eCommerce Platform with AR Virtual Try-On for Malta's Leading Opticians
Client: Optika Opticians
Malta's leading optical retailer needed more than a standard online shop. We built a custom eCommerce experience with AR-powered virtual try-on that lets customers see how frames look on their face before they buy.
The Challenge
Optika Opticians is Malta's most recognised eyewear brand, with multiple retail locations across the island. Despite strong foot traffic, online sales were virtually non-existent. The company's existing website was purely informational -- no eCommerce capability, no appointment booking, and no way for customers to browse the catalogue digitally.
The core challenge with selling eyewear online is that customers need to see how frames look on their face. Without this capability, return rates in the optical industry average 25-30%, making eCommerce margins razor-thin. Optika needed a solution that would give customers the confidence to purchase online while reducing the costly return cycle.
Additionally, the business needed to integrate online appointment booking for eye exams and lens fittings, along with a lens configurator that could handle the complexity of prescription lenses, coatings, and lens types -- a product configuration challenge far more complex than typical eCommerce.
The Solution
We built Optika's eCommerce platform on Shopify Plus, customised extensively with bespoke theme development and custom applications. The centrepiece of the experience is an AR-powered virtual try-on feature built with WebAR and Three.js, allowing customers to see frames overlaid on their face in real time using their device camera -- no app download required.
We developed a custom lens configurator that walks customers through prescription input, lens type selection (single vision, bifocal, progressive), and coating options (anti-reflective, blue light, photochromic). The configurator dynamically calculates pricing and provides clear visual previews at each step, turning a complex product into an intuitive buying experience.
An integrated appointment booking system connects directly to Optika's store calendars, enabling customers to book eye exams and fittings online. Payment processing through Stripe supports both full purchases and deposit-based bookings, and the entire platform was optimised for mobile since over 70% of Optika's target audience browses on smartphones.
The Results
Online Sales
Increase from zero
Fewer Returns
Below industry avg
More Appointments
Booked online
Try-On Usage
Of online shoppers
The launch of Optika's eCommerce platform created an entirely new revenue stream, with online sales growing 200% in the first six months. The AR virtual try-on feature proved critical -- 72% of online shoppers used it before purchasing, and return rates dropped 35% below the industry average. Online appointment bookings surged by 50%, freeing up in-store staff from phone-based scheduling. The platform now accounts for a significant and growing share of Optika's total revenue.
Technology Stack
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