For brick-and-mortar retailers who think e-tailing, showrooming and other forms of multichannel retailing are creating an unfair competitive environment, consider the possibility of eyewear vending machines. While this may sound like science fiction, the technologies already exist and when combined with a little technological innovation could dispense a pair of Rx eyeglasses.

Picture it, a shopping mall kiosk equipped with refraction, lens casting, edging and 3D printing, all automated and all built into one integrated device. The user starts the process by gazing into the automated refractor, allowing the machine to determine their prescription. They make their selection from a range of frames that can be produced by the 3D printer, and the manufacturing process begins.

The lens is cast with the person’s prescription and edged to fit the selected frame. Out pops a finished and customized pair of eyeglasses. It could happen! Of course, some steps would still need to be engineered, but it’s closer to reality than it is to fantasy.

However, let’s make sure that if this comes to fruition, the machine refers the patient to a nearby doctor for a comprehensive eye exam. Like now, we don’t want people thinking that getting a refraction, whether automated or not, is the same as having their eyes checked by their eye doctor. The need to reinforce the message that a comprehensive eye exam will always be necessary to maintain the health of our eyes and our bodies will always exist. Some things can’t be automated.

If the eyewear vending scenario is to be realized, it will most likely be later rather than sooner. However, consider the fact that something once as farfetched as smart eyewear already exists, bringing us a world of information with the flick of a finger or a simple voice command. It’s closer than our fingertips. It’s right in front of our eyes. If wearables exist, who’s to say eyewear vending machines won’t be far behind.

jsailer@jobson.com