A system and related method or process for producing a pattern for a lens to be formed and then placed in an opening in an eyeglass frame utilizes a frame tracing apparatus for providing coordinate data characterizing the size and shape of the lens opening in associated one specific eyeglass frame for transmission to a pattern generator having a cutter which moves relative to a blank fixtured at a work station in the generator to cut a pattern having the desired size and shape. A number of frame tracing apparatus are arranged to transmit data to a pattern generator via a central data base computer coupled to the frame tracing apparatus by a communications link whereby the pattern generator subsequently receives the dimensional data corresponding to the specific lens opening traced by the frame tracing apparatus to generate the desired pattern from blanks continuously and automatically fed to the pattern generator.