Walman Instruments
Walman Instruments is a US distributor of new and refurbished ophthalmic diagnostic equipment, parts, and consumables from 40+ brands, serving optometry and ophthalmology practices as a division of Essilor Instruments.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1915
- HeadquartersSaint Paul, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Walman Instruments does
Walman Instruments is a US-based specialty distributor of ophthalmic diagnostic equipment, parts, and consumables, operating as a division of Essilor Instruments within the EssilorLuxottica group. Founded in 1915 and headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota with 501-1,000 employees, the company distributes new and pre-owned/refurbished ophthalmic devices from more than 40 brand partners including Topcon, Marco, Reichert, Heine, Haag Streit, Welch Allyn, Zeiss, and Canon. Its product catalog spans high-value diagnostic equipment (autorefractors, keratometers, OCT systems, retinal cameras, lensmeters, slit lamps, tonometers, phoroptors) priced from $1,000 to $50,000, alongside consumables ($5-$200) and replacement parts ($7-$325), serving optometry and ophthalmology practices across the United States.
The company operates a primarily e-commerce-driven go-to-market model via a BigCommerce storefront (walmaninstruments.com) with live chat and phone support, supplemented by inside sales for mid-market accounts. Revenue is generated through one-time equipment sales, parts and consumables replenishment, equipment service and repair (including phoroptor overhaul), trade-in rebate programs, and a pre-owned equipment program with warranties of 3-12 months. Walman also holds exclusive US distribution rights to Essilor's proprietary technology portfolio, including the Vision-R 700 digital refraction station, WAM-800 wavefront aberrometer, and Myopia Expert 700 optical biometer, providing differentiation beyond third-party brand distribution. Specialty verticals including Dry Eye/LLLT, Glaucoma, Myopia, and Retina have been added to the catalog, signaling gradual expansion of the addressable market.
Walman Instruments firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Walman Instruments
- Legal name
- Walman Instruments
- Website
- https://walmaninstruments.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1915
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Walman Instruments is a US distributor of new and refurbished ophthalmic diagnostic equipment, parts, and consumables from 40+ brands, serving optometry and ophthalmology practices as a division of Essilor Instruments.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Walman Instruments industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ophthalmic Equipment Distribution
- NAICS
- Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers (42346)
- SIC
- Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Ophthalmic Goods (3851), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Refractive Diagnostics & Biometry (Autorefractors, Keratometers, Topography/Tomography, A-Scan/Optical Biometry) (HLAHAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Devices (Frames, Lenses, Lens Edging/Finishing Equipment) (HLAHAJAD)
Keywords
Where Walman Instruments is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saint Paul
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Walman Instruments business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Ophthalmic Equipment Sales: Walman Instruments generates revenue through the sale of new and pre-owned ophthalmic equipment, diagnostic devices, parts, and consumable supplies. They sell directly to eye care professionals through their e-commerce platform with pricing ranging from consumables ($5-$100) to major equipment ($4,000-$50,000).
- Equipment Service and Parts: The company offers service repair, phoroptor overhaul, and sells replacement parts for ophthalmic equipment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Consumables and Supplies |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Replacement Parts |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Major Diagnostic Equipment |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Trade-in Rebates |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Walman Instruments product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Walman Instruments distributes new and pre-owned ophthalmic diagnostic equipment, including autorefractors, keratometers, lensmeters, OCT systems, retinal cameras, tonometers, slit lamps, phoroptors, and exam lane furnishings, together with replacement parts, bulbs, batteries, and consumable supplies. As a division of Essilor Instruments, the company also provides service, repair, phoroptor overhaul, and trade-in programs to eye care practices across the United States.
Product overview
Walman Instruments is a division of Essilor Instruments and a specialized distributor of ophthalmic equipment offering both new and pre-owned products. The product portfolio centers on diagnostic and examination equipment including Topcon autorefractors/keratometers (KR-1, KR-800, KR-800S, KR-800PA, KR-8800, KR-8900, KR-1W), Topcon lensmeters (CL-200, CL-300, CL-300 PLN), Welch Allyn retinal cameras (RetinaVue 100, RetinaVue Pro 100, RV700), and Topcon OCT systems (Maestro2). The company also distributes Reichert tonometry products, Haag Streit equipment, and associated supplies including bulbs, batteries, and replacement parts. Walman Instruments operates primarily as a distributor rather than a manufacturer, reselling and supporting equipment from parent company Essilor Instruments and other major ophthalmic equipment brands.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Topcon CL-300 PLN Autolensmeter Network-ready computerized autolensmeter with UV transmittance measurement, green measurement light beam, LCD touch panel, and automatic mono/multi-focal detection for precise lens assessment in optometry and ophthalmology practices.
- Welch Allyn RetinaVue Pro 100 Imager Handheld retinal camera delivering high-quality retinal images with touchless auto-focus and image capture, designed for primary care providers and eye care specialists performing retinal screening.
- Topcon Maestro2 OCT Optical coherence tomography (OCT) device with high-speed scanning, automated measurement tools, and multi-modal imaging combining OCT and fundus imaging for comprehensive eye analysis in ophthalmology practices.
- Topcon KR-1W Autorefractor/Keratometer 5-in-1 wavefront analyzer combining aberrometry, corneal topography, auto-refraction, pupillometry, and keratometry for comprehensive wavefront analysis in eye care practices.
- Topcon KR-800PA Autorefractor/Topographer 3-in-1 auto kerato-refractometer with integrated corneal mapping, combining auto-refraction, keratometry, and color corneal topography in a single compact device with built-in DICOM connectivity for EMR integration.
- Topcon KR-800S Autorefractor/Keratometer 5-in-1 device providing visual acuity check, contrast sensitivity testing, grid testing, and glare testing for comprehensive ophthalmic assessments, built on Topcon's exclusive Rotary Prism technology.
- Topcon KR-1 Autorefractor/Keratometer Fully automated auto kerato-refractometer with a color touch screen, rotatable monitor, and space-saving ergonomic design featuring Topcon's Rotary Prism measuring system for refraction and keratometry.
- Topcon KR-8800 Autorefractor (Refurbished) Pre-owned (refurbished) autorefractor with 20% wider measurement range, 2.0mm minimum pupil diameter, color LCD screen, and USB connectivity for fast data transfer in eye care practices.
- Reichert Ocu-Film+ Tip Covers FDA-approved disposable tip covers (150/box) for Tono-Pen AVIA and Tono-Pen XL applanation tonometers, color-coded blue for authenticity, with consistent thickness for accurate IOP measurements.
- Reichert AVIA Tonopen Battery Genuine OEM replacement battery for the Reichert Avia Tonopen applanation tonometer, ensuring optimal functionality and reliable IOP measurements.
- Haag Streit BM 900 Slit Lamp Bulb High-quality incandescent replacement bulb specifically designed for Haag Streit BM-900 and BX-900 slit lamps, providing optimal illumination during eye examinations.
- Pre-Owned Ophthalmic Equipment Program Refurbished and pre-owned ophthalmic equipment program offering autorefractors, keratometers, lensmeters, OCT devices, and other instruments with warranties ranging from 3 months to 1 year for eye care practices seeking lower-cost alternatives.
- Service and Repair Repair and overhaul services for ophthalmic equipment, including phoroptor overhaul, service repair requests, and technical support to maintain and extend the lifecycle of diagnostic instruments.
Companies that use Walman Instruments
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Walman Instruments technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature1 record
Walman Instruments partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Essilor InstrumentscoreWalman Instruments operates as A Division of Essilor Instruments, distributing Essilor's proprietary ophthalmic technology products including Vision-R 700 digital refraction stations, WAM-800 wavefront aberrometers, AKR800 auto-kerato-refractometers, Myopia Expert 700 optical biometers, and SL650 digital slit lamps.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Walman Instruments competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- EssilorLuxottica: Parent conglomerate of Essilor Instruments, the strategic owner of Walman. Relevant as the upstream owner shaping Walman's product roadmap, capital allocation, and strategic priorities.
Broad incumbents
- Nidek: Japanese ophthalmic equipment manufacturer of autorefractors, OCT, lasers, and lensmeters. Functions as both a brand Walman distributes and a direct competitor in the U.S. ophthalmic equipment market.
- Haag-Streit: Swiss manufacturer of slit lamps, tonometers, perimeters, and Reliance exam-lane equipment carried by Walman. Competes with Walman in the exam-lane category while also being a key supplier brand.
- Reichert Technologies (AMETEK): Manufacturer specializing in tonometry and refraction equipment (Tono-Pen, etc.). Reichert products are core to Walman's catalog, while Reichert also sells direct to U.S. eye care practices.
- Topcon Medical Systems: Major OEM of ophthalmic diagnostic equipment (autorefractors, OCT, lensmeters) whose products form the core of Walman's catalog. Both supplies and competes with Walman via direct U.S. sales efforts and a large field sales organization.
- Heine Optotechnik: German manufacturer of precision diagnostic instruments including retinoscopes, ophthalmoscopes, and handheld ophthalmic devices. Heine products are carried by Walman and serve overlapping end-customers.
- Carl Zeiss Meditec: Global ophthalmic equipment manufacturer offering diagnostic, surgical, and refractive devices. Comparable to Walman as both a supplier brand carried in Walman's catalog and a direct-selling competitor in high-end ophthalmic imaging.
- Keeler (Halma plc): U.K.-based manufacturer of ophthalmic diagnostic instruments (slit lamps, tonometers, ophthalmoscopes). Comparable to Walman as a long-established brand in the same product categories Walman distributes.
Direct peers
- Lombart Instrument: U.S.-based ophthalmic equipment distributor offering new and refurbished instruments, parts, and service to eye care professionals — a direct channel competitor to Walman with a comparable distribution-and-service business model.
Emerging players
- Heidelberg Engineering: Specialist manufacturer of OCT and confocal retinal imaging systems (Spectralis). Represents the high-end digital imaging category increasingly competing with traditional diagnostic channels like Walman.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Walman Instruments social profiles
Digital presenceWalman Instruments financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Walman Instruments leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Walman Instruments funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Walman Instruments 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 Walman Instruments
What does Walman Instruments do?
Walman Instruments distributes new and pre-owned ophthalmic diagnostic equipment, including autorefractors, keratometers, lensmeters, OCT systems, retinal cameras, tonometers, slit lamps, phoroptors, and exam lane furnishings, together with replacement parts, bulbs, batteries, and consumable supplies. As a division of Essilor Instruments, the company also provides service, repair, phoroptor overhaul, and trade-in programs to eye care practices across the United States.
Is Walman Instruments a public or private company?
Walman Instruments is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Walman Instruments founded?
Walman Instruments was founded in 1915. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Walman Instruments based?
Walman Instruments is headquartered in Saint Paul, United States, in the North America region.
How does Walman Instruments make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Ophthalmic Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are equipment Service and Parts.
Who are Walman Instruments's main competitors?
EssilorLuxottica is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Nidek, Haag-Streit, Reichert Technologies (AMETEK), Topcon Medical Systems, Heine Optotechnik, Carl Zeiss Meditec and Keeler (Halma plc). Lombart Instrument is listed as a direct peer. Heidelberg Engineering is listed as an emerging player.
Does Walman Instruments have an API?
No public API is recorded for Walman Instruments.
What industry is Walman Instruments in?
Walman Instruments's product category is Ophthalmic Equipment Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAJAA, Refractive Diagnostics & Biometry (Autorefractors, Keratometers, Topography/Tomography, A-Scan/Optical Biometry), with a secondary code of HLAHAJAD, Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Devices (Frames, Lenses, Lens Edging/Finishing Equipment). Its NAICS code is 42346 and its SIC code is 3841.