And just like that—Yuri Kisilevich and Stella Sharts, the married owners of Blink Optical in Lake Forest—are celebrating 12 years of delighting customers on the North Shore.

“We still love what we do. It’s a passion for us,” explains Kisilevich. “Sometimes I stay awake at night thinking about my clients. They are so wonderful to us—we want to make sure that we always take care of them.”

Blink Optical specializes in high-end prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses, as well as designer eyeglass frames and sunglasses. They exclusively offer several name-brand styles, including Alain Mikli, Lunor, Cartier, Prada, and Robert Marc—products that Kisilevich carefully selects from tradeshows he attends annually in Las Vegas, New York City, Milan, and Paris. Kisilevich also keeps a close eye on what is trending—more round and matte frames are currently very popular.

Blink prides itself on having lines that can’t be found anywhere else on the North Shore. “Representing a brand is more than just carrying it in our store,” explains Kisilevich. “It’s knowing how to work with the product, understanding the production process, adjust it properly and install the correct lenses. Proper lens selection and installation make it a very custom experience and we don’t charge any more for this process.” Blink has a lab on site where they cut and custom fit all of their lenses.

With more than two decades working in the eyeware business, Kisilevich and Sharts are experts at selecting frames that work best for their customers. “When a customer comes in, we do our best to help them pick the frames that are best—in terms of style, function, and comfort,” says Sharts. “We hate to see clients wander from frame to frame, not knowing which one to pick. You will never see this happening in our store. It’s funny how often the first set of frames we choose for them are the ones that they buy.”

Because eyewear is such a significant part of making a first impression, the professionals at Blink Optical take this very seriously. “When someone leaves our store with their glasses, they need to feel great and look great,” says Kisilevich. “If they don’t, it’s a reflection on us. We are very skilled at picking out eyewear that makes someone look and feel great.”

Blink Optical is located at 654 Bank Lane in Lake Forest, 847-234-6541, blinkoptic.com.