Eye Kraft
Eye-Kraft is an independent, family-owned wholesale optical laboratory that designs, manufactures, and distributes digital progressive lenses, specialty lenses, anti-reflective coatings, and frames to independent eye-care professionals across Minnesota and adjacent regions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1955
- HeadquartersSauk Rapids, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Eye Kraft firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Eye Kraft
- Legal name
- Eye-Kraft Optical
- Website
- https://eyekraft.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1955
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Eye-Kraft is an independent, family-owned wholesale optical laboratory that designs, manufactures, and distributes digital progressive lenses, specialty lenses, anti-reflective coatings, and frames to independent eye-care professionals across Minnesota and adjacent regions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Eye Kraft industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wholesale Optical Laboratory
- 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)
Keywords
Where Eye Kraft is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sauk Rapids
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Eye Kraft business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Optical Lab Manufacturing & Wholesale: Eye-Kraft manufactures and sells lenses, frames, and treatments to independent eye care professionals through a wholesale model. Products include digital progressives, single vision lenses, multi-focal products, anti-reflective coatings, frames, and specialty lenses.
- Insurance Claims Processing: Eye-Kraft processes materials claims directly to managed care programs including Medica, UCare, and South Country Health Alliance for Minnesota. They serve as an authorized VSP laboratory (contract #0533). The lab handles billing and claims for various government and private insurance plans on behalf of ECPs.
- Value Package Programs: Eye-Kraft offers tiered frame and lens value packages (Elite, Savings Package) to eye care professionals, with tiered pricing for both standard and deluxe frames including kids and adult collections.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Monthly | 3.5% credit card processing fee |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Savings Package SUN |
| Subscription | Annual | Elite and Managed Care Packages |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Eye Kraft product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Eye-Kraft is an independent wholesale optical laboratory that manufactures and distributes prescription lenses, frames, and lens treatments (anti-reflective coatings, photochromic, scratch coatings) to independent eye care professionals. The lab also processes insurance claims directly for Minnesota managed care programs and operates an online ordering platform (SpecCheck) for ECPs.
Product overview
Eye-Kraft is an independent wholesale optical laboratory with over 70 years of experience, offering a comprehensive portfolio of lenses, coatings, frames, and ordering solutions. The core product portfolio centers on progressive lenses (Artisan, Artisan iOn, DLS Camber+, DLS Free-Form Digital, Seiko Free Form Digital) and specialty lenses (Digital Lenticularization, Digital Lenticularization Plus, Avulux for migraine relief, Neochromes and Transitions GenS photochromic lenses). These are complemented by proprietary and partner coatings including ClearKraft anti-reflective coatings, TechShield, Unity Brands, and ESRX+ scratch coating. Eye-Kraft distributes Wiley X Safety eyewear as an authorized wholesaler and manufactures Varilux lenses on-site. The company also offers value packages (Elite, Managed Care, Savings Package SUN) and provides SpecCheck, a customer-facing ordering platform for insurance claims processing with Medica, UCare, and South Country Health Alliance.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Artisan Progressive Lenses (Artisan & Artisan iOn) Premium progressive lens designed for clear, comfortable vision across all distances with smooth transition between near, intermediate, and far vision zones; Artisan iOn is the enhanced digital version. Sold wholesale to independent eye care professionals.
- DLS Digital Lens System (DLS Camber+, DLS Free-Form Digital, DLS Everyday+, DLS Ultimate+, DLS Task Pro+, Digital Round Seg+, DLS Pilot+, DLS Sport+) Family of digital free-form lens designs built on IOT's Digital Ray Path 2 technology, including occupational and sport-specific progressive variants, offering personalized optics based on individual prescription and frame parameters. Sold wholesale to independent eye care professionals.
- Digital Lenticularization (DLS and DLS+) Specialty lens technology that addresses optical challenges in high prescriptions by digitally redistributing lens power. Sold wholesale to independent eye care professionals for specialty prescriptions.
- Seiko Free Form Digital Lenses Premium free-form digital lens manufactured to exact specifications using Seiko's advanced lens design technology. Distributed wholesale by Eye-Kraft to independent eye care professionals.
- ClearKraft Anti-Reflection Coatings (ClearKraft+, ClearKraft 550+, ClearKraft Natural+) In-house anti-reflection coating line that reduces glare, minimizes reflections, and enhances visual clarity, with built-in blue light filtration and a 2-year warranty. Sold wholesale to eye care professionals as a lens treatment add-on.
- ESRX+ Premium Scratch Coating Premium dip-coated scratch-resistant hard coat with increased durability, excellent clarity, and built-in blue light protection; manufactured in-house since 2015. Sold wholesale to eye care professionals as a lens treatment add-on.
- TechShield Coating Proprietary lens coating technology manufactured in-house by Eye-Kraft for enhanced lens protection. Sold wholesale to eye care professionals.
- Unity Brands Lenses Proprietary lens brand manufactured in-house by Eye-Kraft under the Unity label, offering quality lenses. Sold wholesale to eye care professionals.
- Varilux Progressive Lenses Premium Essilor progressive lens brand produced on-site at Eye-Kraft's lab. Sold wholesale to independent eye care professionals.
- Neochromes Photochromic Lenses (Neochromes Agile Dark) Extra-dark photochromic lens available in plastic, polycarbonate, and 1.67 hi-index with fast transition times, high performance across temperatures, and HEV/blue light protection. Sold wholesale to eye care professionals.
- Transitions GenS Photochromic Lenses Latest-generation Transitions photochromic lens material integrated into Eye-Kraft's lens offerings with fast activation and deactivation rates. Sold wholesale to eye care professionals.
- Avulux Migraine & Light Sensitivity Lenses Clinically proven migraine and light sensitivity lenses, available in Single Vision and Artisan Series digitally surfaced lenses. Sold wholesale to authorized Avulux providers via Eye-Kraft.
- Wiley X Safety Eyewear Safety eyewear frames distributed by Eye-Kraft as an authorized Wiley X wholesaler for retail ECP partners, meeting occupational safety standards. Eye-Kraft can fill Wiley X prescription safety orders and frame-only inventory orders and is building an Industrial Safety Program.
- Frame Collections Curated selection of eyewear frames offered by Eye-Kraft, updated annually in the Frame and Lens Catalog (2022, 2023, 2024 editions), including kids and adult collections. Sold wholesale to eye care professionals.
- SpecCheck Ordering Platform Customer-facing online ordering and tracking platform providing near real-time work-in-process tracking, electronic statements, account reporting, online payment, and managed-care Rx order processing for UCare, Medica, and South Country Health Alliance plans. Used by independent eye care professionals.
- Insurance / Managed Care Claims Processing Service Direct processing of materials claims to Minnesota managed care programs including Medica (27+ counties PMAP), UCare PMAP (44 counties), UCare MSHO (66 counties), UCare Connect (67 counties), and South Country Health Alliance. Eye-Kraft bills insurance directly on behalf of ECPs, removing administrative burden from the practice.
Quantifiable outcome
- SpecCheck provides near real-time work in process tracking, electronic statements, account reporting, and online payment options
Companies that use Eye Kraft
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Eye Kraft technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature9 records
Eye Kraft partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SpecCheckcoreSpecCheck is Eye-Kraft's latest customer ordering tool providing near real-time work in process tracking, access to electronic statements, account reporting, online payment options, and managed state insurance Rx order processing (UCare, Medica, South Country Health Alliance). SpecCheck is an independent company.
- Wiley X SafetyminorEye-Kraft partnered with Wiley X as a wholesaler for retail ECP partners. Eye-Kraft can fill Wiley X prescription safety orders and frame-only inventory orders. They are also building an Industrial Safety Program to help companies provide safety eyewear to employees through their Minnesota ECP network.
- IOT (Indizen Optical Technologies)coreEye-Kraft leverages IOT's lens experience and design expertise in their DLS (Digital Lens System) portfolio of lens designs. The partnership uses IOT's Digital Ray Path 2 technology in DLS lens products including DLS Camber+, DLS Ultimate+, DLS Everyday+, DLS Task Pro+, Digital Round Seg+, DLS Pilot+, and DLS Sport+.
- VSPcoreEye-Kraft became a VSP authorized laboratory (contract #0533). VSP eye care providers can now order frames and lenses through Eye-Kraft using contract lab #0533 on Eyefinity connections. Eye-Kraft manufactures TechShield and Unity Brands in house and produces Varilux on-site.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Eye Kraft competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Carl Zeiss Vision: Carl Zeiss Vision designs and manufactures premium digital ophthalmic lenses distributed through wholesale lab channels in the US. It directly competes with Eye-Kraft's progressive and free-form lens portfolio and partners with independent labs for surfacing.
- HOYA Vision Care: HOYA Vision Care manufactures digital progressive lenses and other ophthalmic products with a US-based wholesale distribution model serving independent ECPs. Highly comparable in product mix (digital progressives, photochromics) and channel to Eye-Kraft.
- Walman Optical: Walman Optical is one of the largest independent wholesale optical laboratories in the US, serving independent eye care professionals with lenses, coatings, and dispensing services. Directly comparable business model and customer base to Eye-Kraft, but at significantly larger national scale.
- Cherry Optical Lab: Cherry Optical Lab is an independent wholesale optical laboratory serving independent ECPs with digital progressive lenses, AR coatings, and value packages. Directly comparable regional optical lab competitor with similar product offerings.
- Pech Optical: Pech Optical is an independent wholesale optical lab serving independent optometrists and ophthalmologists with in-house digital surfacing, anti-reflective coatings, and managed-care processing — a near exact analog to Eye-Kraft's model and scale.
- Diversified Ophthalmics: Diversified Ophthalmics operates as an independent wholesale optical laboratory distributing lenses, frames, and instruments to independent eye-care practices, with similar product breadth to Eye-Kraft.
- Luzerne Optical: Luzerne Optical Laboratories is an independent wholesale optical lab producing digital lenses and AR-coated products for the East Coast independent ECP market. Comparable independent lab model serving ECPs with similar product mix.
Broad incumbents
- Essilor (Essilor of America): Essilor (now part of EssilorLuxottica) is the world's largest ophthalmic lens manufacturer, with vertically integrated US wholesale labs and proprietary brands (Varilux, Crizal). Eye-Kraft manufactures Varilux on-site, indicating a partner-overlap relationship and competitor dynamic.
Others
- IOT (Indizen Optical Technologies): IOT is the Spanish lens design company whose Digital Ray Path 2 technology underpins Eye-Kraft's DLS portfolio. Not a direct competitor but a critical enabling partner providing the proprietary lens-design IP for Eye-Kraft's flagship products.
- Transitions Optical: Transitions Optical supplies photochromic lens technology (including the GenS family) that Eye-Kraft incorporates and resurfaces into its Neochromes and proprietary photochromic offerings. An enabling supplier rather than a competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Eye Kraft social profiles
Digital presenceEye Kraft compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Eye Kraft financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Eye Kraft leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Eye Kraft funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Eye Kraft 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 Eye Kraft
What does Eye Kraft do?
Eye-Kraft is an independent wholesale optical laboratory that manufactures and distributes prescription lenses, frames, and lens treatments (anti-reflective coatings, photochromic, scratch coatings) to independent eye care professionals. The lab also processes insurance claims directly for Minnesota managed care programs and operates an online ordering platform (SpecCheck) for ECPs.
Is Eye Kraft a public or private company?
Eye Kraft is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Eye Kraft founded?
Eye Kraft was founded in 1955. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Eye Kraft based?
Eye Kraft is headquartered in Sauk Rapids, United States, in the North America region.
How does Eye Kraft make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Optical Lab Manufacturing & Wholesale is the primary driver. The others are insurance Claims Processing and value Package Programs.
Who are Eye Kraft's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Carl Zeiss Vision, HOYA Vision Care, Walman Optical, Cherry Optical Lab, Pech Optical, Diversified Ophthalmics and Luzerne Optical. Essilor (Essilor of America) is listed as a broad incumbent. Others are IOT (Indizen Optical Technologies) and Transitions Optical.
Does Eye Kraft have an API?
No public API is recorded for Eye Kraft.
What industry is Eye Kraft in?
Eye Kraft's product category is Wholesale Optical Laboratory. 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.