SwissLens
SwissLens is a privately held Swiss manufacturer of custom-made contact lenses, serving eye care professionals and hospitals across Europe and beyond through direct sales, distributors, and licensing partners. The company combines patented nano-precision lathes, a serialized traceability system, and accredited training programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersPrilly, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What SwissLens does
SwissLens S.A. is a privately held Swiss manufacturer of custom-made contact lenses, founded around 1999 and headquartered in Prilly (Lausanne), Switzerland. The company produces made-to-order rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses — including orthokeratology lenses (NightFlex family), scleral lenses (ScleraFlex Mini), and specialized RGP designs (FlexCone, RelaxFlex, FlexMed, ToriFlex/ToreliFlex, OrbiFlex/BoriFlex) — as well as soft contact lenses (Relax, Orbis, Borelis, HydroCone, HydroMed, HydroColor, Lunelle ES70) and an Acuacare care-solutions line. Manufacturing is built on proprietary numerical lathes with nano-metrical precision and associated driving software, co-developed with EPFL and protected by patents. Every lens is serialized, with parameters, patient, and practitioner data archived indefinitely for full traceability.
SwissLens sells exclusively B2B to eye care professionals — optometrists, ophthalmologists, contact lens practitioners, and hospitals — through direct sales (a Professional Services team and 24/7 website ordering) and through distributors and licensing partners covering all European countries and select markets beyond Europe. Standard production turnaround is 1-3 working days, with same-day manufacturing available for urgent orders submitted before 10:00 a.m. The company supplements product sales with a training and education business — SwissOptom-accredited webinars and on-site seminars across Europe — and distributes diagnostic equipment (Medmont Meridia topographer).
The company employs approximately 50 people, holds ISO 13485:2021 certification, and carries the EC-label for sterile soft and rigid contact lenses under EU Medical Device Regulation. It is a member of EFCLIN (European Federation of Contact Lens Industry Associations, since 2023). Ownership is concentrated in private hands led by CEO and Chairman Philippe Käppeli, with no disclosed venture capital, private equity, or institutional investor involvement. The firm operates a multilingual digital presence (10 languages) and maintains sales coverage in at least nine European countries.
SwissLens firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SwissLens
- Legal name
- SwissLens S.A.
- Website
- https://swisslens.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SwissLens is a privately held Swiss manufacturer of custom-made contact lenses, serving eye care professionals and hospitals across Europe and beyond through direct sales, distributors, and licensing partners. The company combines patented nano-precision lathes, a serialized traceability system, and accredited training programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SwissLens industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Custom Contact Lens Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115)
- SIC
- Ophthalmic Goods (3851)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Contact Lenses & Care Systems (Soft/RGP/Scleral Lenses; Cleaning/Disinfection Solutions) (HLAHAJAE)
Keywords
Where SwissLens is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Prilly
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
SwissLens business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Custom-made Contact Lenses: SwissLens manufactures and sells made-to-order contact lenses for eye care professionals. Products include RGP (rigid gas permeable) lenses such as NightFlex orthokeratology lenses, ScleraFlex scleral lenses, and soft contact lenses. All lenses are made to order with unlimited parameter selections. Production takes 1-3 working days, with same-day manufacturing available for urgent orders submitted before 10:00 a.m.
- Care & Handling Products: Acuacare product line including All in One, One Step T, Allclean, CleanFlex, StoreFlex, Fresh & UniFresh solutions, as well as handling tools and diagnostic strips for contact lens care.
- Training & Education Services: Webinars, seminars, and hands-on training courses for eye care professionals on topics including orthokeratology fitting, scleral lens fitting, and rigid lens adaptation. Training earns SwissOptom continuing education credits.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Webinar - Ortho-K / Scleral / Soft Lens Training |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | On-site Seminars - Orthokeratology (Poland) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | On-site Scleral Lens Seminar (Germany) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | On-site Rigid Lens Training (Switzerland) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | On-site Scleral Lens Course (Italy) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Custom-made Contact Lens Production |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
SwissLens product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SwissLens manufactures and supplies custom-made-to-order contact lenses, including RGP (orthokeratology, scleral, and standard rigid gas permeable designs), soft contact lenses, and the Acuacare range of care solutions. All lenses are produced in Switzerland with unlimited parameter selections using proprietary nano-precision lathes, with 1-3 working day standard turnaround and same-day urgent manufacturing available. Sales are exclusively B2B to qualified eye care professionals, hospitals, and licensed distributors worldwide.
Product overview
SwissLens is a contact lens manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of custom-made contact lenses and related products for eye care professionals. The product range includes RGP (rigid gas permeable) contact lenses with specialized designs such as orthokeratology lenses (NightFlex family for myopia management), scleral lenses (ScleraFlex Mini), and standard RGP lenses (FlexCone, OrbiFlex/BoriFlex, ToriFlex/ToreliFlex, RelaxFlex, FlexMed), as well as soft contact lenses including spherical, toric, and multifocal options (Relax, Orbis, Borelis, HydroCone, HydroMed, HydroColor series, Lunelle ES70). The portfolio also includes the Acuacare range of care solutions (All in One, One Step T, Allclean, CleanFlex, StoreFlex, Fresh & UniFresh), handling tools, diagnostic strips, and Medmont corneal topography equipment. All lenses are made-to-order with unlimited parameter selections, supporting myopia control, astigmatism, presbyopia, and complex refractive needs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- NightFlex: Orthokeratology lens designed for overnight corneal reshaping and myopia management.
- ScleraFlex
- HydroColor
- Acuacare
- FlexCone
- RelaxFlex
- FlexMed
- Relax/Relax T
- Orbis/Toris
- Borelis/Torelis
- HydroCone
- HydroMed
Products and services
- NightFlex Orthokeratology Contact Lenses
Quantifiable outcome
- Full traceability of every manufactured product through unique lot numbers
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use SwissLens
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SwissLens technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
SwissLens partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- EFCLIN (European Federation of Contact Lens Industry Associations)coreSwissLens is a member of EFCLIN, the European federation representing contact lens manufacturers and the industry. Membership provides networking, standards development, and industry advocacy at the European level.
- EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)coreSwissLens collaborated with EPFL and various high-technology Swiss companies to develop proprietary numerical lathes with nano-metrical precision specifically designed for manufacturing custom-made contact lenses. The lathes and driving software are protected by patents with exclusive exploitation rights to SwissLens.
- ContamaccoreContamac is one of the main raw material suppliers for SwissLens contact lens manufacturing. SwissLens works with Contamac and other suppliers to select the most appropriate material for each lens based on patient needs and clinical requirements.
- Boston (Bausch + Lomb)coreBoston (Bausch + Lomb) is one of the main raw material suppliers for SwissLens rigid gas permeable contact lenses. SwissLens collaborates with material suppliers to ensure access to high-quality lens materials for their custom products.
- Paragon Vision SciencecoreParagon Vision Science is one of the main raw material suppliers for SwissLens contact lens manufacturing. SwissLens maintains relationships with multiple material suppliers to offer diverse material options for different lens applications.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SwissLens competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Paragon Vision Sciences: US-based manufacturer of Paragon CRT and other specialty RGP/ortho-K lenses. Direct competitor in overnight orthokeratology and a current raw material supplier to SwissLens.
- Menicon: Japanese specialty contact lens manufacturer with strong RGP and orthokeratology franchises. Closely comparable to SwissLens as a custom/specialty lens maker serving ECPs globally with proprietary manufacturing expertise.
- Art Optical Contact Lens: US specialty contact lens laboratory manufacturing custom RGP, scleral, and ortho-K lenses for practitioners. Highly comparable niche-scale custom lens manufacturer with practitioner-direct B2B model.
- Visionary Optics: US-based specialty lens lab focused on scleral and custom RGP lenses (e.g., Europa, Jupiter, Ampleye). Comparable custom-fit specialty manufacturer with ECP-direct distribution.
- Valley Contax: US custom contact lens manufacturer producing specialty RGP, scleral, and ortho-K lenses. Direct peer in the custom contact lens laboratory segment serving eye care professionals.
- mark'ennovy: European custom soft contact lens manufacturer offering made-to-order silicone hydrogel lenses with broad parameter ranges. Comparable in custom manufacturing philosophy and European distribution reach.
Broad incumbents
- Bausch + Lomb (Boston): Global ophthalmic giant whose Boston brand leads RGP and specialty lenses. Direct competitor in custom/specialty lens categories while also being one of SwissLens' key material suppliers.
- Johnson & Johnson Vision: Global contact lens leader (Acuvue family). Not a direct custom specialist but a dominant incumbent whose portfolio breadth and scale shape the broader custom/specialty market dynamics.
- Alcon: Global eye care giant with a broad contact lens portfolio (DAILIES, AIR OPTIX, Precision) and surgical/contact lens care solutions. Comparable as a comprehensive ophthalmic goods incumbent spanning manufacturing and care solutions.
Emerging players
- Euclid Systems: Orthokeratology lens manufacturer known for Emerald and other ortho-K designs. Direct overlap in the myopia management/ortho-K segment where SwissLens competes via NightFlex.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SwissLens social profiles
Digital presenceSwissLens compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
SwissLens financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SwissLens leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
SwissLens funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SwissLens 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 SwissLens
What does SwissLens do?
SwissLens manufactures and supplies custom-made-to-order contact lenses, including RGP (orthokeratology, scleral, and standard rigid gas permeable designs), soft contact lenses, and the Acuacare range of care solutions. All lenses are produced in Switzerland with unlimited parameter selections using proprietary nano-precision lathes, with 1-3 working day standard turnaround and same-day urgent manufacturing available. Sales are exclusively B2B to qualified eye care professionals, hospitals, and licensed distributors worldwide.
Is SwissLens a public or private company?
SwissLens is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was SwissLens founded?
SwissLens was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SwissLens based?
SwissLens is headquartered in Prilly, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does SwissLens make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Custom-made Contact Lenses are the primary driver. The others are care & Handling Products and training & Education Services.
Who are SwissLens's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Paragon Vision Sciences, Menicon, Art Optical Contact Lens, Visionary Optics, Valley Contax and mark'ennovy. Broad incumbents are Bausch + Lomb (Boston), Johnson & Johnson Vision and Alcon. Euclid Systems is listed as an emerging player.
Does SwissLens have an API?
No public API is recorded for SwissLens.
What industry is SwissLens in?
SwissLens's product category is Custom Contact Lens Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAJAE, Contact Lenses & Care Systems (Soft/RGP/Scleral Lenses; Cleaning/Disinfection Solutions). Its NAICS code is 339115 and its SIC code is 3851.