A photo of President Obama taken during his historic trip to Cuba showed him sporting a pair of pricey Oliver Peoples sunglasses.The photo of our shades-wearing commander in chief got me wondering about the potential for U.S. optical companies to do business with Cuba, now that the U.S. plans to ease trade restrictions.

“Even though Cuba has been a closed economy, business exists,” according to Juan Carlos Plotnicoff, managing director of Creative Latin Media and a veteran observer of the Central and South American optical markets. “Now that Cuba is opening up, I think there will be more opportunities for optical companies to do business there.”

Although a market for eyewear and other consumer goods will take time to develop in Cuba, demand will undoubtedly rise as Cubans are increasingly exposed to, and participating in the global economy. Although most Cubans now receive eyecare and eyewear free from Cuba’s renowned state-run medical system, a small but growing number buy eyeglasses abroad. Some also obtain glasses from relatives who live abroad, including some who live in the U.S.

Elio’s Optical, an optical retailer in Miami’s Little Havana, has been shipping eyewear from Cuban American customers to family members in Cuba for 30 years. A manager at Elio’s told me the store ships about 25 pairs of glasses a month, although the amount has been declining as Cubans are now sourcing more goods from other Western countries. Clearly, the demand for quality eyewear exists among Cubans, even if few can yet afford it.

That may change as more Cubans start opening small businesses. It probably won’t be long before Cuban entrepreneurs start selling, or even making, affordably priced eyewear. U.S. optical companies looking for business partners in emerging markets should take note.

akarp@jobson.com