Buying Guides
The questions practices ask us before buying or selling ophthalmic equipment, answered in plain language.
Refurbished vs New Ophthalmic Equipment: What Actually Differs
What certified refurbished really means for phaco systems, lasers and OCT, where the savings come from, and when buying new is still the right call.
Read the guideWhat to Check Before Buying a Used Excimer Laser
A practical checklist for pre-owned excimer and femtosecond refractive lasers: shot counts, gas and optics, software licences, room requirements and service support.
Read the guideAlcon Centurion vs Infiniti: What Changed and Which to Buy
How the Alcon Centurion Vision System differs from the Infiniti it replaced, what the changes mean in surgery, and why the Infiniti still makes sense for some practices.
Read the guideHow to Sell Used Ophthalmic Equipment: Valuation, Paperwork and Logistics
How a pre-owned phaco system, laser or OCT is valued, what documents raise the offer, and how de-installation and shipping work when you sell to a dealer.
Read the guideHow to Choose a Dental Chair Unit: A Practice Owner's Guide
Delivery style, ergonomics, plumbing and electrical requirements, what is really included in a quoted price, and the questions to settle before a dental chair unit ships.
Read the guideSLT vs YAG Laser: Which Should Your Practice Buy First?
How SLT and Nd:YAG lasers differ, which procedures each is used for, and when a combination SLT/YAG platform is the better buy for a growing ophthalmology practice.
Read the guideBuying a Used OCT: Zeiss Cirrus 4000 vs 5000 vs AngioPlex
What separates the Zeiss Cirrus OCT generations, what drives the price of a pre-owned OCT, and what to check on software, licences and the review station before you buy.
Read the guideBuying a Used Ophthalmic Surgical Microscope: What to Check
How to evaluate a pre-owned ophthalmic surgical microscope: optics, red reflex illumination, stand type, camera integration and what a proper refurbishment covers.
Read the guide532 nm vs 577 nm Photocoagulation Lasers: How to Choose
How green 532 nm and yellow 577 nm retinal photocoagulation lasers differ, what delivery options and modes to compare, and what to check on a pre-owned unit.
Read the guideWhat a Phaco Service Contract Should Include
What to look for in a phaco or vitrectomy service contract: preventive maintenance, parts, handpieces, response times, loaners and software updates.
Read the guideBuying a Used Femtosecond Laser for LASIK: What to Check
What to verify on a pre-owned refractive femtosecond laser: licensed applications, patient-interface supply, per-procedure fees, mobility and service history.
Read the guideHow to Prepare a Room for an Excimer Laser
Temperature, humidity, air quality, power, gas storage, floor, laser safety and delivery access: the site checklist to complete before an excimer laser arrives.
Read the guideSlit Lamp Buying Guide: What to Compare
How to compare slit lamps: optics and magnification, illumination, filters, imaging, tonometer mounting and ergonomics, plus what to check on a pre-owned unit.
Read the guideCorneal Topographer Buying Guide: What to Compare
How corneal topographers differ by measurement method, what refractive and contact lens practices need from one, and what to check on a pre-owned unit.
Read the guideMicrokeratome vs Femtosecond Laser for LASIK Flaps
Microkeratomes and femtosecond lasers compared for LASIK flaps: capital cost, consumables, workflow, space, and what to check when buying either one used.
Read the guideHow to Choose a Fundus Camera: What to Compare
How to compare fundus cameras: field of view, mydriatic or non-mydriatic, imaging modes, software and records integration, and what to check on a used unit.
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