Rare optometry device is found in two places in Australia and one of them is Port Hedland

A groundbreaking device that has revolutionised optometry is only found in two places in Australia. And one of them is Port Hedland. MEI EasyFit Trend is a glass lens edger that allows lenses to be cut and installed into frames within minutes. Hedland Eye Care is one of the two optometry clinics in the country to have the $200,000 device. Byron Klein, owner and optometrist at Hedland Eye Care, said the “game-changing” device was a real win for the town. “The beauty of it is in a transient and isolated place like Hedland is that we can make specs in 15 minutes,” he said. “It is a real game-changer and a lot of people are quite surprised because they don’t have this technology in the city let alone a place like Port Hedland.” Traditionally lenses are shaped on a grinding wheel off-site from an optometry clinic. In Europe, in-house edging is a more common practice but in Australia it is rare. Mr Klein said they made the decision to get the device because delivery times to Hedland were slow. “Because of the turnaround time it could be two or three weeks before we get lenses in,” he said. “Also we get around 30,000 seafarers per annum in Hedland so if they have lost their specs on the boat we can make it for them right then because they only have limited time on shore.” Hedland Eye Care received a regional economic development grant for the device. While the technology is a game-changer, Mr Klein said he thought it was unlikely it would be coming to other optometrists anytime soon given the high price tag. The device also requires its own worker, which Hedland Eye Care said posed another barrier for other optometrists. Hedland Eye Care began using the technology in June and the only other device is in Tasmania.