Legacy meets technology
The future is clear.
Responses provided by Mario Polanco | Owner & Optician at Vision Optical
Vision Optical has opened its third location in Methuen, Massachusetts, bringing together three generations of optical experience with a modern approach to vision care. Located just a short drive from Eyebot’s Boston headquarters, the new store pairs advanced technology with the personalized service independent optical shops are known for. We spoke with owner and optician Mario Polanco about carrying his family’s legacy forward, why he brought Eyebot into the new location, and what he believes the future of independent optical looks like.
1. Tell me about your new location: What made you decide to open here, and what's the vision for it?
As our third Vision Optical location, we chose this specific spot because we wanted to be easily accessible in the heart of Methuen, MA. Our vision for this space is to act as the blueprint for the future of our practice—a modern, welcoming environment where cutting-edge optical technology like the Eyebot seamlessly meets personalized, one-on-one patient care.
2. You've been in this field a while. What first drew you to optical, and what's kept you in it?
Optical has always been a fundamental part of who I am—this is our family business, and I’m proud to be the third generation carrying it forward. Growing up in this environment, I saw firsthand just how much helping someone see clearly and feel confident changes their day-to-day life. What keeps me in it, though, is the ability to build on that foundation. Blending my family's legacy of deep, personal care with exciting new technological advancements is incredibly fulfilling.
3. What made you decide to bring an Eyebot kiosk into the shop? What problem were you hoping it would solve?
We are always looking for ways to modernize the patient experience. I wanted to reduce wait times and remove some of the traditional bottlenecks in eye care. The Eyebot kiosk solves this by offering quick, autonomous vision checks, so our patients are actively engaged the moment they walk through the door, rather than just taking a seat in a waiting room.
4. Walk me through what a customer's visit looks like now with the kiosk in place — how does it fit alongside the work you and your team do?
Now, instead of just flipping through a magazine, the customer's experience starts the second they walk in. They can use the Eyebot kiosk right away for a fast, interactive initial assessment. Instead of replacing our staff, it actually empowers them—our team uses the insights gathered from the kiosk to provide a much more tailored consultation. It perfectly blends automated efficiency with our signature personal touch.
5. What does adding this kind of technology let you do that you couldn't before — for your customers or for the business?
For our customers, it offers an interactive, futuristic experience that significantly cuts down on wait times. For the business, it dramatically improves our daily flow. It saves us valuable time per patient on initial checks, which means we can spend that reclaimed time doing what we do best—helping them pick the perfect frames and consulting with them—while still allowing us to see more patients overall.
6. Where do you see independent optical shops heading over the next few years, and how do you want yours to fit into that?
Independent shops have to embrace technology to stay competitive against larger corporate chains and online retailers. The future of independent optical is definitely a hybrid model: high-tech diagnostics combined with highly personalized customer service. We want Vision Optical Lab to be at the absolute forefront of that movement.
7. If a customer walked out happy after their first visit, what would you want them to be saying about the experience?
I would want them to say, 'That was the easiest, most thorough eye care experience I’ve ever had. The technology was amazing, and the staff really cared about finding the perfect solution for me.
Vision Optical’s mission is to provide exceptional eye care with personalized attention and advanced technology for optimal vision and eye health. Vision Optical is owned and operated by Mario Polanco, D.O.
The Eyebot kiosk is available at the Methuen location listed below:
📍 Vision Optical | 301D Merrimack St | Methuen, MA 01844 | 978-682-5656
