Essilor of America

What Essilor of America does

Essilor of America, headquartered in Dallas and founded in 1996, is the leading manufacturer and wholesale distributor of optical lenses in the United States, operating as the US subsidiary of EssilorLuxottica — the global ophthalmic conglomerate formed through the 2018 merger of Essilor and Luxottica. The company produces prescription lenses, including advanced photochromic lens products, serving vision-care consumers needing correction for refractive errors, presbyopia, and visual impairment. Its primary customer is the fragmented base of US optical retailers and independent optometrists, which together — through optometry stores — account for the dominant 38% share of US vision-care distribution.

The business operates a wholesale model, supplying lenses to ECPs and retail chains on a quote-based, non-disclosed pricing structure; end demand is pulled from a horizontal consumer segment requiring prescription eyewear, sunglasses, and contact lenses. The company employs 5,001–10,000 people and is described in third-party market reports as a key player across the $37.2B US vision-care market, the $40.8B US eyewear market, and the $136.7B global eyewear market.

Since 2008, Essilor of America has pursued an aggressive roll-up strategy, acquiring more than twenty US optical laboratories, optometrist alliance networks, and digital platforms. Notable moves include the 2015 acquisition of Vision Source (a major optometrist alliance), the simultaneous 2015 takeovers of PERC Alliance and Infinity Vision Alliance, the 2016 acquisition of US Optical, and the 2016 purchases of Opti-Port (ECP practice technology) and All About Vision (consumer content). These transactions, combined with the parent group's integrated eyewear stack, point to a vertically-oriented strategy combining manufacturing scale, channel control, and direct consumer reach.

Name

Essilor of America

Legal name

Essilor of America

Website

https://essilorusa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Essilor of America is the leading US manufacturer and wholesale distributor of optical lenses, operating as the US subsidiary of EssilorLuxottica and producing prescription and photochromic lenses for sale through optometry and retail channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ophthalmic Lens Manufacturing

NAICS

Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115), Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers (423460)

SIC

Ophthalmic Goods (3851)

akta.pro primary industry

Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Devices (Frames, Lenses, Lens Edging/Finishing Equipment) (HLAHAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Eyewear Manufacturing & OEM/ODM (Frames & Sunglasses) (CRAAAKAJ), Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Retail (Glasses/Frames/Lenses) (HLAKAKAL)

Keywords

• Prescription lenses
• Ophthalmic lens manufacturing
• Optical wholesale distribution
• Photochromic lens technology
• Vision care products

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Core offering

Essilor of America manufactures and wholesale distributes prescription ophthalmic lenses across the United States, including advanced photochromic lens products. The company supplies eye care providers, optical retailers, and optometry practices with vision correction lenses and related eyewear products as part of EssilorLuxottica's global lens manufacturing operations.

Product overview

Essilor of America is a world leader in prescription lenses. The company operates in the eyewear market with key segments including prescription glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses, with spectacle lenses representing the leading product segment. However, the provided source data does not contain specific details about individual product names, modules, or product architecture beyond the company's positioning as a market leader in prescription lenses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Prescription ophthalmic lenses Manufactured prescription lenses (spectacle lenses) that correct refractive vision errors such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia. Sold wholesale to optical retailers, optometrists, and eye care professionals for dispensing to vision care consumers across the United States.
• Photochromic lenses Photochromic spectacle lenses that automatically darken in response to UV light and return to clear indoors, providing combined vision correction and light-adaptive eye protection. Sold through the same wholesale optical distribution channel as the broader prescription lens portfolio.

Quantifiable outcome

• Spectacle lenses hold 51% market share in US vision care market
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Shamir Optical Industry: Shamir Optical is an Israel-based manufacturer of progressive and single-vision ophthalmic lenses, directly competing with Essilor in the wholesale lens and lens technology market, particularly in progressive lens design.
• Vision-Ease Lens: Vision-Ease is a US-based manufacturer of ophthalmic lenses and lens products, directly comparable to Essilor of America's wholesale lens business, particularly in semi-finished and finished lens products distributed through independent optical channels.
• HOYA Vision Care: HOYA is a major global manufacturer of ophthalmic lenses and optical products, directly competing with Essilor in the wholesale and lens manufacturing space, with comparable photochromic and progressive lens portfolios.
• Carl Zeiss Vision (ZEISS): ZEISS International is a direct competitor in the ophthalmic lens and eyewear market, manufacturing premium prescription lenses, coatings, and lens technologies globally — directly comparable to Essilor's core lens manufacturing and wholesale business.
• Seiko Optical Products: Seiko Optical Products manufactures premium prescription lenses (progressive and single-vision) for global distribution. It directly competes with Essilor in the high-end ophthalmic lens category and shares comparable distribution through independent ECPs.
• Nikon-Essilor (Nikon Optical): Nikon-Essilor is a joint venture (with Essilor as a partner) producing Nikon-branded premium prescription lenses. It is a direct peer in lens manufacturing, particularly in the high-end progressive and single-vision lens segments.
• Bausch + Lomb: Bausch + Lomb is identified alongside Essilor as a key player in the US vision care and eyewear market. While it has broader ophthalmics exposure, its contact lens and lens-care business directly overlaps with Essilor's ophthalmic goods portfolio.

Emerging players

• Transitions Optical: Transitions Optical is the leading photochromic lens technology provider (joint venture between Essilor and PPG). While partially aligned with Essilor via JV structure, it licenses photochromic technology to competing lens manufacturers including HOYA and ZEISS, making it both a partner and a competitor-adjacent entity.
• Warby Parker: Warby Parker is a vertically-integrated DTC eyewear brand that bypasses the traditional wholesale-lens distribution channel. While not a direct lens manufacturer, it represents the disruptive alternative business model that threatens Essilor's traditional wholesale-to-ECP economics.

Broad incumbents

• Luxottica Group: Luxottica is now part of the same EssilorLuxottica parent as Essilor of America, but historically operated as the leading eyewear frames and retail conglomerate (Ray-Ban, Oakley, LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut). It is a sibling entity with overlapping end-market but distinct focus on frames and retail rather than lenses.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/essilorusa
• Facebookfacebook.com/essilorusa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/essilor-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A51 records

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Essilor of America