Visual Optics’ Gary Devlin and Sarah Wyllie at ADONZ

Rangiora-based boutique lens lab Visual Optics has been awarded the Hellers Emerging Business Award for the North Canterbury region.

Founding owner Sarah Wyllie said she was honoured by the recognition and credited team members Gary Devlin, Lisa Paenga, Dan Curtis, Tara Gibson and Jody Mikaere, saying they each bring extensive experience in customer service, lens laboratories and lens fittings.

Visual Optics was born in 2020 after Wyllie’s former workplace, the Essilor lab in Christchurch, closed. She had far too much knowledge to simply throw it away, said Wyllie, and felt a keen sense of duty to support the future of the optical industry. “There’s a growing trend occurring with more salespeople being employed within the industry than there are experienced people, in both retail and labs, and as more and more experienced optical folk either leave the industry or retire, the less the new ones will learn.”

Wyllie said she knew she had to ‘grab the bull by its horns’ and start a lens lab. Now, that lab is often called upon for advice on the best options for a patient, she said. “Three years later, tucked in beside the big guns, we’re still here doing what we do best with our knowledge and expertise and we’re continuing to grow.”

Visual Optics specialises in supplying and glazing outside range and extreme prescriptions. It also offers unique onsite handcrafted custom glazing from its specialised fitting technicians. Achieving the absolute best cosmetic appearance and the final finish of a pair of high prescription lenses is paramount to Visual Optics, said Wyllie. “Bevel position can make or break how good lenses will look in a frame and we go the extra mile to ensure we glaze these for the best possible finish for the patient. All our lenses are hand fitted and inspected individually – you may call us old fashioned, but we prefer to call it tailormade.”

The Rangiora lab sources its lenses from several overseas suppliers. “Our suppliers achieve the highest prescriptions that I've ever come across,” said Wyllie. “We believe there is the need for choice in the industry. With our knowledge and expertise in our field, we can offer the best tailored solutions for patients, without the higher prices or the fanfare of the corporates – just the best quality products and finishes and good, honest information.”