What Gulden Ophthalmics does

Gulden Ophthalmics is a privately held US manufacturer and direct seller of ophthalmic instruments and medical devices, founded in 1938 and headquartered at 225 Cadwalader Avenue in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. The company operates with 1–10 employees and manufactures its products in the United States under ISO 13485:2016 certification covering ophthalmic instruments, ocular implants, and conformers. Its catalog spans more than 20 product categories including prism bars and sets, occluders, trial frames and flippers, color vision tests, eye models, surgical training tools, orbital implants and conformers, pediatric diagnostic tools, dry-eye assessment kits, and vision-screening instruments. Select products feature proprietary technology, notably a manufacturing process that reduces optical birefringence in acrylic prisms, patented EZ View Prism Bars with engraved diopter markings, and a magnetic rare-earth prism-attachment system that lets clinicians swap prism strengths during examinations.

Name

Gulden Ophthalmics

Legal name

Gulden Ophthalmics Inc.

Website

https://guldenophthalmics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Gulden Ophthalmics is a US-based, ISO 13485-certified manufacturer of ophthalmic instruments and medical devices — including prisms, trial frames, eye models, and surgical training tools — sold direct to eye care professionals and healthcare facilities worldwide since 1938.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ophthalmic Medical Devices

NAICS

Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115), Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112)

SIC

Ophthalmic Goods (3851), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Devices (Frames, Lenses, Lens Edging/Finishing Equipment) (HLAHAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Oculoplastics & Lacrimal Surgical Devices (Ptosis/Orbital Tools, DCR/Lacrimal Stents, Facial Implants) (HLAHAJAL), Pediatric Ophthalmology & Orthoptics Devices (Amblyopia Therapy, Strabismus Measurement & Treatment) (HLAHAJAM)

Keywords

• Ophthalmic instruments
• Diagnostic tools
• Vision therapy
• Surgical training
• Color vision tests

Headquarters

HQ city

Elkins Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: Gulden Ophthalmics generates revenue through direct sales of ophthalmic instruments, medical devices, and accessories to eye care professionals, ophthalmologists, optometrists, and healthcare facilities. Products are sold individually at fixed price points with per-unit pricing ranging from $5 (Plastic Tape Measure) to $329 (Binocular Vision Assessment Kit). The company accepts credit card payments, purchase orders, money orders, and personal checks.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Gulden Ophthalmics manufactures and supplies ophthalmic instruments and medical devices, including prism bars and sets, occluders, trial frames, color vision tests, surgical training tools, eye models, orbital implants and conformers, and pediatric ophthalmic tools. The company designs, manufactures, and distributes these products directly to eye care professionals and healthcare facilities under ISO 13485:2016 quality standards, with a focus on proprietary optical and ergonomic innovations such as birefringence-reduced prisms and magnetic attachment systems.

Product overview

Gulden Ophthalmics is a manufacturer and supplier of ophthalmic instruments and medical devices, operating since 1938. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of over 20 product categories including Color Vision Tests (Ishihara, Farnsworth D-15), Diagnostic Tools (Prism Bars, Occluders, Trial Frames, OculoMotor Assessment Tool), Eye Models (Cataract, Cornea, LASIK, PVD), Surgical Training Tools (Phake-I, I-BORG, Reti Eye), Pediatric Tools, Orbital Implants & Conformers, Vision Screening Tools, Dry Eye Tools, and Trial Lenses/Flippers. Products are manufactured in-house to ISO 13485:2016 standards and distributed primarily to eyecare professionals including ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Prism Bars and Sets Prism bars and sets for diagnosing and measuring ocular deviation, fusion, and vergence. Includes EZ View patented prism bars with engraved diopter numbers, S-16 and S-22 magnetic prism sets, horizontal and vertical prism bars, combination prism bars, and yoked prism bar kits for ophthalmologists and optometrists performing binocular vision assessments.
• Occluders Handheld occluders for covering one eye during testing, including short handle, long handle, multi-pinhole occluders, and combination occluders with Maddox rods and red lenses for ophthalmic examinations.
• Trial Frames Trial frames in universal, lightweight, child, and pediatric variants for refraction testing and lens prescribing by ophthalmologists and optometrists.
• Eye Models Educational anatomical eye models for patient education and professional training, including Cataract, Cornea, IOL, LASIK, Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD), Vision Threatening Disease (VTD), and Siepser series demonstrator models.
• Surgical Training Tools Surgical training tools and practice eyes for ophthalmic surgery simulation, including Phake-I synthetic eyes, I-BORG Surgery Trainer, Idrees Eye Surgery Practice Head, Reti Eye Laser Practice Kit, and Phaco Practice Patient.
• Vision Screening Tools Near point cards and acuity charts for vision screening, including Wormington Test Card, Eger Near Card, LEA Symbols Acuity Chart, Phoropter Roto Chart, and Opto-Kinetic Flag for clinical and pediatric eye exams.
• Color Vision Tests Color blindness detection and classification tests, including the Ishihara Color Testing Book (38 Plate), Farnsworth D-15 (Saturated and Dichotomous), Lanthony D-15 (Desaturated), and Circular Magnetic Farnsworth D-15 tests using Munsell discs.
• Orbital Implants and Conformers Sterile PMMA orbital implants in sizes from 10mm to 22mm, sterile eye conformers with and without holes, orbital implant sizer kits, and introducers for ophthalmic surgery.
• Pediatric Tools Pediatric-specific ophthalmic tools including Pediatric Trial Frames, Pediatric Fixation Pack, Pediatric Screening Kit, Pediatric Red/Green Glasses, LED Pediatric Fixation Wand, and fixation sticks for pediatric eye exams.
• OculoMotor Assessment Tool (OMAT) Device for vergence and saccade testing with magnetic connection between bars, high contrast white-on-black markings, and a companion mobile app for Android and iOS used by vision therapists and optometrists.
• Retinoscopy Rack Two-paddle retinoscopy rack with plus and minus lenses, 16mm recessed lenses, and a compass for astigmatism orientation, including a protective case for objective refraction testing.
• Trial Lenses and Flippers Replacement trial lenses in sphere and cylinder types, lens flippers (4-well and 8-well), color-coded flipper sets, and trial lens clips for refraction and accommodative testing.
• Dry Eye Tools Dry eye assessment and treatment tools including the Dry Eye/Lagophthalmos Kit, Siepser Dry Eye Model, and meibomian gland expression lid plates for ophthalmic and optometric dry eye management.
• SimulEYE Laser Models SimulEYE SLT (Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty) and LPI (Laser Peripheral Iridotomy) practice models featuring cornea-scleral shells with iris and angle structures for laser procedure training.
• Binocular Vision Assessment Kit Complete assessment kit for binocular vision and accommodative disorders matching CITT (Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial) research standards, including occluder, vergence facility prism, flippers, and prism bars.
• Stereo Acuity Tests Stereo vision tests including Stereo Acuity Test (Fly) and Stereo Acuity Test (Butterfly), manufactured by Vision Assessment Corporation for amblyopia and strabismus testing.
• Stainless Steel Handle Stick Prisms Stainless steel handle stick prisms with re-engineered acrylic ophthalmic prisms designed to solve the problem of birefringence that can hinder clinical applications, featuring magnetic attachment.
• Magnetic S-16 and S-22 Stick Prism Sets Magnetic S-16 and S-22 Stick Prism Sets, each including magnetic prisms, a red lens, and two detachable magnetic tipped stainless-steel stick handles for rapid prism attachment and detachment.
• Circular Magnetic Farnsworth D-15 Tests Circular Magnetic Farnsworth D-15 Test using Munsell discs to detect and classify color blindness with built-in grading, in a circular magnetic design for color vision testing.
• Custom Plastic Manufacturing Services Custom plastic manufacturing services for ophthalmic instruments and medical devices, leveraging Gulden's proprietary plastic manufacturing expertise for OEM and medical device clients.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Topcon Healthcare: Topcon is a major global ophthalmic equipment manufacturer producing diagnostic imaging, refraction, and surgical instruments. They operate broadly in the same ophthalmic device category as Gulden but at much greater scale with integrated digital platforms.
• Nidek Co., Ltd. Nidek manufactures ophthalmic diagnostic equipment including autorefractors, lensometers, and surgical systems. They compete with Gulden in the ophthalmic instruments category but with a much broader integrated product portfolio and global distribution.
• Reichert Technologies (Ametek): Reichert is a long-established ophthalmic instrument manufacturer (tonometers, refractors, lensometers) now owned by Ametek. While larger and broader in scope than Gulden, Reichert competes in the same ophthalmic diagnostic equipment space and serves overlapping optometry and ophthalmology customers.
• Keeler (Halma plc): Keeler, part of Halma plc, manufactures ophthalmic instruments including tonometers, ophthalmoscopes, and retinoscopes. They compete broadly with Gulden in the ophthalmic diagnostic instruments space but with a UK base and larger institutional footprint.
• Volk Optical (Halma plc): Volk Optical, also part of Halma, manufactures ophthalmic lenses and diagnostic imaging devices. They overlap with Gulden in ophthalmic lens products (trial lenses) and serve similar optometry and ophthalmology customers at larger scale.
• Haag-Streit Group: Haag-Streit manufactures ophthalmic examination equipment including slit lamps, tonometers, and perimeters. They operate in the same ophthalmic diagnostic equipment category as Gulden with a much broader product range and established global distribution.

Direct peers

• Good-Lite Company: Good-Lite is a direct competitor to Gulden, manufacturing a similar niche of ophthalmic vision testing tools including eye charts, color vision tests, and pediatric vision screening instruments. Both companies serve optometrists and ophthalmologists with handheld diagnostic instruments at comparable price points.
• Bernell Corporation: Bernell is a specialty supplier of vision training and rehabilitation equipment, including prism sets, flippers, and therapy tools. They directly overlap with Gulden's vision therapy and binocular vision assessment product lines and serve a similar vision therapy specialist customer base.
• Stereo Optical Company: Stereo Optical manufactures stereo vision tests and ophthalmic assessment tools, directly overlapping with Gulden's Stereo Acuity Test (Fly) and other binocular vision diagnostic products. Both target optometry and ophthalmology practices with manual diagnostic instruments.
• Vision Assessment Corporation: Vision Assessment Corporation manufactures stereo acuity tests (which Gulden actually distributes under their brand). They overlap directly in amblyopia and strabismus testing devices and compete for the same optometry and vision therapy customer base.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Gulden Ophthalmics