Minnesota Eye Consultants

What Minnesota Eye Consultants does

Minnesota Eye Consultants is a private multi-specialty ophthalmology practice headquartered in the Twin Cities (Bloomington/Minnetonka, Minnesota), operating five clinic locations across the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro area, four of which are co-located with onsite ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). The practice delivers a comprehensive surgical and medical eye care portfolio including cataract surgery with premium intraocular lenses (Light Adjustable Lens, Symfony), LASIK and PRK laser vision correction, refractive lens exchange, glaucoma and cornea surgery, oculoplastic and cosmetic procedures (blepharoplasty, BOTOX/Xeomin, facial fillers, brow lifts), and dry eye treatment (LipiFlow, TearCare, IPL) at what it describes as an Accredited Dry Eye Center. Founded in 1989 by Thomas Samuelson and Richard Lindstrom, the firm employs a broad clinical staff across surgeons, optometrists, and support functions and was reported at 270 employees in February 2018.

The practice monetizes through a mix of fee-for-service surgical procedures (one-time, often with premium upgrades such as specialty IOLs), clinical eye care services (exams, consultations, ongoing disease management for glaucoma and dry eye), and optical/retail product sales via its e-commerce storefront at mneye.myeyestore.com. Pricing is quote-based and quote-driven, with free online LASIK and cataract self-tests feeding a consultative funnel, FSA/HSA acceptance, and third-party financing with promotional no-interest periods. The practice operates as a teaching facility hosting MD fellowships, OD fellowships, and residency programs, and pursues clinical research with surgeons who have participated in vision correction procedure development since inception. It markets through a multi-channel mix including content marketing, organic social across six platforms, email newsletter, community events (Strides 4 Sight 5K, The Vision Project), a Minnesota Vikings partnership, and video testimonials.

Minnesota Eye Consultants is affiliated with Unifeye Vision Partners (UVP), a strategic operating company backed by Waud Capital Partners since a 2017 funding event. Corporate structural moves include opening the Woodbury office in 2019 and closing the optical departments at Bloomington and the adjacent Park Optical. The practice holds HIPAA and Minnesota-privacy-compliant policies and has earned regional awards including Minnesota's Best 2025 (Silver LASIK, Bronze Eye Surgery), Top Doctors 2025, and America's Leading Doctors 2025.

Name

Minnesota Eye Consultants

Legal name

Minnesota Eye Consultants

Website

https://mneye.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Minnesota Eye Consultants is a private multi-specialty ophthalmology practice operating five Twin Cities clinic locations with four co-located ambulatory surgery centers, delivering cataract surgery, LASIK, glaucoma, cornea, oculoplastic, and dry eye care to individual patients in the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ophthalmology Services

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (62111), Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists) (621111), Offices of Optometrists (62132), Offices of Optometrists (621320)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Ophthalmology Clinics (Medical & Surgical Eye Care) (HLAKAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ophthalmology Surgery Centers (HLAFAIAF), Optometry Clinics (Primary Eye Care) (HLAKAKAB), Ambulatory Surgery Centers (Ophthalmic/Outpatient Eye Surgery) (HLAKAKAO)

Keywords

• Ophthalmology services
• Cataract surgery
• LASIK eye surgery
• Dry eye treatment
• Oculoplastic surgery

Headquarters

HQ city

Bloomington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Surgical Procedures: Revenue from surgical procedures including LASIK, cataract surgery, refractive lens exchange, glaucoma surgery, cornea surgery, and cosmetic/oculoplastic procedures. These are typically one-time procedures with optional premium upgrades (e.g., specialty IOLs).
2. Clinical Eye Care Services: Revenue from routine eye exams, consultations, diagnostic services, and ongoing eye care management across multiple specialties.
3. Optical/Retail Products: Revenue from online store selling optical products, eye care items, and potentially eyeglasses/contact lenses through their ecommerce platform (mneye.myeyestore.com).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Minnesota Eye Consultants is a multi-specialty ophthalmology practice delivering surgical and medical eye care services across the Minneapolis-St. Paul Twin Cities metro area. Core offerings include cataract surgery with premium intraocular lens options, LASIK and PRK laser vision correction, glaucoma and cornea surgery, oculoplastic and cosmetic procedures, dry eye treatment, and primary eye care. The practice operates five clinic locations, each with an onsite ambulatory surgery center, and supports patients through digital tools including online self-assessments and a patient portal.

Product overview

Minnesota Eye Consultants operates as a multi-specialty ophthalmology practice offering a comprehensive portfolio of eye care services across the Minneapolis-St. Paul Twin Cities metro area. The practice provides surgical services including cataract surgery (with Light Adjustable Lens and Symfony lens options), LASIK, PRK, refractive lens exchange, glaucoma surgery, cornea surgery, and oculoplastics/cosmetics. Non-surgical services include dry eye treatment (Accredited Dry Eye Center offering LipiFlow, IPL, and TearCare), primary eye care, and specialty contact lenses. Patient-facing digital tools include online self-assessments for LASIK and cataracts, a savings calculator, and the MEC Patient Portal. The practice also offers facial rejuvenation procedures including BOTOX, Xeomin, facial fillers, blepharoplasty, and endoscopic brow lifts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cataract Surgery Surgical removal of the clouded lens from the eye and replacement with an intraocular lens implant. Offers multifocal and specialty IOL options for patients with cataracts.
• LASIK Eye Surgery Laser vision correction using femtosecond and excimer lasers to reshape corneal tissue, correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
• Glaucoma Surgery Surgical treatment for glaucoma to manage optic nerve damage caused by high pressure from poor drainage of aqueous humor in the eye.
• Cornea Surgery Surgical procedures treating disorders of the cornea including transplantation, treatment of keratoconus, and other corneal diseases.
• Cosmetics and Oculoplastics Ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery encompassing eyelid procedures, lacrimal system treatment, orbital surgery, and facial rejuvenation including blepharoplasty, BOTOX, facial fillers, and endoscopic brow lifts.
• Dry Eye Treatment Treatment for Dry Eye Syndrome (Ocular Surface Disease) at an Accredited Dry Eye Center offering LipiFlow, IPL therapy, and TearCare procedures.
• Refractive Lens Exchange Clear lens extraction procedure replacing the eye's natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens to correct refractive errors, performed electively.
• Primary Eye Care Comprehensive routine eye examinations and general eye health services for patients of all ages.
• Specialty Contact Lens Center Custom specialty contact lens fittings for patients with unique vision needs, keratoconus, or post-surgical requirements.
• Urgent Eye Care Clinic Immediate eye care services for urgent eye conditions and emergencies requiring prompt attention.
• PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) Laser eye surgery without creating a corneal flap; surface cells are removed and cornea is treated with laser to correct vision errors, ideal for patients with thinner corneas.
• BOTOX and Xeomin Injections Injectable treatments that temporarily relax muscles responsible for wrinkles and lines, used for cosmetic rejuvenation and medical conditions like blepharospasm and migraines.
• Facial Fillers (Juvederm and Jeuveau) Hyaluronic acid-based injectable fillers that restore lost volume, smooth deep wrinkles, and enhance facial contours around cheeks, lips, and under eyes.
• Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery) Upper and lower eyelid surgery removing excess skin, fat, and muscle to improve appearance and, in some cases, restore vision obstructed by drooping eyelids.
• MEC Patient Portal Online portal allowing patients to access personal health records, request medical records, communicate securely with staff and physicians, and share medical records with other practices.
• Online LASIK Self-Test Free online questionnaire of 8 questions assessing whether patients may be candidates for LASIK based on current vision needs and lifestyle factors.
• Online Cataract Self-Test Free online screening questionnaire focused on lifestyle factors to help patients assess visual goals and determine if they would benefit from advanced cataract surgery with specialty lenses.
• LASIK Savings Calculator Online tool to help patients estimate potential savings from LASIK surgery compared to ongoing costs of glasses and contact lenses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Most LASIK patients experience significant improvement in vision within 24 to 48 hours
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Cherry OpticalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Gold Level Sponsor for the 2025 Perspectives in Eye Care conference hosted by Minnesota Eye Foundation. Cherry Optical's support enables the annual continuing education event for Doctors of Optometry.
• Unifeye Vision Partners (UVP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinnesota Eye Consultants is affiliated with Unifeye Vision Partners (UVP). The affiliation provides operational, administrative, and service-related support through the UVP network of affiliated entities and practices.
• Minnesota VikingsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMinnesota Eye Consultants is the preferred Ophthalmologists and LASIK partner of the Minnesota Vikings professional football team. This partnership provides brand visibility and sports-medicine credibility in the regional market.
• Minnesota Eye FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization founded by Minnesota Eye Consultants that runs charitable programs including The Vision Project (providing free eye surgeries to community members in need) and hosts annual Strides 4 Sight fundraising events.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Chu Vision Institute: Twin Cities-based ophthalmology and refractive surgery practice offering LASIK, cataract, and oculoplastic services. Directly comparable to MEC by geography, service mix, and direct-to-consumer go-to-market.
• Cleveland Eye Clinic: Multi-specialty Midwestern ophthalmology practice offering LASIK, cataract, glaucoma, and oculoplastic services across several locations. Comparable integrated multi-specialty model.
• Wang Vision Institute: Nashville-based refractive and cataract surgery practice with specialization in LASIK, IOLs, and dry eye treatment. Analogous model combining academic research with cash-pay procedures.
• Vance Thompson Vision: Multi-location Midwest refractive and cataract surgery practice with on-site surgical centers and clinical research involvement. Closely analogous in scale, specialties, and academic orientation.
• Loden Vision Centers: Tennessee-based multi-location ophthalmology practice offering LASIK, cataract, and oculoplastic services. Comparable in scale and integrated surgical-center model.
• Whiting Clinic LASIK + Eye Care: Minneapolis-based multi-specialty eye care and LASIK provider. Competes head-to-head with MEC on refractive procedures and general ophthalmology in the Twin Cities metro.
• Associated Eye Care: Twin Cities-area multi-specialty ophthalmology and optometry practice. Overlaps with MEC on cataract, glaucoma, and primary eye care in the same metro.

Broad incumbents

• TLC Laser Eye Centers: National refractive surgery chain with extensive US footprint. Overlaps with MEC on LASIK and vision correction within the broader consumer eye-care market.
• LasikPlus: Large national LASIK-focused chain with corporate-owned centers across the US, including Minnesota. Competes on refractive procedures at scale and broader marketing reach.

Others

• Unifeye Vision Partners: Strategic operating company affiliated with MEC providing network support. Acts as parent platform rather than competitor; relevant for benchmarking affiliated practice economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/minnesotaeye
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/MinnesotaEye
• Facebookfacebook.com/minnesotaeyeconsultants
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/minnesota-eye-consultants
• Instagraminstagram.com/mneyeconsultants
• TikToktiktok.com/@mneye.consultants

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Minnesota Eye Consultants