FILE The optician facing artificial intelligence: threat or opportunity?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is now making its mark in many sectors, including the optical sector. From automated diagnostics to virtual fittings, these technologies promise significant advances. But in the face of this digital revolution, should opticians see AI as a threat to their profession or as a lever for innovation? Let's zoom in on the impact of artificial intelligence on the optician profession, between automation, personalization and customer relations.

Artificial Intelligence for optical diagnosis and customer support

One of the most significant advances in artificial intelligence in optics is automated vision analysis . Solutions such as Topcon Chronos or EyeQue VisionCheck allow refraction tests to be performed directly at home, using sophisticated algorithms to measure visual acuity and recommend an appropriate correction.

These tools are particularly useful for people living in isolated areas or who have difficulty getting to a professional. They also offer more regular monitoring, allowing users to quickly detect any changes in their vision and adapt their corrections accordingly.

However, while these technologies promise easier access to vision tests, they also raise questions about the reliability of the results . Indeed, factors such as ambient lighting, the quality of the screen used and the user's experience can influence the accuracy of the measurements. Unlike an examination carried out in store by an optician or ophthalmologist, these solutions do not yet take into account certain more subtle aspects of vision, such as ocular convergence or the perception of contrasts.

In addition, online consulting platforms are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence to guide customers in their choice of frames and lenses. Many have developed chatbots and virtual assistants capable of analyzing facial morphology , lifestyle habits and aesthetic preferences to offer personalized recommendations.

Using machine learning, these tools gradually refine their suggestions based on user feedback, making the shopping experience more seamless and engaging.

However, this automation of customer support raises a major question: the future role of the optician in this process. Human interaction remains essential to identify certain specific needs, such as wearing comfort, adaptation to progressive lenses or precise adjustments of frames.

While AI provides powerful tools to improve accessibility to eye care and optimize the shopping experience, these tools cannot yet completely replace human expertise. In the short term, the optician will retain a key role in the detailed analysis of needs and in the personalized support of customers, in addition to technological advances.

The revolution of virtual fittings and personalization

Thanks to advances in augmented reality and 3D modeling , online eyewear fittings have become a standard in the optical industry. Companies like FittingBox or Lenskart have developed technologies that allow visualizing, in real time and with great precision, the appearance of a frame on a face. These tools are based on facial recognition and photorealistic rendering algorithms, also analyzing the morphology of the customer to adjust the image of the product to their face from different angles.

A powerful lever for online commerce, reducing consumer hesitation and limiting product returns linked to choice errors.

But AI isn't just about aesthetics. It's also playing a key role in lens customization , an area where players like Shamir and Zeiss are pushing the boundaries of traditional optics.

By integrating machine learning algorithms, these companies analyze the lifestyle habits of wearers in order to optimize their lenses according to specific needs. For example, a lens can be designed to limit visual fatigue for people spending long hours in front of a screen or to improve the dynamic vision of athletes. Some models even take into account head and eye movements to adjust the correction in real time, thus offering optimal visual comfort.

Here again, if the customer can choose their lens according to their habits, will the optician become obsolete? The answer probably lies in a kind of hybridization between human expertise and digital tools. Rather than seeing AI as a threat, the optician must exploit it to refine his advice and strengthen the in-store experience.

For example, by using data generated by fitting and customization platforms , it can offer tailor-made adjustments and support its customers in the final choice, taking into account factors that an algorithm cannot perceive, such as personal feelings, gradual adaptation to progressive lenses or even wearing comfort.

In the era of AI, a new role for the optician

Faced with these technological developments, the optician must rethink his role to adapt to an increasingly automated and digitalized sector. Contrary to fears of a gradual disappearance of the profession, artificial intelligence and digital tools could, on the contrary, offer him the opportunity to position himself as an expert in optical solutions , combining the power of algorithms with his know-how and his sense of personalized advice.

One of the first avenues for adaptation lies in optimizing time in store . AI can automate repetitive tasks such as taking eye measurements , suggesting frames based on facial morphology, or analyzing visual needs via interactive questionnaires. By relieving the optician of these technical steps, these solutions allow them to devote themselves fully to high value-added services: precise adjustment of frames , adaptation of progressive lenses , long-term support , or even visual education for patients suffering from specific pathologies.

This development would thus strengthen the human dimension of the profession, with the optician becoming a true high-end advisor in an ultra-personalized universe, even as technology develops.

In addition, the rise of connected optics opens up new perspectives. Devices such as augmented reality lenses, or even smart glasses , herald the arrival of a new generation of optical equipment, integrating advanced functionalities: real-time information display, mixed reality, adaptive filters to improve night vision, or even control of digital devices by eye.

In this context, the optician could specialize in the sale and adaptation of these technologies , thus becoming a key player in their democratization. This transition will of course require continuous training to keep up with the rapid evolution of innovations and guarantee optimal support for customers, at the crossroads of the worlds of traditional optics and new technologies.

In short, the optician of tomorrow will not be replaced by artificial intelligence, but will have to learn to collaborate with it . Far from being a threat, these developments can be a strategic opportunity for those who know how to exploit digital tools to enrich the customer experience, offer an ultra-personalized service and establish themselves as experts in optics 4.0.

The evolution towards a connected and intelligent optic can therefore mean a significant transformation. The challenge is not to compete with AI, but to integrate it as a complementary tool to enrich the customer journey and offer an ever more precise and personalized service.

Artificial intelligence and optics are expected to collaborate rather than oppose each other . While some tasks are automated, human expertise remains irreplaceable, particularly for the fine interpretation of needs and customer relations. Opticians who will be able to integrate these technologies while promoting their know-how will be best placed to adapt to this revolution.

Far from being a threat, AI could well be the lever that redefines the optician profession for years to come.