Essilor of America
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersDallas, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
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.
Essilor of America firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Essilor of America industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Essilor of America is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dallas
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Essilor of America business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Essilor of America product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Essilor of America
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Essilor of America technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Essilor of America partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Essilor of America competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Essilor of America social profiles
Digital presenceEssilor of America financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Essilor of America leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Essilor of America funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Essilor of America M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A51 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Essilor of America
What does Essilor of America do?
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.
Is Essilor of America a public or private company?
Essilor of America is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Essilor of America founded?
Essilor of America was founded in 1996. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Essilor of America based?
Essilor of America is headquartered in Dallas, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Essilor of America's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Shamir Optical Industry, Vision-Ease Lens, HOYA Vision Care, Carl Zeiss Vision (ZEISS), Seiko Optical Products, Nikon-Essilor (Nikon Optical) and Bausch + Lomb. Emerging players are Transitions Optical and Warby Parker. Luxottica Group is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Essilor of America have an API?
No public API is recorded for Essilor of America.
What industry is Essilor of America in?
Essilor of America's product category is Ophthalmic Lens Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAJAD, Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Devices (Frames, Lenses, Lens Edging/Finishing Equipment), with a secondary code of CRAAAKAJ, Eyewear Manufacturing & OEM/ODM (Frames & Sunglasses). Its NAICS code is 339115 and its SIC code is 3851.