looking into 2.5X expanded field or possibly 3.5X expanded field.

 

[EightDaysAWeek]

Before buying loupes on your own, make sure your school doesn't make you purchase loupes through a company they selected for you. Some schools do this.

Also, adding a prescription to your loupes is usually free 😀. The big companies (Orascoptic, SurgiTel) are able to add it in when you give them your prescription.

 

[DrTacoElf]

Before buying loupes on your own, make sure your school doesn't make you purchase loupes through a company they selected for you. Some schools do this.

Also, adding a prescription to your loupes is usually free 😀. The big companies (Orascoptic, SurgiTel) are able to add it in when you give them your prescription.

Oh i'm definitely not going to buy on my own before school, when I said I was buying soon I meant like once in school. So for through the lens type does the prescription also come into play when you are looking through the telescopes? or its it only when you look through the lens only?

Thanks 🙂

 

[DrTacoElf]

One more question too. Is there any downside to expanded field other than cost (i.e extra weight, chromatic abberation, image distortion?).

For instance the field of 3.5X expanded view basically seems to match the field of view of standard 2.5X...

 

[unlvdmd]

3.5 is usually for endo. I wouldn't do it. 2.5 is good enough. In fact, people who usually get that high regret it.

 

[dr_benj]

The 3 major companies (orascoptic, DFV, surgitel) all offer prescription lenses for free. The prescription is in both the glasses lens and the magnifier's lens. I have DFV and they will allow you to change the prescription once for free. After that you have to pay for it. I would definitely not wait until you get to the clinics to buy them. Get them as soon as you start doing any operative or pros work in pre-clinic. You might as well start doing quality work right away in pre-clinic. The wide field are very nice but the downsides are they are more expensive (by about $600-700) and they are much heavier and longer).
The flip up loupes have a slightly smaller field of view and can come out of calibration more easily. They are also heavier. Until you actually try a pair on you will not realize how important it is for your loupes to be light.

Hope this helps.

 

[lmgonza2]

Hey gang,

I have an eye appointment this Friday and figured I would get a copy of my Rx so I'll have my Rx ready when I order my loupes.

What other information do they need from me? what is it they always say they'll need to measure?

Working distance?
focal length?
focal distance?

I figured I'd get my doc to check that out for me too, while i was getting my eye exam done.

any help would be appreciated!!

 

[dr_benj]

All they need is the working distance which is just the distance from your eye to where your hands are when you are working on a patient (typodont), and the distance between your pupils. The sales rep will measure both of these for you. The only thing you need from your doc is the Rx.

 

[GoGatorsDMD]

When you are deciding on which working length to get, remember that you can easily move the patient a little closer to your eyes, but it is much harder to back yourself away.

 

[SPBest]

Hey everyone,

I'm sure I will be buying loupes sometime in the near future so I become accustomed to them early becase I know I will eventually end up using them. Anyway I was wondering if there was such as thing as prescription loupes. I just got an eye exam, and although I'm 20/20 a lens of -.25 on my left eye and -.50 on my right eye makes things more detailed and crisp. Anyway I was wondering how much more (about) it would be to have a prescription added to basic loupes -- or do you think contacts would be a better option here costwise and usewise. (I've never worn contacts or glasses...).

I figured if i'm spending $1000 or more it might be nice to have the best vision possible. I'm looking into 2.5X expanded field or possibly 3.5X expanded field.

I wear contacts, if not I can't read and exit sign at 30 feet. But I wouldn't worry about putting a Rx in your loupes. But that is because I prefer to wear contacts over glasses. With your vision as good as it is you don't need the Rx in a clinic setting.

Also I'd go for the 2.5 The 3.5 is pretty extreme for most things other that endo.

 

[nyu2007gal]

I recently got a pair from Orascoptic and love them 😀 They are not the hi resolution pair but they do a wonderful job and i love that you can see everything - no bending your back, no strain in your shoulders - just plain awesome. The loupes are built into the lenses and i really enjoy that - lighter and easier to use than if they are the flip up. Very comfortable. Would recommend of course that you wait until school starts to purchase - they have student discounts, and dental conventions and days to find out more information than searching on your own.
I have a few friends that ordered from Sandy Grendel - a company in Switzerland who love them and Designs for vision also has good selection. One of my friends is even getting an Oakley frame! Definitely do some shopping and consideration before buying.
I am lucky *cross fingers* and haven't needed prescription glasses - but those are usually included in the price. Like others have said, you need to have measurements done if you do need prescription- but sometimes the representatives will do that for you when you are purchasing the loupes instead of you having to go to outside sources like Lens Crafters or the ophthalmologist's office. Depends on the company. G'luck and happy shopping!

 

[speter33]

Where do you guys buy your loupes? I've just begun looking to buy a pair and haven't come up with any great places.

 

[adamlc18]

sales reps should come to your school

 

[Zurik5]

We're having a battle of the loupes tommorow, all four companies are coming to try and out do one another. Should be interesting.

 

[aceking]

can you get them custumized?? for small or big head?

 

[adamlc18]

We're having a battle of the loupes tommorow, all four companies are coming to try and out do one another. Should be interesting.

Hey Zurick,

Can you post the prices they quote you? I am interested to see if they charge each dental school the same.

 

[TucsonDDS]

So last week I found a pair of loupes at the hospital that I work at. I called the doc whos name was on them and she said that she lost them 6 years ago. She said that if I can put them to good use I can go ahead and keep them. Yeah me. I can see great through them and there isn't a scratch on them. I will just feel a little funny that someone elses name is carved on to the frame.


BTW my post count just hit 100!!!

 

[Jediwendell]

If you get 3.5, get expanded field. It is awesome.

 

[Zurik5]

Hey Zurick,

Can you post the prices they quote you? I am interested to see if they charge each dental school the same.

They do.

 

[mlonier]

Price Quote for Students

Orascoptic:
Hi-Res 2.8 $775
Dim 3 2.8 $675

DFV:
2.5 $850

SurgiTel:
2.5 $645

 

[Jone]

two things to keep in mind:

orascoptic will hit you with a huge shipping charge and tax, so they are really priced almost equal to DFV.

and, many users on DT have reported the lenses of their Surgitel popping out due to loose screws.

just thought i'd pass that along...

Price Quote for Students

Orascoptic:
Hi-Res 2.8 $775
Dim 3 2.8 $675

DFV:
2.5 $850

SurgiTel:
2.5 $645

 

[12YearOldKid]

Another thing they won't tell you is that 2.5 doesn't necessarily mean the same thing from one company to another. I don't understand it completely, but it has something to do with how they define the magnification. If you have the reps there simultaneously compare a DFV 2.5 with 2.5x loupes from the other companies; you will see that the DFV 2.5 are closer to the other companies 3.5x. Seems weird to me, but it is indisputable when you compare them side by side.

I personally think my DFV 2.5x are plenty for operative, but I wouldn't mind having 3.5x (maybe even more) for endo if I found a fantastic deal. I mean, the endo professors and residents all use scopes at 10x or more, but the students are expected to find all the canals with 2.5 or the naked eye? 😕

 

[ToothMonkey]

I noticed on DFV's website that you can have part of the lens modified for protection from curing lights. Seems pretty gimmicky to me. Or would that actually be of some use in clinic?

 

[ItsGavinC]

They do.

Actually, I don't think that they do. They may charge the schools in each region the same price, but it appears the prices vary a bit.