Independent Optical Laboratories
Independent Vision is a wholesale optical laboratory in Greensboro, NC producing digital freeform lenses and proprietary anti-reflective coatings for independent optometrists, ophthalmologists, and eyewear retailers across the United States on a B2B per-order basis.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersGreensboro, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Independent Optical Laboratories does
Independent Vision (DBA: Independent Optical Laboratories) is a wholesale optical laboratory founded in 2019 and headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina. The company operates a single state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at 4253 Piedmont Pkwy, producing digital freeform lenses and advanced anti-reflective (AR) coatings using a semi-automated process with handcrafted quality control. Its product portfolio centers on the proprietary Indie line — including Indie Freeform Lenses, Indie HDX, and Indie Pure AR coatings — alongside branded partner products from HOYA, Shamir, Schneider, and IOT, plus add-on services such as photochromics, polarization, tinting, and specialty finishing. The company is 100% independently owned with no disclosed venture or private equity backing and positions itself as a structural alternative to big box optical labs by committing to never compete with its customers.
Independent Vision sells exclusively on a B2B basis to independent eye care providers (optometrists, ophthalmologists) and independent eyewear retailers across the United States, with no retail or direct-to-consumer channel. Revenue is generated per job on a quote-based, pay-as-you-go model, with free UPS shipping nationwide and industry-leading turn times of 1–3 days for uncut orders with premium AR and 5 days for finished jobs. Go-to-market relies on a commissioned 1099 sales rep network targeting optical practices and word-of-mouth referrals; the SpecCheck portal provides self-serve order management, payments, and tracking. Marketing is predominantly relationship-driven, with customer testimonials as the primary acquisition channel and no paid media presence identified.
The company was founded by Benjamin Collier (Founder and CEO), employs 1–10 people, and raised approximately $3.1 million in initial capital in June 2019 with no subsequent disclosed funding rounds.
Independent Optical Laboratories firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Independent Optical Laboratories
- Legal name
- Independent Vision
- Website
- https://independent.vision
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Independent Vision is a wholesale optical laboratory in Greensboro, NC producing digital freeform lenses and proprietary anti-reflective coatings for independent optometrists, ophthalmologists, and eyewear retailers across the United States on a B2B per-order basis.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Independent Optical Laboratories industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wholesale Optical Lab Services
- NAICS
- Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115)
- SIC
- Ophthalmic Goods (3851)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Devices (Frames, Lenses, Lens Edging/Finishing Equipment) (HLAHAJAD)
Keywords
Where Independent Optical Laboratories is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Greensboro
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Independent Optical Laboratories business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Optical Lens Sales: One-time sale of finished optical lenses and lens products to independent eye care providers, optometrists, ophthalmologists, and eyewear retailers. Revenue is generated per job/order as prescriptions are sent in for processing. Includes Indie brand lenses and branded partner products (HOYA, Shamir).
- Lens Add-ons and Customization Services: Additional coatings and customizations applied to lenses, including anti-reflective treatments, photochromics, polarization, tinting/mirrors, and specialty finishing, billed as add-ons to base lens orders.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Indie brand lenses (proprietary freeform) — exclusive, value-priced alternative to major brands |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Branded partner lenses (HOYA, Shamir) — familiar alternatives for existing customers |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels2 records
Independent Optical Laboratories product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Independent Optical Laboratories (operating as Independent Vision) is a wholesale optical laboratory that manufactures premium digital freeform lenses and applies advanced anti-reflective coatings at its semi-automated production facility in Greensboro, North Carolina. It sells proprietary Indie brand lenses as well as branded partner lenses (HOYA, Shamir) to independent optometrists, ophthalmologists, and eyewear retailers who send in frames and prescriptions for processing and finishing.
Product overview
Independent Vision operates as a premier independent digital freeform optical laboratory offering a unified product portfolio centered on its proprietary Indie freeform lens brand. The core offering consists of Indie Freeform Lenses, complemented by an extensive add-on and customization module suite including Indie Pure AR anti-reflective treatments, photochromics, polarization, tinting & mirrors, and specialty finishing. For customers preferring established third-party brands, the portfolio also includes HOYA and Shamir branded lenses. All lenses are produced in-house at the Greensboro, North Carolina facility using a semi-automated process with handcrafted quality control, with industry-leading turn times of three days for uncut orders with premium AR and five days for finished jobs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Indie: Proprietary lens brand offering freeform lens designs and Indie Pure AR (anti-reflective) treatments, including Indie Freeform Lenses and Indie HDX lenses
- Indie Freeform Lenses
Products and services
- Indie Freeform Lenses
Quantifiable outcome
- Uncut orders with premium AR shipped within 3 days (often 1-2 days)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Independent Optical Laboratories
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Independent Optical Laboratories technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature3 records
Independent Optical Laboratories partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- HOYAcoreHOYA is a major branded lens manufacturer whose products are offered alongside Independent Vision's proprietary Indie line, providing customers with familiar brand options if they prefer not to use the exclusive Indie brand.
- SchneidersupportingSchneider is a branded lens technology partner whose products are available through Independent Vision's diverse portfolio of branded lenses.
- IOT (International Optical Treasury)supportingIOT is a branded lens technology partner listed among Independent Vision's partner logos, offering additional branded lens options to customers.
- VSP (Vision Service Plan)supportingVSP is a vision insurance provider whose logo appears on Independent Vision's partner page, suggesting compatibility with VSP insurance plans or a VSP network relationship.
- ShamircoreShamir is a major branded lens manufacturer featured as a key partner alongside HOYA, giving customers familiar branded alternatives to Independent Vision's proprietary Indie lenses.
- Independent EyewearsupportingIndependent Eyewear brand appears on the partner logo section, suggesting a complementary or co-marketing relationship for eyewear products beyond lenses.
- UPScoreUPS is the exclusive shipping partner for Independent Vision. The company uses a dedicated UPS portal for generating shipping labels. Free UPS shipping is provided from anywhere in the U.S. to the lab, enabling rapid turn-around and national reach.
- SpecChecksupportingSpecCheck is an online lab management platform that Independent Vision uses to provide customers with free accounts for viewing statements, making payments, and tracking order status. This self-serve portal reduces customer service burden and improves transparency.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Independent Optical Laboratories competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- EssilorLuxottica Laboratories: World's largest lens manufacturer and wholesale lab network. Operates extensive digital freeform and AR coating capabilities; competes with Independent Vision for ECP volume but is also vertically integrated into retail (LensCrafters, Pearle Vision), creating the "competing lab" risk Independent Vision explicitly positions against.
- HOYA Vision Care: Major branded lens manufacturer with its own lab and finishing operations. Listed as a core supplier to Independent Vision but also operates directly through HOYA Vision Care labs, making it both a partner and a competitor in the freeform / AR lens space.
- Shamir Optical Industry: Premium freeform and progressive lens manufacturer with global lab presence. A core partner to Independent Vision for branded fulfillment but also operates its own lab services in select markets, directly overlapping in product category.
- Carl Zeiss Vision: Premium precision optics brand with U.S. lens finishing operations. Competes in the same high-end freeform and AR coating segment that Independent Vision targets with its Indie brand.
Direct peers
- National Lens: U.S. wholesale independent optical laboratory offering digital freeform lenses, AR coatings, and finishing services to independent ECPs. Closest direct peer in business model, customer base, and product mix.
- Cherry Optical: Independent U.S. wholesale optical lab serving independent ECPs with digital freeform and AR-coated lenses. Same niche positioning and similar customer base as Independent Vision.
- Luzerne Optical: Independent wholesale optical laboratory offering finished lenses, freeform designs, and AR coatings to independent practices. Directly comparable in scale, model, and target customer.
- FEA Industries: U.S. independent optical lab providing digital surfacing, freeform, and finishing services to independent ECPs. Competes head-to-head for the same independent-practitioner segment.
- Perfect Optics: Independent wholesale optical lab offering digital lens fabrication and AR coatings to optical retailers and ECPs. Comparable model, product set, and customer profile.
- Optical Prescription Lab (OPL): Independent wholesale optical lab providing digital freeform, conventional, and AR-coated lens services to optometrists and ophthalmologists. Direct competitor in the same niche.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Independent Optical Laboratories social profiles
Digital presenceIndependent Optical Laboratories financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Independent Optical Laboratories leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Independent Optical Laboratories funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Independent Optical Laboratories M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Independent Optical Laboratories
What does Independent Optical Laboratories do?
Independent Optical Laboratories (operating as Independent Vision) is a wholesale optical laboratory that manufactures premium digital freeform lenses and applies advanced anti-reflective coatings at its semi-automated production facility in Greensboro, North Carolina. It sells proprietary Indie brand lenses as well as branded partner lenses (HOYA, Shamir) to independent optometrists, ophthalmologists, and eyewear retailers who send in frames and prescriptions for processing and finishing.
Is Independent Optical Laboratories a public or private company?
Independent Optical Laboratories is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Independent Optical Laboratories founded?
Independent Optical Laboratories was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Independent Optical Laboratories based?
Independent Optical Laboratories is headquartered in Greensboro, United States, in the North America region.
How does Independent Optical Laboratories make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Optical Lens Sales are the primary driver. The others are lens Add-ons and Customization Services.
Who are Independent Optical Laboratories's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are EssilorLuxottica Laboratories, HOYA Vision Care, Shamir Optical Industry and Carl Zeiss Vision. Direct peers are National Lens, Cherry Optical, Luzerne Optical, FEA Industries, Perfect Optics and Optical Prescription Lab (OPL).
Does Independent Optical Laboratories have an API?
No public API is recorded for Independent Optical Laboratories.
What industry is Independent Optical Laboratories in?
Independent Optical Laboratories's product category is Wholesale Optical Lab Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAJAD, Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Devices (Frames, Lenses, Lens Edging/Finishing Equipment). Its NAICS code is 339115 and its SIC code is 3851.