How AI is currently revolutionising the eyewear industry.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising the eyewear industry, empowering opticians and transforming the way customers experience optical retail. From virtual try-ons to AI-driven diagnostics, technology is reshaping everything—from frame selection to personalised recommendations. And the best part? AI isn’t here to replace opticians—it’s here to support them, helping professionals work smarter, faster, and more effectively.
Let’s talk about training. Getting new employees up to speed takes time, especially in a field as technical as optics. There are so many products, so many options—it can take months to feel confident. But with AI in their corner, new hires don’t have to know everything on day one.
Tools like Topology offer interactive training support, visual guides on lens options and can be used by staff to help explain products to patients. Using AI to scan a customer’s face, it’s now possible to show recommend frames along with visualising differences in lens options, all from the convenience of a handheld tablet.
An easy adjustment to the rapidly changing artificial landscape might be integrating some of the available tools into your current environment. Ai can provide real-time guidance, offering instant answers about lenses, frame types, or materials. It’s like a personal mentor who never gets tired, helping new employees learn faster and with less stress.
AI can analyse facial shapes, bone structure, and even skin tones to recommend styles that are more flattering. For instance, machine learning can now analyse years of customer feedback on what frames work best for particular face types, which could inform staff recommendations on choices that fit specific demographics.
At the end of the day, artificial intelligence can help staff make the right choices, suggest the best options, and answer tricky customer questions in real-time. This isn’t just better for the employees—it’s better for the customers. And that makes all the difference.
Virtual try-on technology: The game-changer in eyewear shopping.
One of the most user-friendly applications of AI in the eyewear industry is virtual try-on technology. With the rise of online shopping, customers are increasingly comfortable buying clothes and accessories without ever physically interacting with them, but for glasses—where comfort and fit are paramount—virtual try-ons are especially valuable.
AI-driven augmented reality (AR) applications allow users to try on glasses virtually via smartphone or computer cameras. By mapping a user’s facial features, AI can generate a realistic image of what a particular pair of glasses will look like on the customer.
This technology is particularly helpful for people who want to experiment with different looks. Unlike traditional try-ons, where the options are limited to the frames in stock, eyewear brands like Jins offer online virtual try-on systems enabling customers to find frames that fit their face best, as recommended by the system’s AI, all before they have even visited the store.
Delker Optik, an eyewear and optical store with 30 branches across Germany has effectively used virtual try-on campaigns to increase in-store traffic and create state-of-the-art video based experiences. Being able to personalise their retail experience has been a huge driver for the business growth with a 156% increase in online traffic with AI-driven virtual try-on tools. Software providers such as Luna and FittingBox can customise online and in-store solutions, helping you to find the perfect mix for your business.
"Our landing pages with Luna's virtual try-on are among our most trafficked pages."
- Axel DelkerCo-CEO of Delker Optik
AI-driven virtual try-ons open up nearly limitless choices, allowing customers to “try” hundreds of styles in a fraction of the time it would take in-store. Bird Eyewear recently enjoyed success in helping to launch an in-store virtual-try-on in the US using a custom-built system that integrates into an online catalogue of thousands of frames.
For the increasingly digital-first consumer, virtual try-on is a game-changer, transforming eyewear shopping into a more efficient, interactive, and enjoyable experience.
Data-driven diagnostics: How AI enhances eye care.
Providing sophisticated diagnostic and data analysis sounds like the perfect job for a robot, should we embrace it? AI algorithms can help opticians in tasks such as diagnosing eye conditions and offering personalised recommendations based on a user’s unique needs.
One significant area of advancement, assisted by artificial intelligence is the eye test. AI-based vision tests such as EyeArt can run on smartphones or other digital devices, helping opticians remotely assess eyesight with precision. These tools are also invaluable in underserved areas, where access to in-person eye exams is limited. AI-powered tools, such as those offered by the startup Opternative (now Visibly), provide online vision tests that can quickly recommend prescription changes or alert users to seek in-person care.
While AI’s potential to disrupt the status quo can be intimidating, ignoring this emerging technology would be naive—it’s certainly here to stay. Embracing new solutions or at least showcasing the options available could be a strategic move to attract new customers, especially in a market increasingly dominated by big players.
Further data-driven analysis is refining how opticians match frames to individual wearers. With AI algorithms, an optician could access a customer’s purchasing history, eye health data, and even behavioral insights to recommend frames that meet aesthetic preferences and lifestyle needs. The same principles apply to progressive lenses, which can be optimised for a wearer’s unique requirements by analysing how they interact with their environment, creating an ideal “optical fit.” While this can be done through manual analysis, speeding up time-intensive processes could enable more patients to be seen, making it a positive step forward.
AI can also help opticians manage supply chains and predict trends, giving them insight into what frames are most popular in their area and allowing them to order stock accordingly. This kind of strategic advantage not only saves money but also means that opticians are more likely to have the styles their customers want when they walk in the door.
Balancing personalisation with privacy: Ethical challenges in AI adoption.
While the benefits of AI in eyewear are promising, they do come with challenges. Privacy is a central issue, especially in light of the sensitive personal data AI requires to function effectively. Companies must navigate the ethical challenges surrounding data security and ensure transparent practices that safeguard customer privacy.
Moreover, there is the question of access. While large, tech-forward eyewear brands can afford to invest in AI, smaller businesses and independent opticians may find it challenging to keep pace with the technology. Ensuring equitable access to AI-driven tools could be essential to preventing a technology divide in the industry.
The push towards personalisation also raises questions about over-reliance on algorithms in an industry traditionally built on human expertise and relationships. Since AI is software-based, it cannot physically perform hands-on tasks like using a biomicroscope, fitting or troubleshooting spectacles and contact lenses, or calibrating optical devices.
There is something irreplaceable about the human touch in optometry—an optician’s trained eye and empathetic approach to patient care can’t easily be replicated by AI. A significant challenge for the industry will be striking a balance where AI augments, rather than replaces, the trusted role of the optician.
The future of optical retail: AI and human collaboration.
The eyewear industry’s adoption of AI is still in its early stages, but the momentum is building. Smart glasses that track eye movements are already in development and it won’t be long before they include recommended exercises to reduce strain, alert users to potential eye health issues, or even adjust vision in real time to compensate for changing lighting conditions.
However, AI isn’t here to take over. It’s here to help. It’s about making your job easier, not harder. It’s about letting you focus on what you do best—connecting with people, understanding their needs, and helping them find the perfect solution.
The optical industry is changing, yes, but it’s not leaving you behind. In fact, it’s giving you more power than ever. AI can take care of the details so you can do what only humans can do—build trust, offer empathy, and make customers feel valued.
So here’s the question: Are you ready to embrace the future?
Because the future of optical retail isn’t about machines replacing people. It’s about machines making people better. Faster. Smarter. And when you put that kind of power in your hands? There’s no limit to what you can do.
Would you like to discover more about how AI can transform your optical business—we have plenty of thoughts and ideas, book a call with us today!
