At Winchester Optical, Vision Is a Family Business

At , taking care of patients’ eyesight truly is a family business.

Founded in 1958 by the late Arthur Deering, the practice is now owned by his son, John Deering. John’s wife Helen keeps the books. Their son, Joseph Deering, is the optometrist.

“Our service philosophy is that we want to offer the best sight – vision – for the patients who come to see us,” said Helen Deering.

Owner John Deering is an optician and contact lens specialist who has been working in the field for over 30 years.

“He’s gotten a lot of recognition nationally and internationally for contact lens fitting,” said Helen Deering. “Whether it’s as simple as a soft lens or a more complex rigid design, he fits all the different kinds of lenses.”

In addition to the family, there are also two other opticians and two administrative workers on staff. 

“We take care of our customers. Whatever they need,” Helen Deering said. Whether a customer walks in for a simple eyeglass repair or has a more complicated vision issue, Deering said, Winchester Optical focuses on providing customer service.

One of the ways Winchester Optical distinguishes itself from its competitors is by fabricating all eyeglass lenses in house, a rarity in the field. Another way they set themselves apart, Deering said, is by offering the highest-quality products. 

They also stay on top of the latest advances in lens design and technology and eyeglass customization. One of their new instruments is the Opti-Cam, which uses a computer to take precise measurements of things like the distance between each patient’s eyes and eyeglass lenses.

Keeping up with vision needs is especially challenging and necessary in a world where the technology patients use also changes rapidly. Now, Deering said, “We have to be able to see the screen on our computer. We have to be able to text message.”

However, John Deering’s commitment to keeping on top of the latest trends and technology in the eye industry helps them serve their patients’ changing needs.

Helen Deering herself was drawn into the business by marriage. “I do the bookkeeping for the office. I sort of saw it coming. My mother-in-law did it before I did.”

What she didn’t see coming was her son, Joseph, joining the family business also. But after getting a degree in biochemistry from the University of Massachusetts, Joseph Deering couldn’t see himself as a biochemist. He asked about joining Winchester Optical instead.

His father said, “Come work with the public and see what this is all about,” recalled Helen Deering. So Joseph Deering did join the practice and, having found his true calling, entered New England College of Optometry. After graduating two years ago, he became the optometrist at Winchester Optical.

“He loves, loves, loves his profession. He’s a real people person and very enthusiastic,” said Helen Deering. “We’re thrilled to have him here.”

His ideas have given the business renewed focus, Deering said, but as always they remain committed to their customers.

“We have the most wonderful customers. As much as we are a family business, our customers are our family. They remember John as a boy. They see our granddaughter,” Deering said, noting a picture of their baby granddaughter hangs on the wall of the office. “It’s a very family-oriented business.”