Prescription glasses, designed and finished in our own lab.
Most eyecare offices take your order and send it to a central lab three states away. We don't. COVE has a finishing lab on-site, so we control the part that actually determines whether your glasses work: how precisely the lens is measured to your eyes and cut to your frame.
That's the difference between glasses you tolerate and glasses you forget you're wearing.
What's in our lab.
We recently installed a new in-house lens edger, which lets our optical team do in this building what most offices send away:
Cut & shape
Cut and shape lenses to a wide range of frames and lens materials.
Groove
Groove semi-rimless frames so the lens seats correctly.
Polish & bevel
Polish and safety-bevel edges so the lens sits clean and comfortable.
Doing this on-site means faster turnaround and, just as important, the ability to fix many fit and finishing problems the same day instead of shipping your glasses back and waiting a week.
How your glasses get made, start to finish.
Four steps, handled by people who know the equipment and know your prescription.
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01
Digital measurement. We measure your eyes to the lens with Optikam digital imaging (more on that below).
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02
Lens selection. We match the lens design and material to your prescription, how you use your eyes, and your plan.
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03
Cutting and edging in-house. Your lenses are cut and shaped to your frame here, on our equipment.
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04
Mounting and fitting. We mount the lenses, check the optics, and fit the finished glasses to your face, adjusting on the spot.
The measurement most offices skip.
Most places measure your glasses the old way: a marker dot on a demo lens and a ruler, capturing a single number. We use Optikam digital measurement, which captures your left and right eyes separately, plus the vertical position of where you actually look through the lens.
That sounds like a small thing. It isn't. In progressives especially, a few millimeters of error puts the reading zone in the wrong place, and that's the single most common reason people say "I could never get used to my progressives." Getting the measurement right is most of the battle, and it's the part we refuse to rush.
Progressive lenses, done right →
Curious what all those frame numbers and parts are called? Explore our interactive frame anatomy guide →
Zeiss and Unity lenses, matched to you.
We build with Zeiss and Unity lenses. We're not locked to a single brand, which means we pick the lens design that fits your prescription, how you spend your day, and what your vision plan covers, rather than going with one default. We'll explain the choice in plain language instead of handing you a menu of tiers.
A note on plans: Unity designs are available for VSP patients. On other plans, including EyeMed, we match you to a Zeiss or other covered design that fits your prescription and your day.
How fast you'll get them.
Same day
Because we finish in-house, a lot of single-vision polycarbonate orders are ready the same day when the lenses are on hand. (We're adding Trivex soon; same-day eligibility depends on your prescription.)
About a week
These are made at an outside lab and then we finish them here, so they take longer (typically about a week). We don't promise next-day progressives, because doing them right takes more than a day.
We'll give you a realistic timeline when you order, not an optimistic one.
What you can't get from mail-order or a chain.
The measurement is done here
On your face, by people who'll see you again. A website can't measure your vertical fit.
Adjustments are immediate
Glasses pinching or sliding? Walk in. We adjust them while you wait, for as long as you own them.
Strong prescriptions get real craftsmanship
High powers, prism, and unusual frames are where in-house finishing and a careful hand matter most.
A real person stands behind the result
If something's off, we make it right. (Our standard lens remake runs six months at no charge if the prescription is off or changes.)
See the frame lines we carry →
Ways we make a second pair easier.
A lot of people need more than one pair: readers and distance, a computer pair, prescription sunglasses, a backup. We make that less painful.
- We discount second pairs. If you have a vision plan we apply whatever second-pair benefit it includes, and your optician will go through the pricing with you. (No vision plan? Ask about COVE Plus, our flat-pricing plan.)
- Buy an annual supply of daily contacts, get a free pair of single-vision lenses (new frame or use one you already own). It's a favorite with students heading back to school who live in their contacts but still need glasses for late nights. We promote it most in the summer, but it's available year-round.
Common questions.
Q.01 Do you really make glasses in-house? +
Yes, for most jobs. We cut, edge, groove, and finish lenses in our own lab. Some lenses (progressives and specialty designs) are made at an outside lab and finished here, and a few frames and vision plans mean the whole job goes out. We tell you which before you order.
Q.02 Can I get glasses the same day? +
Often, for single-vision prescriptions when the lenses are on hand. Progressives and specialty lenses take longer because they're made at an outside lab first. We'll tell you your real timeline when you order.
Q.03 What lens brands do you use? +
Zeiss and Unity, matched to your prescription, your daily needs, and your vision plan. Unity designs are available for VSP patients; on other plans, including EyeMed, we match you to a Zeiss or other covered design.
Q.04 Why are your glasses worth more than online? +
Online can't measure your vertical fit, can't adjust the glasses to your face, and can't fix a problem the same day. The measurement and the fit are most of what makes glasses comfortable, and that's exactly what gets skipped online.
Q.05 What if my new glasses don't feel right? +
Bring them in. We adjust as long as you own them, and our standard lens remake is six months at no charge if the prescription is off or changes.
Q.06 Do you take my insurance? +
We accept VSP and EyeMed on the vision side and verify your specific plan before you order. No vision plan? Ask about COVE Plus.
That's the difference between glasses you tolerate and glasses you forget you're wearing.
Measured, cut, and finished by our own optical team, in New Albany.
Glasses made right, by people you'll see again.
Come in, get measured properly, and pick frames you'll actually want to wear. We'll finish them here.
Related reading: Progressive lenses → · Computer and office lenses → · Kids' glasses → · Glasses and eyewear overview → · Meet our team →