The 2023 AFOR winners and honorable mention finalists were announced in our July/August issue.

Revisit the digital version of the print edition here.

Here’s the link to our online version here.

Uber Optics out of Petaluma, CA, was a fitting champion of this year’s competition.

Here’s what we had to say: “Über Optics easily captured the hearts of our judges to win first place in INVISION’s 2023 America’s Finest Optical Retailers contest.”

Read the full story here.

See the photo gallery here.

Independent Optical just outside of historic Charleston, SC is a destination practice worthy of its lofty status as this year’s runner up.

Here’s what we had to say: “Everywhere your eye falls there is something to discover: Interior arches and columns; an exposed brick wall; an array of hand-made display tables made of 100-year-old southern yellow pine. This optical is meant to be savored like a glass of refreshing sweet tea.”

Read the full story here.

Check out the gallery here.

A third-place finish in the annual AFOR competition is an impressive feat. We were so glad to see Eyes on Trade earn its place among the best opticals in the nation.

Here’s what we had to say: “Eyes on Trade is a vibrant, fun, inclusive and LGBTQ-affirming practice that began gaining traction soon after it was opened by Dr. Jillian Okeefe in downtown Winston-Salem, NC, five years ago.”

Read the full story here.

Each of the competition’s nine businesses that were awarded honorable mention status brought something unique to the table.

We can’t wait to see what these opticals come up with next!

Here’s what we had to say about The Novel Eye: “The path that led Anthony and Kristen Rebello to open The Novel Eye in the quaint, historic seaside village of Wickford in North Kingstown, RI, last year is a standout example of how dedication and a drive to never stop learning can lead to success.”

Read the full story here.

Here’s what we had to say about Respect Eyecare in Calgary, Alberta, Canada: “Looking to offer a “modern, hip approach … online to in store,” (owner Dr. Steven) Hoang considered the countless pain points that patients had shared with him during his time in the industry and incorporated the positives into Respect Eyecare.”

Read the full story here.

Here’s what we had to say about Dumas Vision Source located in the Texas Panhandle: “The Women’s area is a chic, feminine boutique, while the Men’s area has a masculine, trendy vibe with an industrial edge. The Luxury section has a jewelry store feel ‘like you are in a Neiman Marcus or other high-end store.’”

Read the full story here.

We will continue to post feature stories and galleries of all the 2023 finalists throughout the first half of 2024.

It all leads up to the announcement of next year’s batch of outstanding opticals.

We can’t wait!