AI-Powered Vision Test Kiosks Are Coming

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Will Your Patients Start Going to Robot Eye Exam Kiosks?

In late fall, Zenni Optical, a low-cost online eyewear company, announced it had teamed up with Eyebot, an AI-powered, 90-second vision test, to launch 10 Eyebot S1 kiosks. These kiosks will be placed in locations with high foot traffic and, according to Eyebot, remove traditional barriers to vision tests.

Zenni and Eyebot will deploy the first two kiosks in Boston-area malls; eight more will be deployed across New England through the beginning of 2025. Kiosk users will receive a “vision test” and can order Zenni eyewear in one visit. The plan is to charge $20 for the vision test and prescription. The shipping and prescription costs will be waived if a patient purchases $49 glasses from Zenni.

Zenni Optical and Eyebot

According to Matthias Hofmann, PhD, founder and CEO of Eyebot, “Our mission is to simplify and lower the barriers to vision care for everyone … By partnering with Zenni, we provide quick and efficient vision tests and ensure that people can buy affordable eyewear immediately after their test.”

The company also claims to quickly triage and refer urgent care to “support eye care professionals.”

My Two Cents

I passed on reporting this news earlier this fall. I encountered it while researching what you will read in the Can You Relate section below. Unfortunately, companies such as Zenni are commoditizing a spectacle prescription, giving it the same value as a bottle of Coke or a Snickers bar from a vending machine.

OUTSIDE THE LANE

Poor Air Quality Bad for the Eyes

A recent study from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus highlights a significant correlation between air pollution and ocular health, suggesting climate change's adverse effect on the eyes. Published in the journal Clinical Ophthalmology, the research found that clinical visits for ocular surface conditions more than doubled during periods with high ambient particulate matter (PM) levels. Led by Jennifer Patnaik, PhD, MHS, the study is one of the first to explore this link.

The research team, including Katherine James, PhD, analyzed data on PM concentrations in the Denver Metropolitan area and tracked 144,313 visits for ocular irritation and allergies. They discovered that visits were 2.2 times higher than average when PM₁₀ levels reached 110, with conjunctivitis being the second most common condition.

The study underscores the systemic health effects of climate stressors such as air quality, wildfires, temperature, and drought conditions. Prof. Patnaik emphasized the wide-ranging health risks of air pollution, including lung, kidney, and cardiovascular issues, and emerging evidence links it to less studied diseases, such as dementia. Prof. James highlighted the need for transdisciplinary research to fully understand these effects.

Senior author Malik Kahook, MD, noted that the study opens avenues for further investigation into how environmental factors affect eye health. The team aims to identify preventive strategies and new treatment protocols, particularly for vulnerable populations in heavily polluted areas. The findings emphasize the urgency of addressing air pollution to protect ocular health. (Read more here.)

My Two Cents

This one’s obvious, but it’s great to point to some science connecting air pollution and ocular health. It would also make sense that patients who live in large cities with some of the worst quality air would also deal with dry eye. If you practice in an area plagued by poor quality air, this study would be great to share with your patients via social media or email.

CAN YOU RELATE

I recently had a 27-year-old patient come into the clinic who had never had an eye exam before—yet he was wearing glasses. One would assume these were over-the-counter readers.

Nope—our auto-lensometer read -1.50 DS OU. So, did this patient get this pair of glasses from a friend, colleague, or other source? Maybe he snagged an old pair of their glasses.

Amazon.com, brand HUIHUIKK

Nope again. Turns out, he bought them on Amazon. If you clicked the link, you’ll note that the item description clearly reads, “**These are not reading glasses.**” He guessed what power he needed based on his sister’s prescription and voila—his prescription arrived via Amazon Prime for less than $20! Now, these weren’t the most fashion-forward spectacles that have ever existed, but it’s worth noting that the patient didn’t care. He wanted something cheap and easy, and that’s what he got. He only came to the clinic to see me because his eye had felt uncomfortable recently—and no, not from the glasses, but rather because a tiny foreign body had lodged itself in his cornea a few days prior.

As I mentioned above, the commoditization of glasses has progressed by leaps and bounds in the past few years and is shows no signs of abating. Companies see eyeglasses as a quick way to make a few bucks and seem able to avoid eye doctors who should serve as gatekeepers to ensure the public gets proper eye care and medical supplies, which include spectacles, glasses, and contact lenses. Remember to show your patients just how much you care about their eyes and remind them of how vital yearly exams are for their ocular and systemic health!