About us

A family business since 1969

Since 1969, Three Rivers Optical has been, first and foremost, a family business. Bill and Madeline Seibert founded the company, and their son Steve grew up alongside the business and now leads it.

Over the years, our optical family has grown to include our many employees, thousands of optometrists, and trusted suppliers.

Together, we've continued to improve our products and services, support one another, and celebrate what we've accomplished. That spirit of loyalty, collaboration, and adventure remains at the heart of Three Rivers Optical.

Building on beginnings

Our story started in a 250-square-foot storeroom in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, where Bill and Madeline ground wholesale, uncut glass lenses. As the business grew, so did our capabilities. We expanded into plastic lenses, added finishing equipment, and continued investing in new ways to serve our customers.

A few milestones along the way

• 1969: Bill and Madeline Seibert establish Three Rivers Optical, beginning with glass lens grinding.
• 1979: We add finishing equipment, allowing us to edge and finish our own ground lenses.
• Following years: We expand into polycarbonate lenses and coatings, then begin offering Transitions photochromic lenses.
• 2003: We were one of the first labs to adopt digital CNC fabrication with a DAC lathe.
• 2004: We introduce freeform manufacturing with Shamir products.
• 2005: Joe Seibert develops TR “O” seg—the first digitally-surfaced, freeform-lined bifocal.
• 2009: We introduce SEEMORE Digital Lenses, our value-oriented lens line priced below branded models.

Built for independent optometrists

Today, Three Rivers Optical is a fully integrated optical laboratory offering a broad selection of lens products, frames, cases, and sundries. Our account managers serve practices throughout much of the Eastern United States, and we work with trusted manufacturers including Shamir, Unity, Zeiss, Younger, Vision Ease, Hilco, and Signet Armorlite.

We’ve continued to invest in technology and expand what we can offer, always with independent optometrists in mind. From digital manufacturing capabilities to value-oriented lens options like SEEMORE Digital Lenses, we bring together quality, choice, and value to help practices meet their patients’ needs.

We’re also one of the few optical laboratories in the United States that meet HIPAA compliance requirements.

A track record we're proud of

Over the years, our work has earned recognition from across the optical industry. We're proud of these milestones, but we're just as proud of the people and partnerships behind them.

• Named Transitions Lab of the Year.
• Recognized by the Optical Lab Association as one of the Top 25 Labs in the country.
• Continually ranked among the Top Ten Independent Laboratories in the nation by Vision Monday.
• Named the 2014 VSP Unity Lab of the Year.
• Awarded the 2014 Innovator of the Year by Optical Lab Products magazine.

We’re also proud to be one of the largest single-location, family-owned optical laboratories in the country.

Family is at the heart of what we do

Our technology has changed. Our capabilities have grown. But the values Bill and Madeline built this company on still guide us today.

Our values revolve around family first. Every day, our owners are in the office, working hard along with the whole company to help build a better tomorrow for our family of customers, vendors, suppliers, and the communities that we serve.

We’re grateful to everyone who has been part of our story, and we look forward to what we’ll continue to accomplish together.

Welcome to our family!