The company responded, acknowledged the issue and revised its policy. That chapter is closed.

But the conversation it started is worth continuing. Because the question at the heart of it applies to every optical retailer in India, regardless of size or scale.

How do you build a professional retail environment that respects individual identity and consistently delivers a great consumer experience?

That is what this article addresses.

1. Why Appearance Policy Matters in Optical Retail

Optical retail is not like most retail categories.

It sits at the intersection of fashion and healthcare. Consumers walk in for a clinical consultation and leave with a product they wear on their face every day.

Trust is built quickly or not at all. Within minutes of entering a store, a patient is forming a judgement. Is this person knowledgeable/trustworthy? Do I feel comfortable here?

Everything in the environment contributes to that judgement. The store layout. The greeting. The appearance and demeanour of the person in front of them.

Appearance policy in optical retail is therefore not a minor administrative matter. It directly shapes the consumer experience. Getting it wrong has consequences that extend well beyond the internal team.

2. The Problem with Over-Prescriptive Policies

When a dress code attempts to regulate every visible detail of an employee’s appearance, two things happen.

First, inconsistencies surface. If the policy treats different groups differently, even unintentionally, it is no longer about professionalism. That distinction carries both ethical and legal weight.

Second, over-prescription creates fragility. The more detailed a policy, the more opportunities it creates for unintended bias to appear.

HR professionals consistently advise that simpler, outcome-focused dress codes result in fewer complaints and stronger employee engagement. The more generalised the guideline, the less room there is for bias, and the easier it is to apply fairly across a diverse team.

3. What a Good Dress Code Actually Looks Like

Professional standards in optical retail come down to a small number of clear principles. None of them requires regulating how an employee expresses their cultural or personal identity.

Standards That Matter

• Uniform or branded attire kept clean, pressed and well-fitted
• Personal grooming is maintained to a high standard at all times
• Footwear is clean, closed-toe and appropriate for a clinical retail setting
• Jewellery is minimal and unobtrusive to work tasks
• Overall presentation consistent with the brand’s professional image

These apply equally to every team member. They focus on cleanliness, consistency and brand alignment. They say nothing about personal belief or cultural background.

What Does Not Belong in a Dress Code

• Rules that apply differently to different cultural or faith-based groups
• Restrictions on any form of personal or religious expression
• Requirements that ask employees to suppress visible markers of their identity

A simple test: does this rule apply equally to everyone on the team, regardless of their background? If not, it needs to be rewritten.

The Two-Zone Framework for Optical Retail Dress Codes

4. Identity as a Business Asset

There is a clear business case for inclusive dress codes that goes beyond ethics.

India is one of the most culturally diverse retail markets in the world. A team that reflects that diversity builds faster trust with a broader consumer base.

When a consumer walks in and is served by someone whose background or culture they recognise, there is an immediate moment of comfort. That comfort reduces hesitation, builds rapport and moves the clinical conversation forward.

Brand cohesion comes from consistent service quality, a clean environment and knowledgeable staff. It does not depend on suppressing the identity of the people delivering it.

5. Consumer Experience: Where It Is Really Won or Lost

A dress code is the most visible element of retail professionalism. But the consumer experience is shaped by far more than how the team looks.

Optical retail involves a level of clinical trust that most retail categories do not. A patient is sharing their vision concerns and relying on a professional’s recommendation. Every interaction either builds or erodes that trust.

The Behaviours That Define the Experience

Before the consultation:

• Greet every customer within 30 seconds of entry. Do not wait for them to approach the counter.
• Acknowledge walk-ins even when the store is busy. A brief nod or “I’ll be with you shortly” removes uncertainty.
• Ensure the store is clean, well-lit and organised. The physical environment communicates quality before a word is spoken.

During the consultation:

• Listen fully before recommending. Understand what the patient actually needs, not what is easiest to sell.
• Explain findings and recommendations in plain language. Avoid jargon that creates distance.
• Never make a consumer feel judged for their budget. Present options across price points without signalling preference based on spend.
• For progressive lens consultations, always conduct a lifestyle profile before selecting a lens design. The consultation itself is part of the experience.

After the sale:

• For first-time progressive lens wearers, counsel on adaptation before they leave. Set realistic expectations clearly.
• Follow up within two weeks of dispensing. A brief call or message asking about comfort and fit makes a lasting impression.
• Handle complaints calmly and with a genuine intent to resolve. A well-handled complaint builds more loyalty than a smooth sale.

Closing Perspective

The conversation sparked by the Lenskart episode was uncomfortable for the industry. It was also necessary.

How a retail brand treats its employees is visible to the consumers they serve. A policy that asks employees to conform at the cost of their identity sends a signal. That signal is felt both inside and outside the organisation.

The middle ground is straightforward. Define the professional standard clearly. Leave identity decisions to your people. Judge the output by one measure: did the consumer leave better served than when they arrived?

If the answer is yes, the policy is working.

References and Sources

1. Opindia. Lenskart CEO Admits Outdated Style Guide Flagged Tilak and Bindi but Permitted Hijab. April 2026. https://www.opindia.com/2026/04/lenskart-ceo-admits-outdated-style-guide-flagged-tilak-bindi-but-permitted-hijab-what-peyush-bansal-said-and-what-the-feb-2026-document-reveals/
2. Business Today. Lenskart CEO Peyush Bansal Clarifies as Document on Dress Code Policy Goes Viral. April 2026. https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/trends/story/not-our-current-guidelines-lenskart-ceo-peyush-bansal-clarifies-as-document-on-dress-code-policy-goes-viral-526070-2026-04-16
3. SHRM. The Role of Dress Codes in Creating an Inclusive Work Environment. March 2025. https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/role-of-dress-codes-creating-inclusive-work-environment
4. SHRM. Shifting Trends Spotlight Need for Alignment of Dress Code and Culture. April 2025. https://www.shrm.org/enterprise-solutions/insights/shifting-trends-spotlight-need-alignment-of-dress-code
5. BambooHR. How to Create an Inclusive Workplace Dress Code Policy. 2025. https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/workplace-dress-code-policy
6. Built In. Dress Code Policy: What It Is, How to Make One. 2025. https://builtin.com/company-culture/dress-code-policy
7. PayEscape. Workplace Dress Code: Diversity, Inclusion and Professional Standards. 2025. https://www.payescape.com/blog/workplace-dress-code
8. Indeed. What Is a Dress Code Policy? 2025. https://www.indeed.com/hire/c/info/dress-code-policy

The post The Lenskart Dress Code Controversy: What It Tells Us About Balanced Optical Retail Etiquette appeared first on Eyetrraction.

Yet the headline growth numbers tell only part of the story. Beneath the market projections lies a more nuanced picture of organised players squeezing independent retailers, of category gaps that remain wide open, of lens and contact lens brands with significant awareness deficits, and of an Indian consumer who, despite growing aspirations, still does not fully understand or invest in their own vision health.

This analysis looks beyond the data. It examines what is actually happening on the ground in Indian optics in 2026, where the genuine opportunities lie, and what brands and industry players need to understand to compete effectively in this market.

1. Market Size and Growth: The Numbers in Context

India’s overall eyewear market was valued at USD 10.4 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 19.6 billion by 2033, representing a compound annual growth rate of approximately 6.94%.

Across sub-segments, growth projections are even more striking. The luxury eyewear segment is growing at nearly 12% annually. Smart eyewear, still nascent in India, is projected to grow at over 31% annually through 2033, off a small base but a clear signal of where younger urban consumers are heading.

India Eyewear Market: Key Segments at a Glance (2024)

These numbers are meaningful. But they require context.

India’s eyewear market growth is driven by genuine structural demand, not discretionary fashion spending. The primary engine is uncorrected refractive error.

India has one of the largest populations of people with untreated vision impairment in the world. Research published in PLOS One covering over 286,000 children found an overall myopia prevalence of 7.5% in the 5 to 15-year-old age group across four decades of data. More recent modelling projects predict that myopia prevalence in urban Indian children will reach nearly 32% by 2030.

Every percentage point of that projection represents a new eyewear consumer. The demand pipeline is not manufactured. It is demographic and clinical.

2. The Organised vs. Unorganised Divide: What the Data Misses

Market research reports present India’s eyewear retail as a growth story across channels. The ground reality is more complicated.

The entry and aggressive expansion of digitally-native organised players such as Lenskart, which now operates over 2,000 stores and added more than 450 locations in FY25 alone, has fundamentally altered the competitive landscape for independent optical retailers.

The Unorganised Market: Smaller Slice, Different Consumer

Independent and small optical retailers in India today largely serve a specific consumer profile: patients above 35 years of age who value personalised dispensing, a longstanding optician relationship, after-sales service, and quality products. It is not only more profitable but their only choice to survive against a growing, organised market.

Having said that, it is as much a gap for independent retailers as it is an opportunity for premium brands and spectacle lenses, who can penetrate the unorganised Indian eyewear market.

These consumers are not the primary target of organised chains, especially Lenskart – targeting a younger audience who want fast fashion that’s affordable.

This is a defensible position, but it is a narrowing one. As each generation of younger consumers is acquired by organised retail, the pipeline feeding independent stores becomes thinner.

There are other retail chains like Titan Eye and Specsmakers, who stand in the middle ground, only squeezing the pipeline further.

Contact lens and sunglass sales have largely migrated away from independent optical stores. E-commerce platforms enable straightforward reordering of monthly and daily disposable lenses without professional consultation. Fast fashion retail has commoditised non-prescription sunglasses entirely – consumers now buy them as fashion accessories on Myntra, Ajio, and Amazon, bypassing optical stores altogether.

The consequence is a self-reinforcing cycle: reduced footfall leads to reduced stock range, which further limits consumer choice at independent stores, which pushes more consumers to online alternatives.

Prescription Sunglasses: The Exception

One category where independent optical stores retain a meaningful position is prescription sunglasses. The clinical requirement for accurate lens prescription keeps this segment within the professional channel. However, reduced sunglasses stock overall at independent stores limits the range available to consumers who do seek prescription options – a gap that represents both a problem and an opportunity.

The Organised Market: Growth Driven by Footfall, Not Necessarily Profit

Organised players dominate consumer mindshare through sustained marketing investment, celebrity endorsements, and aggressive store expansion. Their primary demographic is young consumers aged 15 to 30 who seek trendy, affordable eyewear.

After-sales service and clinical dispensing quality are not the competitive differentiators in this segment – price and accessibility are. Progressive lens dispensing complaints, in particular, continue to be more frequently directed at them than at independent opticians with specialist dispensing expertise.

Beyond Lenskart and Titan, India has several established optical retail chains — Lawrence and Mayo, Himalaya Optical, GKB Opticals, Specsmakers, and others — some carrying decades of legacy and strong regional consumer bases. These players have the product range, the dispensing expertise, and the brand equity to compete effectively. The gap many of them face is digital presence and marketing investment beyond social media.

3. Category Analysis: Underpenetrated India

Ophthalmic Lenses: A Brand Awareness Problem

The ophthalmic lens segment in India is dominated by a small number of international players. Essilor & Zeiss have the strongest brand recognition, built over decades of market presence. Hoya has entered the Indian market with a competitive product range, but has not achieved proportionate brand awareness despite strong lens quality.

Other major international lens manufacturers like Nikon Lenswear and Rodenstock have limited consumer-facing visibility in India. Most consumers purchase lenses on the basis of retailer recommendation rather than brand preference. This creates significant dependency on the optician channel and limits the ability of lens brands to build direct consumer demand.

The opportunity for lens manufacturers is substantial: consumer education and demand generation remain almost entirely undeveloped in India. Unlike markets in Europe or North America, where patients ask for specific lens brands by name, the Indian consumer largely defers entirely to whoever is dispensing. The brand that invests in consumer education first will build a durable advantage.

Contact Lenses: Distribution Is Not Demand

Bausch and Lomb, CooperVision, and Acuvue (Johnson and Johnson Vision) all have distribution presence in India. None of them is actively generating consumer demand at scale.

Contact lens penetration in India remains significantly below its potential. Awareness of daily disposable lens technology, silicone hydrogel materials, and toric lens options for astigmatic patients is low among Indian consumers outside metropolitan areas. The clinical channel – optometrists and opticians – is the primary route to trial and adoption, yet lens brands are not investing in professional education and advocacy at the level the market opportunity warrants.

The comparison with FMCG categories is instructive. Shampoo brands, nutritional supplements, and skincare companies invest heavily in both consumer advertising and professional recommendation channels in India. Contact lens brands operate as if distribution alone generates sales. It does not.

Frames: International Premium Brands Have Not Arrived

India’s frame market is growing, but the premium end of the international market remains largely unrepresented. Numerous European and American premium eyewear brands that perform strongly in Western markets have not entered India. The combination of import duties, distribution complexity, and uncertainty about premium consumer appetite has historically deterred entry.

Both assumptions are increasingly worth revisiting. India’s luxury goods market is growing rapidly. Consumers in metropolitan markets have demonstrated a clear willingness to pay for premium branded products across fashion categories. The eyewear market has not yet seen the equivalent of what happened in luxury watches, handbags, or footwear – but the consumer base that would support it is forming.

There is also a strong concurrent opportunity in the other direction: Indian-made premium eyewear. The Make in India narrative has created genuine consumer appetite for quality homegrown brands across categories. A well-positioned Indian eyewear brand, combining quality manufacturing, strong design, and credible professional endorsement, has a significant first-mover opportunity in the frame market.

Sunglasses: Penetrated at Fashion, Underpenetrated at Quality

The sunglasses market in India is active at the fashion and affordable end. Ray-Ban remains the only international sunglasses brand with genuine mass-market penetration and brand recognition. Other premium international brands like Maui Jim, Oakley at the prescription level, and Persol have limited consumer awareness outside major metros.

The clinical dimension of sunglasses – UV 400 protection, polarisation, photochromic options for outdoor use- is almost absent from consumer marketing in India. Consumers largely buy sunglasses on aesthetics and price. This represents a significant education and premiumisation opportunity for brands willing to invest in that conversation.

4. The Consumer Knowledge Gap: The Most Significant Structural Challenge

Every category analysis above returns to the same underlying issue: the Indian eyewear consumer does not yet understand the value of what they are buying.

Unlike healthcare markets in Europe or North America, where patients arrive with baseline knowledge of product categories and brand options, the Indian optical consumer largely relies on whoever is in front of them at the point of sale. This makes the optician’s recommendation extremely powerful, but it also means that when the optician is replaced by a chain store sales assistant optimising for transaction speed, clinical quality is the first casualty.

The Lens Quality Problem

The most consistent expression of this knowledge gap is the Indian consumer’s reluctance to invest in quality spectacle lenses. Frames are a visible, social purchase. Lenses are invisible and therefore undervalued.

Consumers routinely spend disproportionately on frames while selecting the cheapest available lens option. The clinical reality is that the lens is doing the optical work, and that lens quality directly determines visual clarity, comfort, and long-term eye health outcomes, which is not understood by the majority of Indian eyewear consumers.

This is not a new problem. It is a generational one. When high-quality plastic lenses were introduced in India in the early 2000s to replace glass lenses, adoption took time and required active dispensing advocacy. The transition happened because opticians communicated the safety and quality benefits clearly, and the price differential was manageable. The same model applies to higher-index lenses, anti-reflective coatings, and progressive designs today.

Children’s Eyewear: Where the Knowledge Gap Has the Highest Stakes

The knowledge gap is most consequential in children’s eyewear. Indian parents, when purchasing spectacles for children, overwhelmingly optimise for price. The rationale is understandable: children break frames, outgrow prescriptions quickly, and resist wearing glasses. Why invest in quality when the glasses may not last six months?

The clinical answer is unambiguous. A child’s visual system is in active development through their early teens. The quality of optical correction during this period directly affects visual development outcomes. A child wearing a poorly made lens with significant optical aberration or incorrect prescription is not just seeing badly today – they may be developing compensatory visual habits that affect them long-term.

No brand in the Indian market is currently making this case to parents. It is an entirely open conversation.

The Role of Rising Cost of Living

It would be incomplete to discuss consumer spending on eyewear without acknowledging the macroeconomic context. Global uncertainty, inflationary pressures, and a rising cost of living across Indian urban centres are making consumers more cautious with discretionary spending. Eyewear, though a clinical necessity, is perceived and budgeted as a discretionary purchase by most Indian consumers.

This is the central challenge and the central opportunity simultaneously. When consumers understand that spectacle lenses are not a fashion accessory but a medical device that determines how clearly they experience the world, the conversation about value changes. Budget conversations do not disappear, but they are reframed around informed choice rather than defaulting to the cheapest option.

5. What Independent Opticians and Retail Chains Must Do Differently

For Independent Opticians: Visibility, Retention, and Premium Positioning

The independent optical retailer’s competitive advantage is clinical expertise and personalised service. The challenge is that this advantage is invisible to consumers who never walk through the door.

Regional digital marketing, such as Google Business Profile optimisation, local SEO, and WhatsApp-based customer retention, is the most accessible route to visibility for independent opticians. Most small opticians have no digital presence beyond a basic social media page, if that.

Within the store, the strategy should focus on specialisation. Premium dispensing – progressive lens expertise, myopia management for children, occupational lens solutions commanding margins that commodity eyewear cannot. The independent optician who becomes known in their community as the specialist for complex dispensing needs is not competing with Lenskart. They are serving a different market entirely.

For Established Optical Chains: Digital Visibility Is the Gap

Optical chains with decades of legacy, premium product ranges, and strong dispensing teams are competing with one hand tied behind their back when their digital presence is limited to periodic social media posts.

Brands like Lawrence and Mayo, Dayal Opticals, and more have the credibility, the range, and the expertise to compete directly with organised retail for consumers who prioritise quality and professional service. What they often lack is the digital discoverability that makes their offer visible to consumers researching eyewear online before visiting a store.

Investing in SEO-optimised websites, educational content marketing, and online appointment booking systems is not a luxury for these brands. It is the difference between capturing and losing the next generation of quality-conscious eyewear consumers.

Author’s Perspective: What Twenty Years in Indian Optics Has Taught Me?

The following reflects my personal observations from over two decades working within the Indian optical industry.

India’s eyewear market data looks impressive on the surface. From the inside, the picture is more complicated and, in some ways, more urgent.

What concerns me most is not the competition between organised and unorganised retail. Competition is healthy. What concerns me is the consumer knowledge gap that underlies almost every structural problem in Indian optics.

My father started his optical business in the early 2000s, when glass lenses were still the norm in India. I watched him, conversation by conversation, convince customers to switch to fibre lenses – explaining the safety benefit, the weight advantage, the optical quality. That transition happened because practitioners took responsibility for educating their patients. It was slow. But it worked.

The same transition needs to happen today with lens quality broadly. Indian consumers routinely invest in premium frames and compromise on lenses – the very part of the spectacle that does the optical work. They buy the least expensive lens option for their children at precisely the age when optical quality matters most for visual development.

No brand in India is making this case at scale. Not the lens manufacturers, not the optical chains, not the professional bodies. The consumer education conversation is not happening. And until it does, the market will continue to grow in volume while remaining underdeveloped in value.

The opportunity I see most clearly is this: the brand, the chain, or the platform that invests seriously in building vision health literacy among Indian consumers will not just capture market share. It will shape the market. That work has not yet been done. It is entirely available to whoever chooses to do it first.

References and Data Sources

1. IMARC Group. India Eyewear Market Size, Share, Industry Trends, Growth and Research Report 2025–2033.
2. MarkNtel Advisors. India Luxury Eyewear Market Report 2025–2030.
3. IMARC Group. India Smart Eyewear Market Report 2025–2033.
4. Grand View Research / Horizon Databook. India Safety Eyewear Market Outlook 2025–2030.
5. Khanal S et al. Prevalence of Myopia in Indian School Children: Meta-analysis of the Last Four Decades. PLOS One, 2020.
6. Research and Markets. Eyewear in India 2025 Industry Report.
7. Exchange4media. The Great D2C Reset: How 2025 Merged Offline and Online Commerce. December 2025.
8. CBRE India. India’s D2C Revolution: The New Retail Order. 2025.
9. Custom Market Insights. India Eyewear Market Size, Trends, Share and Forecast 2033.
10. Lenskart Store Expansion — Business Standard

The post India’s Eyewear Market 2026 – Growth, Gaps and Untold Realities appeared first on Eyetrraction.

In my experience working within the Indian optical industry, adaptation failure is one of the most common complaints associated with progressive lenses. In most of these cases, the root cause is not the lens. It is a dispensing decision made before the lens was ever ordered.

Research supports this. A clinical study on spectacle non-tolerance found that dispensing-related issues, including incorrect pupillary distance, inappropriate frame type, and poor fitting, accounted for 58% of patient complaints involving progressive lenses. A separate assessment from Essilor’s technical education team concluded that fixing fitting errors alone could eliminate up to 80% of progressive lens problems.

This article covers the most critical dispensing decisions in progressive lens dispensing in India, from patient selection and lifestyle profiling to frame choice, manual marking, pantoscopic tilt, and adaptation counselling. Each section addresses an area where Indian opticians, particularly those newer to PAL dispensing, frequently make correctable errors.

1. Identifying the Right Patient and the Right Lens for Their Life

The most consequential decision in progressive lens dispensing happens before any measurements are taken. That decision determines whether a progressive lens is appropriate for this patient and, if so, which design suits their lifestyle.

Not every presbyopic patient is a strong progressive candidate from the outset. Patients with significant astigmatism, high refractive errors, or those who have never worn spectacles before may require additional counselling and a more conservative lens choice. For patients who are new to both spectacle wear and presbyopia simultaneously, starting with a reading addition in a single vision lens before transitioning to progressives is sometimes the more prudent clinical recommendation.

For patients who are appropriate candidates, the lifestyle profile determines the lens design. This is where many dispensing conversations fall short. Opticians jump to power and price without asking what the patient actually does with their vision throughout the day.

Lifestyle Profiling: Questions Every Optician Must Ask

• What is your profession? This is key to understanding daily vision demands.
• How many hours a day do you spend driving?
• Do you work extensively on computers or digital screens? At what distance?
• Is reading, whether books, newspapers, or documents, a primary near task?
• Do you work outdoors, in a workshop, or in environments with changing light conditions?
• Have you worn progressive lenses before? If yes, which brand and design?

The answers directly determine corridor length selection, one of the most critical and most frequently overlooked variables in progressive lens dispensing in India.

Corridor Length and Width: A Critical Consideration

Before selecting a lens design, it helps to understand the difference between corridor length and corridor width.

Corridor length is the vertical measurement from the pupillary centre, also called the fitting point, to the centre of the near vision zone where 100% of the addition power is achieved. This distance typically ranges from 11 to 17 mm.

Corridor width is the horizontal measurement of the usable corridor between the aberration zones of the PAL design.

Short corridor lenses, generally 8 to 11 mm, offer a wider distance zone and a wider near zone but produce more pronounced peripheral aberration, commonly called lateral blur or swim effect.

For a patient who drives extensively, a short corridor progressive lens is a poor choice. The peripheral distortion encroaches on the lateral visual field that drivers rely on for awareness of road edges, side mirrors, and peripheral movement. This is not a minor inconvenience. It is a safety concern.

A patient whose primary visual demands are near and intermediate, such as a bookkeeper, surgeon, or student, may benefit from a shorter corridor that brings the near zone into easier reach without excessive head movement. The lens design must serve the patient’s visual life, not the dispensing convenience.

Corridor Reference Guide for PAL Dispensing

2. Measurements: Where Small Errors Have Large Consequences

Monocular pupillary distance (PD) measurement is the single most important fitting parameter for progressive lenses. In some older and narrower designs, the progressive corridor can be as little as 2 mm wide. A measurement error of even 1 mm can place the optical centre outside the corridor entirely, causing the patient to look through a zone of aberration rather than clarity.

This finding should concern every optical practice. PD measurement is not a task to be delegated to unqualified support staff, performed hastily, or estimated. It requires clinical attention, appropriate tools, and verification.

Monocular vs. Binocular PD: Why Monocular Always Wins for PALs?

Binocular PD gives the total distance between both pupils. Monocular PD gives the distance from each pupil to the nose bridge individually. These two measurements are not interchangeable for progressive lenses.

Facial asymmetry is more common than most patients realise. Using binocular PD and dividing by two assumes perfect symmetry, an assumption that frequently leads to decentration errors, particularly for the near zone. For every progressive lens dispensed, monocular PD must be measured independently for each eye.

PD Meters and Manual Marking: Why Manual Competency Remains Non-Negotiable?

Digital PD meters and optical marking devices have made measurement faster and, when used correctly, more accurate. However, these are tools. They do not replace clinical judgement or manual competency.

Power failures, device calibration drift, lighting conditions, and patient compliance all affect digital measurement accuracy. An optician who cannot take a precise manual PD measurement or manually mark the fitting point on a demo lens is operating with a significant clinical gap.

Every practising optician should maintain the ability to measure monocular PD manually with a pupillometer or millimetre ruler under appropriate lighting, and to manually verify the fitting cross on the demo lens at the pupil centre with the patient in their natural head posture.

Fitting Height: Measured in the Frame, Not in the Abstract

Fitting height is the vertical distance from the pupil centre to the lowest point of the lens in the chosen frame. It must be measured with the patient wearing the selected frame, adjusted to its final position on the face.

In standard practice, opticians maintain a minimum fitting height of 2 to 4 mm more than the intended corridor length. Measuring without the frame properly adjusted, or before it has been fitted to the patient’s nose and ears, introduces errors that directly affect near zone placement.

The patient must be looking straight ahead in their natural posture during this measurement. Patients who habitually tilt their head, have an uneven brow line, or hold their chin at an atypical angle require individual assessment rather than standard measurements.

3. Frame Selection: The Decision That Happens Before the Lens

Frame selection for progressive lens dispensing is not an aesthetic exercise. It is a clinical decision that determines what is optically possible.

Progressive lenses require a minimum vertical lens height to accommodate all three zones: distance, intermediate, and near. A frame that is too small cannot house the full progressive design. The near vision zone may be clipped, the intermediate zone compressed, or the fitting height mathematically impossible to achieve.

Minimum Frame Height Guidelines

A minimum vertical lens height of 28 mm is generally required for most progressive designs, with 30 mm or above preferred. Some advanced, digitally optimised designs can function in shallower frames, but this should always be verified with the specific lens manufacturer’s fitting parameters, not assumed.

Frames that are too large present their own problem. An excessively deep frame may shift the near zone below the patient’s natural reading gaze, requiring uncomfortable upward head movement to access near vision. The goal is a frame whose vertical dimension places the near zone within the patient’s natural reading gaze when looking down, without requiring exaggerated head movement.

Frame Width and the PD Relationship

A frame that is significantly wider than the patient’s interpupillary distance will result in decentration. The optical centres of the lenses will not align with the patient’s pupils. For progressive lenses, this lateral misalignment is a common and often overlooked cause of peripheral distortion and visual discomfort.

When helping patients select frames, always cross-reference the frame’s geometric centre distance (GCD) with the patient’s monocular PDs. A mismatch that exceeds the lens manufacturer’s recommended decentration limits should prompt a different frame choice rather than an attempt to compensate optically.

Recommended Frame Shapes for PALs

4. Pantoscopic Tilt: The Parameter Most Commonly Ignored

Pantoscopic tilt is the angle at which the frame front is tilted relative to vertical, specifically the degree to which the bottom of the frame is angled toward the face. This is one of the most clinically significant fitting parameters for progressive lenses and one of the least consistently measured or communicated to optical laboratories in India.

The optimal pantoscopic tilt for most progressive lens wearers is between 8 and 12 degrees. This angle positions the lens surface so that the patient’s near gaze, naturally directed downward when reading, falls through the correct zone of the lens.

What Happens When Pantoscopic Tilt Is Wrong?

Insufficient pantoscopic tilt, where the frame sits too vertically, effectively raises the near zone relative to the patient’s reading gaze. The patient must tilt their head more than necessary to access near vision. In some cases they may look through the intermediate or lower distance zone when attempting to read.

Excessive tilt creates the opposite problem and can induce prismatic effects that cause visual distortion. In either case, the patient experiences discomfort that feels like a lens problem but is actually a fitting problem.

For digitally optimised and free-form progressive lenses, pantoscopic tilt is one of the personalisation parameters communicated to the laboratory to customise the lens calculation. Research from the University of California, Berkeley found that customisation accounting for pantoscopic tilt, back vertex distance, and wrap angle resulted in a statistically significant preference for customised lenses over standard designs.

Source: Han SC, Graham AD, Lin MC. Clinical Assessment of a Customized Free-Form Progressive Add Lens Spectacle. Optometry and Vision Science, 2011; 88(2): 234–243.

Measuring and Recording Pantoscopic Tilt

Every optical practice should have a protractor or digital fitting device capable of measuring pantoscopic tilt. This measurement should be recorded in the patient’s dispensing record and communicated to the laboratory when ordering customised or free-form progressive lenses.

The habit of measuring and recording frame fitting parameters is what separates a professional dispensing practice from a transactional one.

5. Adaptation: Setting Expectations Before, Not After

Progressive lens adaptation is a neurological and physiological process. The visual system must learn to integrate information from three distinct optical zones and suppress peripheral aberration through habitual head movement. This takes time. The duration varies considerably between patients.

The most common management error in progressive lens dispensing is failing to prepare the patient for adaptation before they leave the practice. When a patient is not counselled about the adaptation period, any visual discomfort they experience afterwards, however expected and normal, becomes a complaint, a return visit, or a rejected lens.

Who Takes Longer to Adapt and Why?

Several patient profiles are associated with longer adaptation periods and require specific pre-dispensing counselling:

• First-time progressive lens wearers. Patients transitioning directly from single vision lenses have no frame of reference for the zonal optics of a PAL.
• High astigmatic patients. Cylinder correction introduces lens surface complexity that compounds with the progressive design, requiring longer neurological adjustment.
• High power patients. Both high minus and high plus prescriptions involve significant magnification changes across the lens surface, making peripheral distortion more pronounced.
• Patients switching designs. An experienced progressive wearer switching to a significantly different corridor length or design may experience a temporary adaptation regression.
• Older first-time wearers. Patients in their late 60s or beyond adapting to progressives for the first time typically require more time and more comprehensive counselling.

The Pre-Dispensing Adaptation Conversation

Before a progressive lens is dispensed, every patient should be told clearly and without minimising the experience:

• The edges of your vision through these lenses will appear slightly blurred or distorted. This is normal and expected.
• When walking, particularly on stairs, look through the distance zone and move your head, not just your eyes.
• For reading, lower your chin slightly and direct your gaze toward the lower portion of the lens.
• Most patients adapt within one to two weeks. Patients with high powers or astigmatism may need three to four weeks.
• Do not judge the lenses in the first 48 hours. If discomfort persists beyond two weeks, return and we will reassess together.

This conversation, documented in the patient record, also protects the practice. A patient who was clearly counselled about adaptation is far less likely to request a refund than one who was handed a pair of progressive lenses with no expectation management.

For High Power and Astigmatic Patients: Check Lens Thickness

Before dispensing to patients with high refractive errors or significant astigmatism, verify lens thickness at both the distance and near zones. Progressive lenses for high prescriptions can have significant thickness variation across the lens surface.

In some cases, a higher refractive index lens (1.67 or 1.74) may be clinically indicated, not only for aesthetics but to reduce the weight and thickness that contribute to uncomfortable nose pad pressure over extended wear. This discomfort is often attributed to the progressive design rather than the lens material, which is why addressing it proactively matters.

6. Recommending the Right Progressive Design: Start Conservative, Progress Thoughtfully

India now has access to an extensive range of progressive lens designs across price points, from entry-level conventional designs to digitally optimised free-form lenses with wider corridors, customised optics, and lifestyle-specific variants.

For a first-time progressive lens wearer, the recommendation should almost always begin at the standard or basic tier of the practice’s lens portfolio, rather than at the premium end.

Why Starting Conservative Is Clinically Sound?

Entry-level and standard progressive designs have narrower corridors and more pronounced peripheral aberration than premium designs. This sounds like a disadvantage. For a first-time wearer, however, it actually enforces the adaptation behaviour that makes progressive wearing successful: learning to move the head rather than swivel the eyes.

Patients who begin on premium wide-corridor lenses can become impatient during the adaptation period, particularly given the price point. Once a patient has successfully adapted to a standard progressive design and understands the visual experience, the step to a wider corridor premium design is experienced as a clear and immediate improvement.

This is the correct sequence for building patient satisfaction and trust, and for creating a patient who willingly upgrades their lenses.

When Premium Is Indicated from the Outset

There are clinical scenarios where a premium or customised progressive lens is the appropriate first choice. Patients with significant astigmatism often benefit from digitally optimised lenses where the power distribution is calculated from the individual prescription and fitting parameters, reducing aberration more effectively than conventional designs.

Patients with high add powers similarly benefit from wider intermediate zones available in premium designs. These are clinical decisions, not commercial ones.

Clinical Summary: The Progressive Lens Dispensing Checklist

Before every progressive lens is ordered, confirm the following:

• Patient lifestyle has been profiled: vision needs, driving frequency, screen time, and primary near tasks.
• Corridor length selected matches lifestyle demands. Long corridor for drivers, varied for mixed-use patients.
• Monocular PD measured individually for each eye, not derived from binocular measurement.
• Fitting height measured with the patient wearing the adjusted, final-position frame.
• Frame vertical depth confirmed adequate for the chosen progressive design. Minimum 28 mm.
• Frame width assessed against the patient’s PD so that decentration is within acceptable limits.
• Pantoscopic tilt measured, recorded, and communicated to the laboratory for free-form lenses.
• Lens thickness assessed for high power or astigmatic patients. Appropriate index recommended.
• Adaptation counselling completed and documented. Patient has realistic expectations.
• First-time wearers started on a standard progressive design unless clinically indicated otherwise.

Closing Perspective

Progressive lenses are among the most technically demanding products in optical dispensing. They are also among the most rewarding when dispensed well.

The Indian optical market is growing rapidly, and with it, the volume of progressive lenses being dispensed. The standards of dispensing must grow with the market. Every patient who walks out of a practice with correctly dispensed progressive lenses becomes an advocate.

The independent optician’s greatest competitive advantage is clinical expertise at the point of dispensing. Progressive lens dispensing, done with rigour and care, is where that advantage is most visible and most valuable.

References and Clinical Sources

1. Analysis of the Factors Influencing Spectacles Non-adaptation in Optical Stores. International Journal of Development Research, 2023.
2. Hanlin P (Essilor of America). Four Steps for Resolving Progressive Addition Lens Complaints. Optometry Times, 2026.
3. Han SC, Graham AD, Lin MC. Clinical Assessment of a Customized Free-Form Progressive Add Lens Spectacle. Optometry and Vision Science, 2011; 88(2): 234–243.
4. Fundamentals of Ophthalmic Dispensing, Part 1. Optician Online CET Archive.
5. User Satisfaction and Visual Challenges Associated with Progressive Addition Lenses. International Journal of Development Research, Vol. 15, Issue 04, 2025.
6. Freeman CE, Evans BJW. Investigation of the Causes of Non-Tolerance to Optometric Prescriptions for Spectacles. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics, 2010; 30(1).

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Some brands have set their foot strong in both markets. In the previous blog, “5 eyewear chains in India making their mark online and offline 1.0″, we shed light on fast-growing brands, but here we’ll be talking about eyewear giants.

Although the organized eyewear market may seem small compared to the unorganized market, these eyewear & retail chain giants contribute heavily with hundreds of stores across India. Without any further ado, let’s begin the rundown.

Lenskart

For this unicorn eyewear brand, the sky is not the limit. They have marked their presence not only in every nook and corner of India but also in the US, Singapore, and UAE. In 2023, they opened more than 2,000 retail outlets in India and other countries. Their aggressive marketing has made them the go-to brand for millennials and Gen Z. Approximately 7 million people visit their eCommerce website monthly, taking their revenues to billions.

In 2010, IIM Bangalore alumni Peyush Bansal laid the foundation of the eCommerce startup Lenskart. They have raised $774 million in 11 funding rounds, leading to their massive expansion.

Coming to their manufacturing capacity, their Delhi-based manufacturing unit produces more than 3 lakh frames per month. Another 20% of their manufacturing processes are at their China-based manufacturing unit.

Titan Eye+

Next in line is Titan Eye+, an eyewear venture of Tata Company. It was initiated in March 2007 to redefine the Indian prescription eyewear industry with greater quality standards. By 2022, they have over 900+ outlets in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Chennai, Pune, Kolkata, and Cochin. This year, they are expected to touch a benchmark of 1000 stores in India. 

Regarding their revenue, both 2021 and 2022 have remained profitable for Titan Eye+. The former year reported an INR 8 crore profit that scaled to Rs. 38 crore in the following year. The company is looking forward to an equally profitable year 2023.

Along with prescription eyewear, Titan Eye+ is also innovating products like audio sunglasses, virus-protective glasses, and lenses. After all, giving away discounts is the only way to stay competitive. Especially when they hold a 5% market share, their competitor Lenskart has a 25% market share.

Titan Eye+ is all about quality, reliability, and innovation.

Reliance Vision Express

The origin of Vision Express goes back to 1988. The first Vision Express store opened at the MetroCentre, Gateshead. In 1993, they acquired seven of the LensCrafters stores. Thirty years since their first store, they operate 550+ stores across the UK and Ireland. They have stores in the UK, Ireland, Poland, and India in partnership with Reliance Retail Limited, making them a world-leading optical chain. Reliance Vision Express has 160+ stores in 30+ cities in India.

Competing with leading optical chains globally, Vision Express has a massive collection of trending eyewear designs. Being a part of the EssilorLuxottica group, Vision Express can offer the latest collections from popular brands of EssilorLuxottica, such as Ray-Ban, Oakley, Gucci, Bvlgari, Armani Exchange, Versace, Tomford, Puma, Prada, David Beckham Eyewear, and many more. 

They operate multiple domain eCommerce stores for the UK (https://www.visionexpress.com/), Ireland (https://www.visionexpress.ie/), Poland (https://visionexpress.pl/), and India (https://www.visionexpress.in/). 

Himalaya Opticals

Himalaya Optical, established in 1935, is one of India’s most significant and fastest-growing optical retail chains. A legacy optical chain business is passed on to the 4th generation of the Binani family. The Kolkata-based company offers primary eye care and eyewear solutions such as eyeglasses, contact lenses, prescription sunglasses, premium sunglasses, eyewear accessories, home try-ons, and eye examination services.

With 400+ professionals in over 100 stores across the length and breadth of the country, the brand name is quite popular. As the largest optical network in India, they also have an effective eCommerce store to serve netizens.

Gangar Eyenation

Another popular name in the optical retail chain domain is Gangar Eyenation. They have a vast expanse, particularly in the west and southwest of India, spanning across states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Goa. 

Gangar Eyenation is a 40-year-old legacy brand name established in 1977 with one store. Today, they have 60+ stores in India. Approx fifteen thousand people visit their website every month. Their operating revenue by 31st March 2022 ranges from INR 1cr to 100 cr. 

Although the brand follows an online and offline business model, its major emphasis is on delivering informed eyewear solutions for which a strong offline channel is imperative. In an interview, one of the directors of Gangar Eyenation, Mr. Jigar Gangar, said eyewear is a paramedical industry wherein prescribing correct eye care solutions is difficult online. Therefore, they offer & recommend in-store eye testing and buying.

Lawrence & Mayo

A truly legacy brand, Lawrence & Mayo celebrates 146 years of excellence in opticals and eyewear. The history of the brand is riveting. H R H Queen Mary, Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Rabindranath Tagore, JRD Tata, and many other royals and political diplomats have adorned Lawrence & Mayo eyewear. Many of India’s freedom movement activists have been their customers. 

Lawrence & Mayo stands tall as one of the largest eyewear retailers in India. Their network of 100+ retail outlets is spread across 30 cities in India. With a diverse product range, they serve the needs of premium and budget buyers.

Their eCommerce module sells frames, contact lenses, prescription lenses, and sunglasses in premium, branded, and budget brands. The fourth-generation family business is steadily expanding its widespread roots in India.

Wrap up

As we know, India is a massive geographic landscape with so much diversity in every direction. While some eyewear and retail brands have established a strong presence in particular zones such as North, South, East, and West, some brands like Lenskart, Titan Eye+, and Vision Express are penetrating India’s Tier 2 & 3 cities. As they pave their way in the unorganized eyewear market, how will it impact small and midsized opticians? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Myopia has become more common over the past few decades due to many factors, including changes in lifestyle, excessive screen time, and a decline in outdoor activities.

These factors differ geographically and culturally. In a study conducted by the National Library of Medicine, they observed different geo-biological variations that included social factors and genetics. Genetics, too, play a significant role in myopia development, behavioral modifications can control it.

State of Myopia in India

Although myopia is a simple refractive error, it may greatly impact the quality of life. The increasing number of myopia cases in India and beyond rings alarms on our current lifestyles. It is predicted that Myopia and High Myopia will affect approximately 50% of the worldwide population by 2050. With India being the most populated country in the world (with around 41% of its population being less than 18 years of age), it has become a major concern for the country.

As discussed above, India is diverse, culturally and geographically. Therefore, the prevalence of myopia in India also differs among various states. Research Gate has prepared a comprehensive report in 2019 wherein they have classified myopia literature in six regions namely North, South, East, West, Northeast, and Central zones.

The research is quite extensive but briefly speaking here is what the state of myopia in India looks like:

• The prevalence of Myopia in the South Zone varies from 3% to 35% in different regions.
• The prevalence of Myopia in the Central Zone varies from 3% to 16%.
• The prevalence of Myopia in the East Zone varies from 0.63% to 24%.
• The prevalence of Myopia in the West Zone varies from 2% to 17%.
• The prevalence of Myopia in the North Zone varies from 2.5% to 25%
• The prevalence of Myopia in the Northeast Zone is 27.4%.

Myopia and Other Comorbidities

With higher levels of myopia, the risk of eye conditions such as retinal detachment, retinoschisis, glaucoma, and cataracts, which can cause permanent vision loss later in life, will rise exponentially. It is a consequence of unusual growth in axial length, which causes structural and physiological changes in the eye. 

Let’s take a look at the increased risk of different eye conditions with high levels of myopia:

• People with high myopia have a 5x to 6x greater chance of retinal detachment than those with low myopia. People with high myopia have longer eyeball/s (axial elongation), which means the retina is more stretched and more prone to peripheral retinal tears.
• People with myopia are two to three times more likely to develop retinoschisis than people with normal vision. The risk rises in direct proportion to the severity of myopia. For example, people with myopia of -6 diopters or higher have a substantially higher risk of retinoschisis than those with myopia of -2 diopters or less
• The precise reason why myopia raises the risk of glaucoma and cataracts is unknown. However, the elongated structure of the eye in those with myopia exerts extra strain on the optic nerve causing damage over time. And for cataracts, more stress on the lens leads to clouding over time.

Types of myopia

Although axial or malignant myopia is common in young adults or children there are also other types of myopia. An ophthalmologist will understand your symptoms and diagnose your condition to lay out a treatment plan accordingly.

1. Axial Myopia
2. Curvature Myopia
3. Index Myopia
4. Positional Myopia

Myopia Control Alternatives in India

Now let’s check some of the most common myopia control alternatives used in India:

Orthokeratology (Ortho-K):
Orthokeratology is the reduction of refractive error with the aid of programmed contact lenses. They flatten the corneal curvature, thereby reducing or preventing myopia progression. This treatment involves wearing rigid contact lenses overnight that temporarily restructure the cornea to reduce myopia during the day. This method is very popular among kids and teenagers. According to various studies, Ortho K has shown favorable results in flattening the corneal curvature. However, such treatment is not inexpensive, and proper hygiene is a must, especially in young children.

Multifocal Contact Lenses:
Unlike Ortho K lenses, these are soft contact lenses for curbing the elongation of the eye. It works by focusing all the light rays on the center of the retina. These lenses include distinct zones for near and far vision, which helps slow down myopia growth in children. In the case of single-vision lenses, the center vision focuses on the retina. Still, the light in the periphery focuses behind the retina, signaling the eye to grow longer. Multifocal lenses were not originally designed for myopia but for near-vision correction for adults above 40 years of age for presbyopia. However, they have proven to have been effective in myopia control.

Atropine Eye Drops: Ophthalmologists generally use atropine eye drops to examine very young children accurately. It also has medicinal purposes. Low-dose atropine eye drops have been proven to reduce myopia progression in some children and are recommended by eye care professionals. However, it also has side effects such as enlarged pupils, sensitivity in the eye, and blurry close-up vision. Atropine dilates or enlarges the pupil, preventing the eye from doing the focusing mechanism. Thereby, ECPs use it in amblyopic conditions or other eye comorbidities.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Changes: Along with all the medical interventions, lifestyle alterations matter greatly in curbing myopia progression. Especially in young children, excessive screen time, lack of sun exposure, and lack of physical activities have obstructed proper growth and often cause myopia. Alterations like increasing outdoor activities and limiting screen time can help reverse eye elongation.

Refractive surgery: Another popular myopia treatment alternative is refractive surgery. Over time, it has become a popular choice, even cosmetically. It has served many purposes, from freeing people from wearing bulky spectacles to correcting vision. There are different types of refractive surgeries. Here is the rundown.

1. Incisional refractive surgery
2. Excimer laser refractive surgery
   • Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)
   • Laser subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK)
   • Epithelial laser in situ keratomileusis (epi-LASIK or LASIK)
3. Intraocular surgery

Phakic intraocular lenses: Often, corneal surgical procedures are not a viable option for some patients. In such cases, ODs undertake posterior chamber surgery, such as implanting Phakic intraocular lenses. Unlike kerato-refractive surgeries, these have lower, higher-degree aberrations, lower loss of contrast sensitivity, and more. ICL (Implantable Collamer Lenses) are studied to be safer and more effective in high myopia patients.

Final words

It’s essential to remember that myopia control strategies can differ depending on the individual’s conditions and the severity of myopia. Therefore, consulting with a skilled eye care expert or an ophthalmologist is necessary.

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Titan, Lenskart, Gangar Nation, and Vision Express are some of the leading eyewear chains in India in the organized sector. 

Titan Eye+ accounts approx 800 stores spread across 300+ cities of the country and aims to reach 1000 stores by the end of 2023. It is also innovating products like audio sunglasses, virus-protective glasses, and lenses among others. In 2022, their profit touched upon a benchmark of 38 crores.

In 2022, Lenkart reached a pinnacle of 1000 retail stores in India and beyond but until March 2023, they scaled to another thousand stores totaling 2000+ stores; of which three-fourths are based in India.

Following the footprints of these brands, there are many players who are leveraging online and offline hybrid business models. In this article, we’ll be talking about five such fast-growing optical chains in India.

Specsmakers

People know Specsmakers Opticians Private Limited as South India’s largest retail optical chain. Mr. Shah laid its foundation in 2007. It has approx 300 optical stores across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andra Pradesh, and Telangana. They are also to establish their presence in the state of Kerela. In an interview with Business Line, Mr. Pratik mentions his plan to open 600-700 stores in south India. 

Coming to their online presence, they received over 80,000+ visitors to their website in the first quarter of 2023. 17.6% of it is direct search while 80.6% is organic search (appearing in search result pages in Google for specific searches). 

Specsmakers has by far raised $18.2M in funding amount according to Crunchbase. Their operating revenue ranges from 1cr to 100cr in the fiscal year 2022. Altogether we can say the brand is growing steadily given all the stats.

Clear Dekho

The minicorn Clear Dekho was founded by Shivi Singh, and Saurabh Dayal in 2016. Their clear goal is to make affordable eyewear accessible to the low-income mass market, basically, tier 2, 3, 4, and 5 cities. 

However, their approach to achieving this is quite unique. Rather than competing with the 80% of unorganized market, they envision a strong ecosystem to empower small opticians and mitigate the vision needs of semi-urban cities/towns of India. The O2O approach gives double benefits to buyers both on their online marketplace and franchise retail outlets across different cities. Even their franchise model is quite light that allows scalability and easy expanse across tier 2 to 5 geos in India.

Looking into their funding history they have by far raised $13.3M funding in over 9 rounds. Going by their website, Clear Dekho has grown 1300% in just 3 years with 300000+ eyeglasses delivered from 80+ eyewear stores in India spread across 30+ cities. Talking of their website, over 40k people visit their website monthly. Clearly, they are forging forward to umpteen growth.

EyeMyEye

Laid its foundation in 2021 by Mr. Ganesh Iyer, EyeMyEye is majorly an eCommerce platform for eyewear. However, a small module on their website called “Explore Nearby” allows buyers to explore local optical stores offering YOPO (You Only Pay For One) offer. It bridges them in the local markets but it doesn’t make their model O2O. However, they are definitely worthy of a spot on this list. 

Their eyewear collection has a contemporary style to fit in with millennial tastes while also catering to the vintage flavor of older individuals. Furthermore, their 4000+ fantastic designs are well worth it.

The eCommerce brand though very young has captured the minds of consumers. Proof of that is statistics from Similarweb. In the month of March and April, they experienced 1.1M and 1.3M visits on their website respectively. 

Coming to the funding history, Eyemyeye has undertaken 3 funding rounds totaling an amount of $4.95M. In total, there are 8 investors in the privately held company and a massive team of 150 people.

Whether or not, they’ll explore the unorganized market with retail outlets, we don’t know but surely their future seems bright!

Spexmojo

Spexmojo is a venture by GKB Hitech and Shivkumar Janardhanan, former CEO of Essilor India. Compared to Eyemyeye, their business model is largely dependent on local opticians. Their vast network of partnered opticians, allows them to sell their products on Spexmojo. It is partly a marketplace, partly an offline model, and partly an online. Therefore, we can say that Spexmojo.com is an online eyewear marketplace that lets shoppers discover trending eyewear near their location. 

In the words of Promoter Director, Shobit Gupta, “The idea Spexmojo is implementing will revolutionize the optical industry in many ways, from sourcing quality products to dispensing the choice of the consumers in a no-compromise purchase journey.”

Indeed, such a model will empower the 80% unorganized sector significantly. With brands competing in this model too, consumers are likely to be on the winning side.

Chashma

A new entrant but a strong competitor in the optical retail market is Chashma, founded by Mr. Rohit Gupta. With a fast-spanning presence with 12 stores across six states of India, Chashma is making its mark amongst eyewear brands in India. 

Betting on their made-in-India products, the brand creatively instills an indigenous feeling gaining trust and recognition amongst buyers. Chasma makes its objective clear, high-quality eyewear at ridiculously affordable prices. The quirky brand communication clearly targets the youth of the country.

Lenspick.com

Bangalore-based Lenspick.com was founded in 2013 by Mr. Dileep C Byra with $500K in funding. Lenspick is ambitious to give a better vision to the people of India. Spread across Bangalore and Hyderabad, they offer a stylish and vivid range of eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, and a try-at-home feature. However, their specialty remains sunglasses with power. By far, they have 12 operational stores in Bangalore and 1 in Hyderabad. 

In their last funding round, they raised a sound funding of $10M. This was their later stage VC; they undertook 3 more rounds prior to it. Whether we’ll see more stores opening in the region? We’ll leave it to time! Above all, the company is growing steadily with a smooth online and offline model.

Final words

Although 25% of Indians need vision correction, eyewear is now more than just a need. Ever since the growth of optical eCommerce in India, the cosmetic value of an eyewear piece has taken over its original purpose. Hence, we see brands betting on trendy eyewear and vision needs as well.

The most renowned eyewear retail brand, Lenskart, has been a trendsetter amongst millennials focusing on fast and inexpensive fashion. Lenskart success story is quite an inspirational one. However, there are many other behemoths competing neck to neck for this market share while recording mind-boggling revenues. 

Additionally, India’s prolific eyewear market has drawn global giants such as Sunglass Hut and Lenscrafters both a subsidiary of EssilorLuxotica to expand their presence here. Sunglass Hut has about 85 retail outlets in India and plans to reach 100.

Clearly, the competition in the optical industry is getting increasingly fierce. It is also evident that the Indian optical industry is undergoing transformation, one that has brought upon a realization to create a robust digital footprint for every player in the organized and/or unorganized eyewear market sector. It is farfetched for small opticians to compete with optical giants. However, Google My Business Profile and social media are the best marketing tools to leverage. 

While you sink into this piece of content, we at Eyetrraction will come up with the next list of eyewear chains in India soon. If you would like to add a few names to the list, the comment section is open!

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Well, that’s what NFT is all about! 

Perplexed? Fret not. We have everything about NFTs explained in this blog. So hang on.

1. 1. What are NFTs?
   2. NFTs and Eyewear
   3. 5 benefits of NFTs for eyewear brands
   4. NFT cryptos
   5. NFT markets
   6. Final words

Before moving the benefits of NFTs for eyewear brands, let us start by understanding NFTs.

NFT meaning

NFT stands for Non-fungible token. The term “fungible” refers to anything exchangeable or replaceable. For instance, for a sunglasses manufacturer, each model is replaceable with another piece of the same model. 

Now, when we say non-fungible, it negates the meaning of fungible. That means something that cannot be replaced or exchanged; Let’s take an example for this. 

How do NFTs work?

Imagine you are a premium eyewear brand that has designed particular eyewear. Now, you produce numerous units of that same design. Each of these units is fungible with each other. However, if you are selling a limited edition with only one piece of a particular design, then that is non-fungible.

You can apply the same logic to unique digital assets that can be coined as NFTs. In simple words, Non-fungible tokens are digital items that can be traded using digital currencies such as Ethereum.

NFTs and eyewear

NFT assets can be a domain, a photograph, music file, a GiF, or anything and everything digital. 

Brands like Mc Donalds and Tacobell have created NFTs of their edible products. Even luxury brand RTFKT has released an NFT of their digital shoe that attracted many eyeballs. So, why not eyewear? 

Let me tell you; even Gucci is soon to release its own NFTs.

What particularly interests brands in NFTs is the opportunities that come with it. So let us understand how eyewear brands can benefit from NFTs.

Five outstanding benefits of NFT for eyewear

Early movers benefit

NFTs are gaining momentum. The trend is predicted to stay and become even more secure. Since there is not much competition in the NFT market for eyewear brands, they can avail themselves of outrageous opportunities for promotion, monetization, and connecting with the consumer base. Moreover, it aids in enhancing the brand value.

Delight your tech-savvy consumers

While physical eyewear products may wear out, your digital products or collectibles don’t. Therefore, they can add value to your buyers as a worthwhile investment. In addition, it allows brands to expand their targeted consumer base. It is especially beneficial for renowned brands with an existing massive fan base, for instance, Ray-Ban. 

Ray-Ban’s parent firm, the eyewear behemoth EssilorLuxottica, teamed up with digital artist Oliver Latta to produce the first-ever pair of NFT Ray-Ban Aviators to benefit the Italian Art Trust. Given Ray-Ban’s debut into NFT, the coming years of eyewear appear to be bright, thereby further providing opportunities for other businesses to follow suit.

Buying rare branded or luxurious eyewear with proof ownership gives a sense of exclusiveness to modern-day consumers. Furthermore, it also eliminates the cost of shipping, repair, maintenance, inventory, and more.

NFTs as a hook

With an NFT, there are so many possible ways to sell your physical eyewear products. For example, you can sell vouchers on the next in-store or eStore purchase as an NFT or along with an NFT. 

As mentioned earlier, an NFT can be anything digital, even a voucher or a digital copy of eyewear. You can even create an exclusive digital collection for an upcoming runway show, product launch, and whatnot! 

Above all, NFT can be used as hooks to sell adjacent products.

Establish a digital identity

Digitization is mainstream. With celebrated personalities like Elon Musk promoting digital currencies, blockchain has got millions interested. Tech giants now facilitate purchasing on the blockchain. It implies that consumers want to see their favourite brands adapt to technological reforms. Taking digital leaps can help your brand establish a modern and advanced image in consumers’ minds!

Increase sales

Rare NFTs are highly valuable. By selling virtual eyewear, brands have the opportunity to increase their sales. In addition, as the trends accelerate, the NFT buyer base will also expand, giving more market for digital growth.

Cryptos for NFTs

Singularity is the most striking feature of NFT. Built on blockchain technology, every transaction made is recorded that cannot be altered or deleted, making it highly secure. Hence, owners can have proof of their ownership of a single rare NFT. 

Brands traded the earliest NFTs on the bitcoin network, but since bitcoin is a fungible currency, it soon adopted other more innovative contract digital currencies to maintain its integrity. Presently, Ethereum is the most preferred currency of all the alternatives for NFT trading. If you are interested in buying or selling NFTs, then you must consider the following ideal NFT cryptos:

• Ethereum 
• Klatyn
• Tezos 
• Solana
• Palm
• Polygon
• Artbitrum
• Flow
• Wax
• ImmutableX

NFT markets

If you don’t know already, you must be wondering where to buy NFTs? Certainly, trading NFTs requires understanding the marketplaces, their supported currencies, cost, and more. Of eleven different marketplaces, you need to determine the best marketplace to create, sell or buy NFTs. Here is a table of NFT marketplace information that may be helpful for your understanding. 

Final words

Eyewear is not just fashion apparel but a necessity. Therefore, the significant demand attracts more and more brands to explore the optical domain, making the market highly competitive. 

Standing out requires leveraging marketing trends so that you can assure a loyal consumer base. At Eyetrraction, no trend goes unnoticed. If you are considering digital marketing and branding for your optical business, drop us an email at info@eyetrraction.in. 

Let’s create marketing wonders for your brand!

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1. Introduction
2. Foundation
3. Lenskart and its unique characteristics
4. Lenskart funding rounds
5. Lenskart in 2022
6. Final words

Introduction

“Our focus was always that we are never happy with good enough, we knew that good is never good enough.”

says Peyush Bansal (The Founder of Lenskart)

Certainly, such an outstanding vision is what it takes to become an elite unicorn company. The story of Lenskart and its present driving force has got millions interested, like you and me!

To mitigate this common interest of the masses has this blog been curated, so hang on.

Today, we will roll back to the startup phase from the current unicorn entitlement of Peyush Bansal’s renowned brand Lenskart, his journey, and the various rounds of funding it undertook to reach this mammoth growth.

Without any further ado, let’s dive in.

Foundation

Lenskart owner Peyush Bansal has been in the limelight ever since he joined Shark Tank as a shark member. By the end of the show, he has invested a significant amount in supporting multiple startups. After all, his net worth in rupees in 2022 is 8 cr (80 million).

But before reaching this entrepreneurial stature, Peyush Bansal pursued his bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering that landed him in the tech giant Microsoft. However, he made a shocking decision when he left his job and flew to India. Value addition was his desire which he could not fulfill at Microsoft.

After his return in 2007, he secured management in Diploma in Entrepreneurship from IIM Bangalore that paved his way towards a billion-dollar business. During his IIM days, he founded Valyoo Technologies, under which he started a student portal SearchMyCampus followed by Lenskart.

Peyush Bansal, along with co-founders Amit Chaudhary and Sumeet Kapahi, initiated Lenskart in 2010 that is now famed in the global eyewear market. 

Lenskart and its unique characteristics

The business model

Based in Faridabad, India, Lenskart is an optical prescription eyewear retail chain that operates the first-ever eCommerce platform i.e., Lenskart website for power eyeglasses, blue block glasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, and more. 

Although they started with an online model, they soon changed their focus to brick-and-mortar stores. Having established 900+ stores across 100+ cities in India, Lenskart now operates an online and offline business model. Such working methodology is what makes them stand apart.

Manufacturing capacity

Before discussing its unique features, let us understand its outrageous manufacturing capacity. The figure exceeds 3 lakh+ Lenskart frames per month at its manufacturing unit in Delhi. In addition, another 20% of its production is undertaken at their factory in Zhengzhou, China. The numbers indicate the demand of the brand and its widespread consumer base.

Unique features

The e-tailer sold an astounding 8 million pairs of eyeglasses in the year 2020. To generate such demand, they leave no stone unturned. In the words of Peyush Bansal,

“We have to understand what consumers want, and we will continue to surprise them with experiences which are 10 times, 20 times better than they have ever had – both in terms of the experience and the price they are paying for the experience.”

The key takeaway for budding entrepreneurs is to remain customer-centric, carefully understanding the demand and addressing them with super products.

For Lenskart, dispensing eyewear online was a challenging task in a market that was hardwired to buy prescription eyewear conventionally. They realized that they would have to deliver real-life and a greater shopping experience to overcome this challenge. Hence, Lenskart came up with some out-of-the-box ideas and technology such as a Lenskart try-on, home eye checkup, and more. Above all, Lenkart’s unique features enlist as follows:

• 14-day replacement guarantee
• Free home delivery
• Home eye checkup
• 5000+ eyewear models
• 3D try-on
• Robotic manufacturing for accuracy
• Vigorous discounts and Lenskart vouchers
• Store locators

If you observe, you’ll see each of the features is designed to give comfort and assurance of a safe purchase to its customers for various refractive errors like Myopia, Hyperopia, Presbyopia, Astigmatism, and Voila; look at the wonders it did! Today, Lenskart claims 30% of India’s total eyewear market share alone.

Lenskart Funding History

Lenskart has raised a total funding of $774M in 11 rounds. They undertook the latest round on July 19, 2021. So let us start from the latest to earliest rounds of funding.

Series H Lenskart Funding

Date: July 19, 2021

Amount: $220M

Lead Investors: Alpha Wave Global and Temasek Holdings

In the latest funding round with a pre-money valuation of $2.3 billion, an announcement was made for series H round funding on July 19, 2021. Here, Lenskart raises $220 million at a valuation of $5 billion. 

Series H funding followed just five months after raising $315 million at $2.5 billion. The valuation is compared to that of Warby Parker’s market capitalization. 

Lead investors include Alpha Wave Global and Temasek Holdings. Other investors are Chiratae Ventures and Bay capital. In May 2021, they raised $95 million from KKR (Kolhberg Kravis Roberts) in the secondary market funding, which they will use with current financing for expansion purposes.

With the accumulated funds, the company plans to extend its operations in Southeast Asia and the Middle East together to achieve a market of $15 billion by 2025.

“Lenskart envisions to have 50% of India wearing its specs over the next 5 years and become the #1 eyewear platform in Southeast Asia and the Middle East over the next 18 to 24 months through organic and inorganic expansion.” says Peyush Bansal.

Series G Lenskart Funding

Date: December 12, 2019

Amount: $275M

Lead Investors: Softbank Vision Fund

On December 12, 2019, Lenskart raised $275 million from Softbank Vision Fund. The valuation of Lenskart before funding was $1.2 billion. 

At this point, the Lenskart company already had 500+ stores in 100+ cities in India. Over 60% of the revenue came from their online store. The purpose of raising this funding was to expand its business across the country.

“A large part of this investment will go towards building next-generation technology and supply chain to deliver the next billion glasses with the highest quality at the best price and most amazing customer experience.” says Peyush Bansal

Series F Lenskart Funding

Date: September 16, 2019

Amount: $55M

Lead Investors: Kedaara Capital

A few months before the G round, Kedaara Capital, a Mumbai-based private equity firm, invested $55 million in Lenskart in Series F round of funding. The company was valued at $1.15 billion then.

The outcome of the funding was Lenskart’s business expansion in Singapore. They successfully established a fully owned subsidiary Lenskart Solutions Pte Ltd. Starting with two stores, they have envisioned offline model expansion in Singapore. 

In the same year, they announced a startling 56.3% increase in revenue.

Secondary Market

Date: August 7, 2018

Amount: $240M (Jan 9 2017)

Lead Investors: Eqip Capital and Unilazer Ventures

On August 7, 2018, Lenskart Solutions Private Limited, Mswipe Technologies Private Limited, and NestAway Technologies Private Limited were the first three investments made by Epiq Capital, which former venture capitalist Rishi Navani created.

Earlier on January 9, 2017, the company raised $240M from Ronnie Screwala’s Unilazer ventures. The goal was to increase its reach from 250 to 500 stores.

Series E Lenskart Funding

Date: September 6, 2016

Amount: $2B

Lead Investors: PremjiInvest and Rajeev Chitrabhanu

PremjiInvest is a private investment venture of Azim Premji – Chairman Wipro Ltd that invested $2 billion in Lenskart along with Rajeev Chitrabhanu on September 6, 2016. The company was valued at $16 billion before funding.

Series D Lenskart Funding

Date: May 4, 2016

Amount: $60.1M

Lead Investors: TPG, IFC, Chiratae Ventures and Adveq

Series D was held just four months before the E round. An investment of $60.1 million was raised in this round. Investors included TPG Growth, IFC Venture Capital Group, Chiratae Ventures, and Adveq. 

Lenskart was determined to penetrate tier 3 and 4 cities of India. Further, they aimed at increasing the reach of its high-quality eyewear offerings throughout 400 locations by strengthening its technology, supply chain, and lens manufacturing.

Series C Lenskart Funding

Date: January 2, 2015

Amount: $22M

Lead Investors: TPG, TR Capital, Rajeev Chitrabhanu, and Chiratae Ventures

On January 2, 2015, Lenskart raised $22 million in a Series C financing from TPG Capital, TR Capital based in Hong Kong, Rajeev Chitrabhanu, and Chiratae Ventures, valuing the company at $100 million.

Series B Lenskart Funding

Date: December 1, 2012

Amount: $10M

Lead Investors: Unilazer Ventures and Chiratae Ventures

On December 1, 2012, $10 million was raised in a Series B funding that included investors Unilazer ventures of Ronnie Screwala and Chiratae Ventures.

Series A Lenskart Funding

Date: October 1, 2011

Amount: $4M

Lead Investors: Chiratae Ventures

Lastly, on October 1, 2011, Lenskart raised the first round of Series A funding a year after their establishment. Their first investor Chiratae Ventures invested an amount of $4 million that gave a much-required boost for the success it witnessed in the years so far. 

Chiratae Ventures has invested in multiple funding rounds and has been a major contributor in Lenskart’s journey and Softbank that holds a 20% stake in the company.

Lenskart in 2022

Market share and Vision

In a country where 1.5 million eyeglasses are dispensed every day, Lenskart has managed to slice a major market share for tech-savvy consumers. Their goal is to acquire 50% of the eyewear market from its current 30% stake shortly. Peyush Bansal once said,

“We want to be the Maruti of eyewear.”

With the mission of ”Vision to India,” they released Lenskart lite, a low-cost franchise model for India’sIndia’s tier 3 and tier 4 cities. The format requires an Rs. 20 lakh investment from micro-entrepreneurs for 4 to 6 lakh revenue estimated per month. For tier 2 cities, the current model requires an investment of Rs. 35 lakh with 8 to 9 lakh monthly revenue.

Lastly, as mentioned earlier, Lenskart also plans to build a strong consumer base in the Middle East and Southeast Asia with the funding achieved from the last round.

Finally, Lenskart valuation in 2022 is $5 billion after all the funding rounds so far.

Offerings

Lenskart dispenses eyewear from 5000+ frames and 45 varieties of lenses to 4000 buyers daily. The goal is to take it to 2 lakh soon. The business at present requires power correction details from the customer, but they soon would come up with power testing facilities in stores.

Final words

On a final note, the eyewear industry has witnessed monumental changes ever since the inception of Lenskart in 2010. Considering their vision and endeavors, the buyers can expect better purchasing experiences in years to come. 

As the competition tends to get fierce, the quality of products and services and an online presence will be the primary bet for eyewear businesses. Leveraging the benefits of content marketing, social media, and more can help retailers take their business beyond their physical stores.

In a nutshell, as Lenskart’s growth remains unconfined, the future of eyewear is bright yet fierce.

The post Lenskart Success Story – From a startup to a Unicorn company appeared first on Eyetrraction.

Most manufacturers offer standard and advanced machines to cater to different working and operational requirements of slit lamp buyers. Overall, slit lamp price varies based on the company. 

Though there are myriad slit lamp manufacturing companies, in this blog we complied a list of the most trusted ones. 

Read on.

Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.

They are the pioneers of the ophthalmic industry offering a variety of solutions for eye care practitioners as well as consumers. Carl Zeiss Meditec also offers a range of their Zeiss slit lamps with varying specifications. Their classic product is SL 115 Biomicroscopic slit lamp and a more advanced option is SL 800. You can check the specification on their website Zeiss.com.

Haag-Streit USA

They have been manufacturing ophthalmic equipment for more than a century. Renowned for their precision, Haag-Streit slit lamps come in a range of BM 900, BI 900, BP 900, BQ 900, and BX 900. The BX 900 is the most technologically advanced and fully featured slit lamp. You can check the specification on their website hag-streit.com.

Keeler

Keeler is also a market leader in manufacturing ophthalmic equipment for over a century. Keeler slit lamps come in a wide range of traditional, digital, and portable slit lamps or handheld slit lamps. Their complete product range is available on their website keelerusa.com.

Nidek, Inc

Nidek is a Japan-based company initiated in 1971. Today, they have extended their reach across the globe. Nidek slit lamps come in four variants SL-2000, SL-1800, SL-450, and SL-250. 

Reichert Technologies

The history of Reichert goes back to the 18th century. Their slit lamps come in 3 choices traditional design Xcel 455, compact design Xcel 255, and portable design PSL.

Topcon Medical Systems

A leading US-based company manufacturing a wide range of ophthalmic solutions. Topcon offers economical SL-2G slit lamps along with a range of D series Topcon slit lamps with more advancements.

Oculus

Renowned for slit lamps that stand out with up to 40x magnification, integrated power management, and more. Oculus SL-IC5 is worth checking. 

Conclusion

For an eye care practitioner, it is important to understand the usage guidelines of a slit lamp as it enables the examiner to look into the layers of the eye thoroughly. It is an inevitable part of ophthalmic practice. Slit lamps and other apparatus make diagnoses possible. Follow the best practices with the right equipment for accurate results.

The post Top 7 slit lamps for your eye care practice appeared first on Eyetrraction.

The “eye” term alone is searched by up to 10 million people globally. Approx a million searches are registered in Google for eyeglasses and a plethora of searches for eye doctors and eye conditions.

The point here is people are desperately looking for information for their eye problems such as refractive conditions like Hypermetropia, Myopia, Astigmatism, other eye conditions, products, etc., and if you have a solution to mitigate their challenges then there is a great potential for you to promote your business by pushing valuable content on search engines.

Whether you are an eye care practitioner, eyewear manufacturer, lab owner, ophthalmologist or anyone in the optical business blogging enables you to leverage these five considerable benefits.

Let’s look into each.

Brand building of your optical business

A significant advantage of blogging is that it enables you to establish your brand identity. When a searcher enters a query in Google and finds your website blog link with relevant content they are naturally instigated to visit your website. 

With an informational, engaging, and value-providing optical blog your brand can build a reliable image and instill trust in the reader’s mind. Further, blogging allows you to adjust the tone, voice, style, and language of your branded content. It can help the audience identify your brand with your content.

Consistent and scheduled blog posting on your optical business website will attract your readers to keep coming back to your site. It allows them to interact with you, share their reviews and understand your business and the value you provide.

Attain relevant traffic

Whether you are an eye care practice or a manufacturer, publishing content on eye conditions, eye care, optical products, and machinery will increase your visibility in search results.

The more you are visible in SERPs (Search Engine Result Pages) the more traffic you will receive. It will increase the opportunities for conversions and eventually more sales. Sharing the same content on your social media accounts can further drive more traffic to your site.

Make sure that your content is not oozing keyword but rightly balanced, include internal links to other web pages, and promote your blog on various platforms for more visibility.

Optimize your ranking

Not only does blogging help you establish a robust brand image but also earns credibility in the eyes of Google. It is rightly said by Wendy Piersall that “Google loves you when everyone else loves you first”. When your blog attracts visitors from different sources, search giants like Google consider your website as a valuable source of information and hence reward you with more visibility and higher rankings.

SEO is important to make your optical blogs comply with Google’s standards. Remember, to optimize your images with alt text, meta tags, heading tags, and such other parameters in order to climb up the ranking ladder.

Drive more conversions

According to research by Kapost, “Brands publishing 15 blog posts per month generates 1200 new leads during that time.” It is studied to be 62% percent less expensive than conventional marketing means while driving 3x more leads.

Clearly, content is the king. It has great potential to boost your marketing endeavors. When created thoughtfully and published carefully, it can do wonders for your optical brand.

Increase engagement

Blogging renders a platform for readers to share their views, queries and give feedback on the content that you post. 

This kind of buzz, not only improves user engagement on your platform but also earns the trust of Google. User-generated content is highly appreciated by search engines. Online businesses can significantly benefit from more impressions in SERPs.

It also encourages word-of-mouth marketing of your brand. It can be said that engagement on blogs is pretty impactful and must be taken into consideration.

Summary

Do you want to share your knowledge, earn exposure, develop your brand voice, or improve your search ranking? If that’s the case, you’re probably keen to start a blog for your optical business.

Starting and reinforcing a blog might be difficult, but we’re here to help. If you’d like to have professional optical content providers onboard then just drop us an email at info@eyetrraction.in.

The post 5 benefits of blogging for an optical business appeared first on Eyetrraction.