Francophone African optical market: Senegal 18 billion XOF/year, Ivory Coast 28 billion, Nigeria $850M. A modern optician combines 3 revenue streams: eye exams (clinical), glasses (e-commerce + showroom), contacts (recurring).

TL;DR

- Hybrid stack: online booking (eye exam) + glasses catalog + virtual try-on.

- Webcam virtual try-on = +35% conversion.

- Recurring contacts via Wave subscription = stable MRR.

Optical clinic architecture

`

[Patient]

↓

[Optical clinic site]

├── Frames + sunglasses catalog

├── Subscription contacts

├── Eye tests / consultation booking

├── Virtual try-on

└── Patient portal (my prescriptions, order history)

[Backend]

├── E-commerce (Medusa)

├── Booking (Cal.com integrated)

├── Frame + lens stock

├── Prescription tracking (correction)

└── Contacts subscription

`

Step 1 — product model

`prisma

model Frame {

id String @id @default(cuid())

slug String @unique

brand String

model String

type String

shape String

material String

colors String[]

gender String

priceXof Int

images Image[]

stock Json

isActive Boolean @default(true)

}

model Lens {

id String @id @default(cuid())

type String

material String

coatings String[]

priceXof Int

}

model EyeExam {

id String @id @default(cuid())

customerId String

scheduledAt DateTime

durationMin Int @default(30)

status String

examinerId String

prescription Prescription?

paymentXof Int

}

model Prescription {

id String @id @default(cuid())

customerId String

examId String @unique

rightEye Json

leftEye Json

pupillaryDistance Int

validUntil DateTime

}

model LensSubscription {

id String @id @default(cuid())

customerId String

lensProductId String

frequency String

nextDelivery DateTime

active Boolean @default(true)

}

`

Step 2 — virtual try-on

`tsx

'use client';

import { useEffect, useRef } from 'react';

export function VirtualTryOn({ frame }) {

const videoRef = useRef(null);

const canvasRef = useRef(null);

useEffect(() => {

async function setup() {

const stream = await navigator.mediaDevices.getUserMedia({ video: true });

if (videoRef.current) videoRef.current.srcObject = stream;

const faceDetection = await loadFaceDetection();

function loop() {

if (videoRef.current && canvasRef.current) {

const detections = faceDetection.detect(videoRef.current);

drawFrameOnFace(canvasRef.current, frame, detections);

}

requestAnimationFrame(loop);

}

loop();

}

setup();

}, [frame]);

return (

);

}

`

Try-on = +35% conversion on product pages.

Step 3 — checkout with correction

`tsx

'use client';

export default function LensOptionsPage() {

const [hasPrescription, setHasPrescription] = useState(null);

const [prescription, setPrescription] = useState({});

const [lensType, setLensType] = useState('single_vision');

const [coatings, setCoatings] = useState([]);

return (

);

}

`

Step 4 — contact lens subscription

`tsx

Contact subscription - never run out

Your contact box delivered automatically

Monthly (daily contacts)

Every 2 months (2-week contacts)

Quarterly (monthly contacts)

-15% vs individual purchase · Cancel anytime

Subscribe

`

Subscription = stable MRR. 1 loyal contacts customer = ~300K XOF/year recurring.

Step 5 — eye exam booking

See dental clinic method → — similar pattern:

• Cal.com integrated
• Optometrist availability slots
• SMS + WhatsApp confirmation
• Digital prescription capture in office

Step 6 — local SEO + e-commerce

Target articles:

• "Cheap glasses Dakar: 2026 quality guide"
• "Eye test Almadies Cocody: how much?"
• "Contacts or glasses: pros and cons"
• "How to choose the right frame per face"
• "Blue light blocker: useful or marketing?"

GMB optimized "Optician Dakar" / "Eyewear Almadies" like dental method →.

Real case — Almadies optical clinic

FAQ

Q: Accurate virtual try-on?

A: ~80-85% accuracy in 2026 (MediaPipe Face Mesh). Enough for pre-selection. Physical try recommended before final purchase.

Q: Selling corrective glasses without local prescription?

A: In Senegal, prescription mandatory for corrective lenses. Non-corrective sunglasses = free. CI similar.

Q: Competition?

A: Optique 2000 (international), Sun Vision (SN), Optical World (CI). Far from saturated market. Premium niche reinventable.

Conclusion

A digitalized optical clinic = 2-3× revenue of classical clinic. 15-30M XOF investment for full stack (e-commerce + try-on + booking + subscriptions). 18-24 month ROI on average optician.