Partnering with retailer Zenni, Eyebot’s self-serve kiosks offer 90-second vision tests

A new collaboration between automated vision testing company Eyebot and online eyewear retailer Zenni will see the rollout of self-serve testing kiosks designed to provide prescriptions in just 90 seconds. Eyebot's S1 kiosk offers a streamlined alternative to traditional eye exams. First, it scans a person's eyes using infrared light. Then it guides the user through a visual acuity chart, providing additional data for a prescription. People can also place their current pair of glasses in the unit's lensometer, which scans lenses in 3 seconds. The entire process is self-serve and touch-free, and offered free of charge.

If a new prescription is needed, the collected data is sent to a tele-doctor in Eyebot's network, who reviews the test session and issues a prescription, which costs USD 20. The Rx is sent to the user via email or transmitted directly to a retailer's ordering system — in this case, to Zenni, which sells glasses starting at USD 12.99. Zenni waives the prescription fee for customers spending USD 49 or more on eyewear. The first two co-branded kiosks are now operational in Boston-area malls, with a further eight to roll out in New England over the coming months.

Eyebot aims to tackle a pressing healthcare issue: 30 million Americans currently live with uncorrected vision problems, with access particularly limited in lower-income communities. One-quarter of US counties lack an eye doctor, making routine vision care challenging for many. By reducing barriers around cost, time and location, automated testing — made viable through partnerships with retailers like Zenni — is a scalable solution that could help reshape how underserved communities access basic vision care. Beyond prescriptions, Eyebot's goal is to expand into diagnosing eye disorders and diseases.