What should I check about an optometry clinic’s diagnostic equipment before buying?

Start with an inventory. Walk the exam rooms with the owner and record every instrument, with make, age and where it is used. Mark which are owned outright, financed or leased, because financed items may come with payments you would take on.

Ask for service and calibration records. Instruments that measure vision or pressure need to be accurate, so a gap in maintenance is more than a cosmetic problem. Ask who does the servicing and how long repairs usually take.

Test what you can. Watch the optometrist use each instrument on a normal appointment, and see whether staff work around any that are slow or unreliable. If the instrument is old, ask whether parts and software updates are still available. Finally, think about the future. Ask which instruments the owner would replace first, and what the clinic might lose while waiting. A technician or equipment adviser can help you judge condition, and your accountant can show how replacement costs would affect cash flow. Look at supporting items too, such as the exam chairs, stands and computers connected to the instruments. They are easy to forget, yet they can cost as much to replace as the main devices and may be tied to software licences that need your lawyer’s attention.

Key takeaways

• List every instrument and mark owned, financed or leased.
• Request service and calibration records for each one.
• Ask which items will need replacing first and plan for it.