AT INVISION WE make much of what is known as “the experience” — going above and beyond to deliver truly memorable eyecare. For sheer commitment and fun, it would be hard to top the experience at Wada Optometry, where Dr. Garrett Wada and his team have created a Star Trek-themed optometry office. This is more than just an eyecare business with a schtick; it’s a genuine experience in which top-quality eyecare is provided to patients while immersing them in the otherworldly environment of the Star Trek fictional universe.
THE IDEA
Wada’s career as a practice owner began in 1993 when he purchased an existing practice with one 20-foot exam room and a very modest frame assortment. He invested in new equipment and added a lab, laying the foundation for the forward-looking practice that Wada Optometry would become.
Some years later, Ron Bouma, a patient who happened to be a Hollywood set designer, came in for an appointment and made a passing comment that he could “design the office like a starship.” This conversation sparked Wada’s imagination and an idea began to take shape, “eventually leading to the development of the unique office environment that patients [now] enjoy.”
THE EXECUTION
Wada Optometry offers a fully immersive Star Trek experience featuring a mini bridge area with comfortable seating, a frame display area resembling the Starship corridors so familiar to fans of the many Star Trek TV series, a celestial ceiling, a voice-activated ship computer, and numerous LCARS-inspired monitors. (Translation for non-Trekkies: Library Computer Access and Retrieval System —basically the Star Trek universe’s take on what modern-day computers and devices will have evolved into centuries from now.)
But the design is not just about aesthetics — according to Wada, “It’s about crafting a fun, engaging environment that makes patients excited to visit their eye doctor.”
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THE REWARDS
According to Wada, the office’s unique atmosphere attracts Trekkies and sci-fi fans from all over, many arriving for the appointments in Star Trek uniforms or T-shirts. It even caught the eye of a Star Trek fan production, Borg Hunters, which chose it as the set for a fan film. In short, it’s a “word of mouth sensation,” a claim backed up by Wada Optometry’s more than 47K followers on TikTok and more than 38K on Instagram.
“When patients walk through the door, you can see the big grins on their faces as they explore the office, phones in hand, capturing videos and photos of the unique environment,” says Wada, who believes that by investing heavily in both the Star Trek theme and his patient care, he “not only meets the highest standards of optometric care but also offers an experience that patients are eager to share with others.”
Do It Yourself: Create a
Themed Office
- ON THE SAFE SIDE. Seek legal advice first. Without permission, avoid character names and copyrighted music, and don’t imply affiliation with the creator.
- CORE VALUES. Ensure the chosen theme aligns with your business’s core values and mission.
- COMMIT. No half measures — create a cohesive theme throughout your store, from decor to staff uniforms.
- FEELING IT? Ensure your staff is genuinely excited about the theme and can engage with customers.
- GET POSTING. Themed offices were made for social media: make sure you’re posting and encouraging people to share.
