Block Optic Design, LLC

Introducing our member:

Company History

In 1974, BLOCK began selling ophthalmic equipment and instruments. That same year, the product line was expanded to include a range of furnishings. In 1976, the Compact unit was created in-house under the “Made in Germany” label. From that point on, ophthalmologists and opticians were offered not only the full range of ophthalmic equipment and instruments, but also a complete selection of interior furnishings, such as flooring, curtains, and furniture, as well as sanitary fixtures, tiles, lamps, partition walls, doors, and ceilings. Also of great importance is theproduction of custom furniture tailored to customer specifications,including reception desks, filing cabinets, and sideboards. In addition, the company establishedits own planning and customer service department. With this move, BLOCK became one of the first companies in the optical and ophthalmic industry in West Germany to specialize in the complete furnishing and equipping of ophthalmologists’ and opticians’ practices.

Subsequently, in collaboration with ophthalmologists and opticians,BLOCKdevelopedhigh-quality unitssuch as Innova,CaraT, Vario, Duoline, Titan, Opal, Onyx, Jade, Solitair, and—as the latest addition to an extensive product lineup—the Innovario examination unit. In addition, BLOCK manufactures phoropter rails, phoropter arms, electromotor-driven instrument stands, contact lens tables, visual acuity chart monitors from the Pholaphor family, and the Binophor vision tester; as, it also offers the high-quality examination chairs Zac, CaraT, Innova HT,Opal, Opal N, Vito, and Neo.

The number of employees at the BLOCK Group—including those in sales, administration, and production—has grown significantly since the early years, in line with the company’s development. Engineers, mechatronics specialists, design engineers, programmers, technicians, mechanics, electronics technicians, and carpenters all contribute to ensuring that the entire BLOCK product range is manufactured in-house to the highest quality standards. An in-house development and production department creates technically and ergonomically innovative concepts and oversees their implementation. In-house architects and designers, as well as certified optical engineers and programmers, develop pioneering solutions for the optical industry and ophthalmology.

Milestones

1976: COMPACT
The first BLOCK examination unit
manual, for 2 or 3 large ophthalmic devices

1981: DUOLINE VARIO
First height-adjustable examination unit designed specifically for wheelchair patients

1986: INNOVA
First examination unit with ambient light control and a motorized phoropter rail

1992: INNOVA HT
First patient chair with a special mechanism for rolling away

1996: MSB
First computer-controlled electronics for operating the examination units, with a modem for remote diagnostics

2002: JADE
Swivel-mount examination unit for small examination rooms

2004:^{POLAPHOR®
Polaphor®} Multisight Test Device Monitor

2010: IDEO
Height-Adjustable Swivel Examination Unit

2012: CHAIR MOVER
Wireless mechanical exam chair mover; rolls easily in any direction

2016: BINOPHOR
An innovative insight visual acuity tester

2017:^{MINIPHOR® 2} LIGHT/3D
Assessment of visual performance at close reading distances, both binocular and monocular