Visionary Eye Care Professionals

What Visionary Eye Care Professionals does

Visionary Eye Care Professionals is a private optometry practice founded on June 2, 1996, by Drs. Michael Ciszek and Barbara Butler-Schneider in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. The practice operates two Chicago locations — the flagship Andersonville site (5222 N Clark St, expanded 2016) and a downtown Loop office (181 W Madison St, acquired 2006) — and is currently owned by three individuals: Dr. Michael Ciszek, Dr. Joseph Warner, and Jamar Holloway (Director of Operations). Staffed by approximately 15-20 employees including four board-certified optometrists with distinct specialty credentials (contact lenses, geriatric/ocular disease, dry eye/LGBTQIA+ care), the practice positions itself as a queer, minority-owned business with explicit community ties to the LGBTQ+ community through partnerships with Howard Brown Health Center, Pride ODs membership, and the Rachael's Prize for LGBTQIA+ Focused Care awarded to Dr. Christi Andrzejewski.

The practice generates revenue across five streams: comprehensive eye examinations, prescription eyewear sales featuring a curated portfolio of independent frame brands (lafont Paris, Barton Perreira, Anne et Valentin, Maui Jim, Silhouette, etc.), specialty contact lens sales and fittings (orthokeratology, scleral, hybrid, prosthetic), medical eye care (glaucoma testing, cataract and macular degeneration screening, surgical co-management with Kraff Eye Institute), and Envision by InMode treatments (Lumecca-I IPL, Forma-I RF, Morpheus8) for dry eye, ocular rosacea, and periorbital rejuvenation. Underlying technology includes RevolutionEHR electronic health records, OCT imaging and diagnostic equipment, Weave Pay for online bill payment, Anagram for real-time insurance verification across in-network (VSP, EyeMed) and out-of-network carriers, and the Envision by InMode device platform. Pricing is quote-based and varies by insurance coverage; the practice accepts VSP, EyeMed, BCBS PPO, Cigna, Aetna PPO, Humana PPO, United Healthcare PPO, and Medicare. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer through retail locations, supplemented by community-centric marketing (blog, Instagram, artist residency program, trunk shows, VOSH international outreach) targeting Chicago patients seeking affirming, full-scope optometric care with independent eyewear selection.

Name

Visionary Eye Care Professionals

Legal name

Visionary Eye Care Professionals

Website

https://visionaryec.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Visionary Eye Care Professionals is a private, queer/minority-owned optometry practice operating two Chicago locations (Andersonville and Loop) since 1996, offering comprehensive eye exams, specialty contact lenses, curated independent eyewear, dry eye therapy, and Envision by InMode aesthetic treatments to general, LGBTQ+, pediatric, and geriatric patient segments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Optometry Services

NAICS

Offices of Optometrists (62132), Optical Goods Retailers (45613)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Ophthalmic Goods (3851)

akta.pro primary industry

Optometry Clinics (Primary Eye Care) (HLAKAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care (HLAKAKAA), Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Devices (Frames, Lenses, Lens Edging/Finishing Equipment) (HLAHAJAD)

Keywords

• Optometry services
• Comprehensive eye exams
• Contact lens fittings
• Dry eye treatment
• Prescription eyewear

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Eye Examinations: Comprehensive eye exams for routine vision care and medical eye health. Annual exams required for contact lens wearers. Insurance accepted including VSP, EyeMed, BCBS PPO, Cigna, Aetna PPO, Humana PPO, United Healthcare PPO, and Medicare.
2. Eyewear Sales (Glasses): Sale of prescription glasses and sunglasses featuring curated independent eyewear brands. Includes custom lens fabrication, frame selection assistance, and follow-up adjustments.
3. Contact Lens Sales: Sale and fitting of contact lenses including specialty lenses. Contact lens prescriptions valid for one year requiring annual exams.
4. Medical Treatments (Envision): In-office aesthetic and therapeutic treatments using InMode technology including IPL for dry eye, radiofrequency treatments, and other periorbital procedures.
5. Lens Relensing and Repairs: Relensing existing favorite frames with new prescriptions. Frame repairs and adjustments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Visionary Eye Care Professionals is a private optometry practice based in Chicago that provides comprehensive eye examinations, prescription eyewear, contact lens fittings, specialty dry eye treatments, and aesthetic eye care treatments. The practice serves individual patients seeking routine vision care as well as those needing specialty and aesthetic eye treatments, utilizing technologies such as Envision by InMode for aesthetic procedures.

Product overview

Visionary Eye Care Professionals is an optometry practice founded in 1996 with two Chicago locations (Andersonville and the Loop), offering a unified suite of eye care and eyewear services. The practice combines core medical optometry services (eye exams, glaucoma testing, cataract and macular degeneration screenings, emergency care, pediatric and geriatric optometry, and surgery co-management) with prescription eyewear offerings including eyeglasses and specialty contact lenses (orthokeratology, scleral, hybrid, and prosthetic). The Envision by InMode platform — incorporating Lumecca-I (IPL), Forma-I (radiofrequency), and Morpheus8 (fractional technology) — is offered as a differentiated in-office treatment service for dry eye, ocular rosacea, and periorbital rejuvenation. The practice curates an independent frame vendor portfolio (including lafont Paris, Barton Perreira, OVVO Optics, and others) and sells supplemental products including EyePromise eye-health supplements (Zeaxanthin and Lutein), OcuSoft eye masks, and FRESHKOTE dry eye drops. Insurance and billing operations are supported through integrations with Anagram (real-time insurance verification and claims), Weave Pay (patient bill payment), and a RevolutionEHR patient portal for prescription and appointment management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Comprehensive Eye Examinations
• Prescription Eyewear
• Contact Lens Fittings
• Dry Eye Treatment
• Aesthetic Eye Treatments

Quantifiable outcome

• 30 years of continuous operation in Chicago
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VOSH/InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Michael Ciszek serves as VOSH/International President. The practice actively participates in international humanitarian optometry missions and educational outreach. VOSH (Volunteer Optometric Services To Humanity) connects students with optometry programs internationally and provides vision care to underserved populations worldwide.
• Howard Brown Health CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago community health organization focused on LGBTQ health. Dr. Michael Ciszek provides care to underserved LGBTQ patients through this partnership, reflecting the practice's commitment to the queer community.
• SynergeyesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHybrid contact lens manufacturer that donated fitting sets (Duette and UltraHealth) to the Areandina Pereira SVOSH chapter during Dr. Ciszek's international outreach trip to Colombia.
• InModecoreTechnology or IntegrationMedical device company whose Envision platform Visionary uses for dry eye treatments (Lumecca-I IPL, Forma-I RF) and periorbital rejuvenation. Envision is an exclusive in-office technology transforming the practice's service offerings beyond standard optometry.
• RevolutionEHRcoreTechnology or IntegrationElectronic health records and patient portal platform. Visionary uses RevolutionEHR for patient records, appointment scheduling, and the patient portal where patients can access prescriptions and order contacts.
• EyePromiseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEye health supplement manufacturer founded by Dr. Dennis Gierhart. Visionary resells EyePromise supplements including Zeaxanthin and Lutein products, with auto-refill option available. Official supplement of the Boston Red Sox.
• Illinois College of Optometry (ICO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisionary participates in ICO's externship program since 2009, hosting optometry students for clinical training. Students rotate every three months, learning primary eye care practice operations.
• Kraff Eye InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago-area eye surgery center. Visionary has well-known reputation for pre- and post-operative LASIK, PRK, and cataract surgery co-management with Kraff.
• InfantSEEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic health program administered by AOA providing comprehensive infant eye and vision assessments regardless of income or insurance. Visionary is an InfantSEE provider offering free first-year assessments.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Warby Parker: Direct-to-consumer eyewear retailer offering prescription glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses through e-commerce and physical stores with integrated eye exams. Competes directly with Visionary for eyewear sales and increasingly for optometry services in Chicago.
• MyEyeDr. Optometry practice group offering comprehensive eye exams, contact lens fittings, and a curated frame selection across hundreds of U.S. locations. Closely comparable service mix and retail-optometry hybrid model.
• Eye Boutique: Midwest-based optical retailer founded in 1983 and headquartered in Lombard, Illinois, with multiple Chicagoland-area locations offering eye exams, contact lens fittings, and frame retail. Closest geographic and scale peer to Visionary.
• For Eyes: Optical retailer offering comprehensive eye exams, contact lens fittings, and eyewear with a neighborhood-store model. Comparable boutique-style positioning and service mix to Visionary.

Broad incumbents

• LensCrafters: National optical retail chain owned by EssilorLuxottica offering eye exams, contact lens fittings, and eyewear across mall-based and freestanding locations. Overlaps with Visionary on core services but as part of a much broader portfolio.
• Pearle Vision: Established national optical retailer franchise also owned by EssilorLuxottica providing eye exams, contact lenses, and eyewear. Comparable service offering but operates at much greater scale and broader geographic reach.
• America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses: Value-priced national optical chain owned by National Vision offering eye exams, contact lenses, and two-for-one eyewear deals. Competes primarily on price and represents the mass-market end of Visionary's competitive set.
• Costco Optical: Optical department within Costco warehouse clubs offering eye exams, contact lens fittings, and competitively priced eyewear. Membership-driven model competes on value and convenience rather than boutique curation.
• Target Optical: In-store optical retail operated by EssilorLuxottica within Target stores, offering eye exams and eyewear alongside general merchandise. Convenience-driven model that competes on accessibility rather than specialty depth.

Others

• SkinSpirit: Medspa chain offering IPL, radiofrequency, and other aesthetic treatments. Adjacent to Visionary through overlap on periorbital aesthetic services delivered via Envision by InMode, but does not compete in core optometry or eyewear.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/visionaryeyecare
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/visionary-eye-care

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Visionary Eye Care Professionals