What FCI does

FCI S.A.S. is a French medical device manufacturer founded in 1984 (originally as France Chirurgie Instrumentation) that designs, develops, and distributes ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments. The company's core expertise lies in biomaterials, particularly silicone-based implants and surgical instruments, organized across seven therapeutic areas: oculoplastics, dry eye, retina, cataract, glaucoma, surgical instruments, and veterinary ophthalmology. Its proprietary product portfolio includes LacriJet (preloaded monocanaliculo-nasal intubation), Painless Plug (preloaded meatal occlusion device for dry eye), Precivia (intravitreal injection guide pre-calibrated at 3.5mm and 28°), Implant de Paul (soft silicone glaucoma implant), Ahmed glaucoma valves, and directional laser fibers. FCI also distributes third-party brands including MORCHER (IOLs and capsular rings), Katalyst Surgical (STIFF vitrectomy instruments), PSI and SHARPOINT single-use cannulas and knives, and FIMCO hand instruments, plus complete surgical instrument boxes for cataract, retina, glaucoma, strabismus, eyelid, DCR, and lacrimal procedures.

FCI operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ZEISS (Carl Zeiss AG) within the ZEISS Medical Technology segment, with international reach through wholly-owned subsidiaries FCI Worldwide (international markets) and FCI Ophthalmics (US and Canada). The company generates revenue through direct sales of proprietary and distributed medical devices to ophthalmic surgeons, hospitals, and surgical centers via a quote-based B2B model, complemented by the FCI School training platform and participation in industry congresses such as SFO. Distribution is supported by certifications including ISO 13485:2016, MDSAP, CE marking under GMED CE N°0459, and a TCP certificate for Taiwan market access. The head office is at 20-22 rue Louis Armand in Paris with 51-100 employees.

Name

FCI

Legal name

FCI S.A.S.

Website

https://fci.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

FCI S.A.S., a wholly-owned ZEISS subsidiary, designs and distributes ophthalmic surgical medical devices — including implants, intubation systems, and instruments — for eye surgeons, hospitals, and clinics across cataract, glaucoma, retina, dry eye, and oculoplastics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ophthalmic Medical Devices

NAICS

Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112), Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115)

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Ophthalmic Goods (3851)

akta.pro primary industry

Cataract Surgery Systems & IOLs (Phaco Systems, IOLs, Intraoperative Aberrometry, Viscoelastics) (HLAHAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Oculoplastics & Lacrimal Surgical Devices (Ptosis/Orbital Tools, DCR/Lacrimal Stents, Facial Implants) (HLAHAJAL), Vitreoretinal Surgical Devices (Vitrectomy Systems, Endolaser, Illumination, Tamponades) (HLAHAJAJ)

Keywords

• Ophthalmic medical devices
• Surgical instruments
• Cataract surgery products
• Glaucoma implants
• Vitreoretinal surgery

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Medical device sales: FCI generates revenue through the sale of ophthalmic surgical medical devices and instruments including implants, single-use devices, and reusable surgical instruments to hospitals, clinics, and ophthalmic surgeons.
2. Distributed products: FCI distributes third-party ophthalmic brands including MORCHER, PSI, SHARPOINT, Katalyst Surgical instruments, and others, generating revenue through distribution margins.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

FCI S.A.S. manufactures, designs, and distributes ophthalmic surgical medical devices and instruments for eye surgery. The portfolio spans seven therapeutic areas — oculoplastics (lacrimal pathways, eyelids, orbit), dry eye (meatal plugs), retina (scleral implants, laser fibers, silicone oil), cataract (intraocular lenses, capsular rings, knives, cannulas), glaucoma (valves, implants), surgical instruments, and veterinary ophthalmology. The company also distributes third-party ophthalmic brands including MORCHER, Katalyst Surgical, PSI, and SHARPOINT.

Product overview

FCI S.A.S. is a French medical device manufacturer founded in 1984, specializing in biomaterials for ophthalmic surgery. The company operates as a ZEISS Company and offers a comprehensive portfolio organized across seven main therapeutic areas: Oculoplastics (lacrimal pathway surgery, eyelid, orbit), Dry Eye (meatal plugs, punctum plugs), Retina (vitreoretinal surgery, scleral implants, laser fibers), Cataract (IOLs, capsular rings, surgical knives), Glaucoma (valves, implants), Instruments, and Veterinary ophthalmology. Key branded products include LacriJet® (preloaded monocanaliculo-nasal intubation), Painless Plug® (meatal occlusion), Precivia® (intravitreal injection guide), Paul Implant® (glaucoma), and OCUBLU-TRY (trypan blue). FCI distributes products from MORCHER (capsular rings, IOLs) and Katalyst Surgical (STIFF instruments), while manufacturing its own instrument lines under FCI branding. The company also offers complete surgical instrument boxes for various procedures (Cataract, Retina, Glaucoma, Strabismus, Eyelid, Enucleation/Evisceration, DCR, Lacrimal Pathways). Products are primarily distributed in France through the fci.fr portal with international operations via FCI Worldwide and FCI Ophthalmics (US/Canada).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LacriJet® Preloaded monocanaliculo-nasal intubation device for treating lacrimal pathway obstructions; designed for ophthalmic surgeons performing lacrimal duct surgery.
• Painless Plug® Preloaded meatal plug for occlusion of lacrimal points in the treatment of dry eye syndrome; adapts to the ampulla of the lacrimal point without requiring prior meatal dilation.
• Precivia® Intravitreal injection assistant device that systematically pre-calibrates injections at 3.5mm from the limbus with a fixed 28° angle and secured injection depth; for retinal specialists performing intravitreal injections.
• Implant de Paul® Soft silicone glaucoma implant for the surgical treatment of refractory glaucoma; for ophthalmic surgeons managing complex glaucoma cases.
• Ahmed™ Glaucoma Valves Glaucoma drainage devices implanted to reduce intraocular pressure in refractory glaucoma cases.
• Scleral Implants (Bands, Rails, Wheels, Sponges) Scleral implants in silicone and PTFEe materials for external approach retinal detachment surgery, including bands (Ducournau, Morin), rails, wheels, and sponges in various configurations.
• Silicone Oil and PFCL Vitreoretinal tamponade products including purified silicone oil and perfluorocarbon liquids for temporary or prolonged retinal tamponade.
• Directional Laser Fibers Directional laser fibers with slider mechanism for vitreoretinal laser photocoagulation procedures.
• Intubation Products (Monoka®, Mini-Monoka®, Masterka®, Ritleng®+) Complete range of lacrimal intubation devices including Monoka Fayet-Bernard (Ritleng technique), Mini-Monoka for canalicular trauma, Masterka monocanalicular-nasal intubation, and Ritleng+ bicanalicular-nasal intubation, available in silicone and PVP-coated versions.
• OCUBLU-TRY (Trypan Blue 0.06%) Trypan blue 0.06% dye solution for staining the anterior capsule during cataract surgery, enhancing visualization during capsulorhexis.
• Ophtacath® Balloon catheter for dilating the nasolacrimal canal in dacryocystoplasty procedures.
• Clou-Trou® PVP Perforated punctum plugs in silicone with PVP coating for treating epiphora caused by punctal atresia, available in standard and mini versions.
• Meatal Plugs Punctal occlusion devices for dry eye treatment including ready-to-use meatal plugs in 5 sizes (Micro, Mini, Small, Regular, Large) with inclined collar design.
• STIFF Forceps and Scissors (Katalyst) STIFF reinforced single-use forceps and scissors for retinal surgery including Tano, Awh, Honey Badger, Super Grip, End-Grasping, and Maculorhexis models, featuring a STIFF 19Ga 100% retractable tube for enhanced rigidity in 23Ga, 25Ga, and 27Ga sizes.
• Surgical Instrument Boxes Complete surgical instrument sets for ophthalmic procedures: Cataract Phaco/Micro-incision box, Retina box, Glaucoma box, Strabismus box, Chalazion box, Eyelid surgery box, Enucleation/Evisceration box, Dacryocystorhinostomy box, and Lacrimal Pathways box.
• Cataract Products (Intraocular Lenses, Capsular Rings, Knives) Complete cataract surgery portfolio including MORCHER capsular tension rings and rings of Cionni, aniridic implants, intraocular lenses, single-use surgical knives, single-use cannulas, and Kitaro Kits training tools.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 700,000 cataract surgeries performed annually in France alone using these types of devices

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• ZEISScoreOthersFCI is a subsidiary of ZEISS (Carl Zeiss AG). The company operates as part of the ZEISS Medical Technology segment, leveraging ZEISS's global brand and distribution infrastructure.
• Katalyst SurgicalcoreTechnology or IntegrationFCI distributes Katalyst Surgical's range of STIFF reinforced vitrectomy forceps and scissors (25Ga and 27Ga). The partnership brings advanced micro-incision surgical instruments to FCI's product portfolio.
• MORCHERmajorTechnology or IntegrationFCI distributes MORCHER brand intra-ocular lenses, capsular tension rings, and aniridia implants for cataract surgery.
• PSI (Professional Surgical Instruments)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFCI distributes PSI brand single-use ophthalmic canules including retrobulbar, peribulbar, Rycroft anterior chamber, aspiration, Charleux, cystitomes, capsule polishers, and irrigation/aspiration canulae.
• SHARPOINTminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFCI distributes SHARPOINT brand surgical products for ophthalmic procedures.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Alcon: Global ophthalmic medical device leader with full portfolios in cataract IOLs, vitreoretinal surgery platforms (Constellation), and surgical instruments. Comparable to FCI as the dominant broad-line incumbent across virtually every category FCI competes in and with whom FCI instruments are validated for compatibility.

Direct peers

• Asico: US manufacturer of ophthalmic microsurgical instruments including forceps, scissors, and speculums used in cataract and vitreoretinal surgery. Comparable to FCI on reusable and single-use surgical instrument portfolios sold directly to ophthalmic surgeons.
• Geuder AG: German manufacturer of ophthalmic surgical instruments, devices, and consumables including vitreoretinal and glaucoma equipment. Comparable to FCI as a European specialist serving cataract, vitreoretinal, and glaucoma surgeons with proprietary and distributed instruments.
• Moria: France-based specialist in ophthalmic surgical instruments, knives, and micro-surgical devices. Highly comparable as a French-headquartered, niche-focused ophthalmic surgical instrument and device manufacturer with overlapping categories in cataract, cornea, and oculoplastics.
• Rumex International: US-based manufacturer of ophthalmic surgical instruments including forceps, scissors, needle holders, and speculums. Comparable to FCI on reusable stainless-steel ophthalmic instruments and global distribution to cataract and vitreoretinal surgeons.
• Katena Products: US ophthalmic surgical products company offering instruments, IOLs, and consumables used in cataract, glaucoma, and oculoplastic surgery. Comparable to FCI as a multi-category ophthalmic surgical device and instrument supplier to hospital and ambulatory surgery centers.
• Beaver-Visitec International (BVI): US-based manufacturer of single-use ophthalmic surgical instruments, blades, and cannulas. Comparable to FCI on single-use ophthalmic disposables, microsurgical instruments, and hospital-direct sales motion across cataract and vitreoretinal procedures.
• MicroSurgical Technology (MST): US-based ophthalmic surgical device company producing micro-incision instruments and specialty devices for cataract, vitreoretinal, and glaucoma surgery. Comparable to FCI on micro-incision instrumentation and direct-to-surgeon specialty ophthalmic distribution.
• Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center (DORC): Dutch ophthalmic device company specializing in vitreoretinal surgery systems, instruments, and tamponades. Directly comparable as a vitreoretinal surgical devices specialist and a fellow ZEISS Medical Technology portfolio company following acquisition.

Emerging players

• New World Medical: US ophthalmic device company specializing in glaucoma drainage devices (Ahmed, Baerveldt) and surgical implants. Comparable to FCI in the glaucoma implant category where FCI distributes Ahmed valves and its own Implant de Paul.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FCI