Optical Center
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Optical Center does
Optical Center is a privately held French optical and hearing-care retailer founded in 1991 and headquartered in Paris. It operates an omni-channel model anchored by the optical-center.fr e-commerce platform and a network of physical stores across 11 countries: France, the United Kingdom, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Israel, Canada, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Ireland. The company employs between 1,001 and 5,000 people, and brand credibility is reinforced by a 4.8/5 rating across approximately 2.7 million customer reviews on a third-party review platform.
The product portfolio centres on four categories: prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, and hearing aids. Optical Center acts as an authorized multi-brand distributor for premium and luxury eyewear houses (Ray-Ban, Oakley, Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Tom Ford, Dolce & Gabbana, Saint Laurent) and for major contact-lens manufacturers (Alcon, Johnson & Johnson, CooperVision, Bausch & Lomb), alongside hearing-aid brands such as Phonak, Signia/Siemens, Starkey, and Audio Service, including an exclusive 'Ouïezen First' bundle. Service-layer differentiators include OC Mobile (at-home optical service), 3D virtual store tours, a loyalty programme accumulating euros on purchases, and a contact-lens subscription option.
The revenue model is predominantly unit-based transactional retail (one-time purchases), augmented by recurring subscription revenue from contact lenses, a tiered loyalty/sponsorship scheme, and audiology service fees. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer, supported by exclusive internet pricing, a 40-day price-match guarantee, 48-hour delivery, and 1-year warranty. Pricing is positioned as 'the lowest prices in Europe,' with entry points such as Ray-Ban sunglasses from €89, prescription glasses from €105, and contact lenses from €31, while extending up to luxury-tier SKUs. Customer segments are general consumers requiring vision correction or hearing aids and a secondary sports-enthusiast segment, with no disclosed enterprise or B2B accounts.
Optical Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Optical Center
- Legal name
- Optical Center
- Website
- https://optical-center.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Optical Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Optical Retail
- NAICS
- Optical Goods Retailers (456130), Optical Goods Retailers (45613)
- SIC
- Ophthalmic Goods (3851)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Retail (Glasses/Frames/Lenses) (HLAKAKAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sunglasses (Non-Prescription) (CRAAAKAB), Contact Lenses & Care Systems (Soft/RGP/Scleral Lenses; Cleaning/Disinfection Solutions) (HLAHAJAE)
Keywords
Where Optical Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Optical Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Optical Products Retail: Revenue from sale of prescription glasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, and accessories through online and physical retail channels
- Hearing Aids & Audiology Services: Sale of hearing aids and audiology products with associated services including free hearing tests and 1-hour pickup for glasses and hearing aids combined
- Loyalty Program & Referrals: Fidelity account accumulates euros with each purchase (100€ minimum per purchase); referral cards provide 20CHF credit per referred customer
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sunglasses price range €89-€332 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Prescription glasses from €105 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Contact lenses from €31 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Forfait TOUT COMPRIS 'Ouïezen First' hearing aid package €490 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Forfait Junior Optical Center €39 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Optical Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Optical Center is an omni-channel optical and hearing retailer selling prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, and hearing aids both online (optical-center.fr) and through a network of physical stores across 11 countries. The offering centers on a multi-brand product portfolio spanning luxury (RAY-BAN, OAKLEY, GUCCI, PRADA, CHANEL, DOLCE & GABBANA, SAINT LAURENT, TOM FORD) and entry-level tiers, supported by audiology services, an OC Mobile at-home service, a loyalty program, and internet-exclusive pricing with 48-hour delivery.
Product overview
Optical Center is an online optical retailer operating as both an e-commerce platform and physical store network across France and multiple countries (UK, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Israel, Canada, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, Ireland). The product portfolio centers on four core categories: prescription eyeglasses (lunettes de vue), sunglasses (lunettes de soleil), contact lenses (lentilles de contact), and hearing aids/audiology (appareils auditifs). The company offers a comprehensive multi-brand portfolio featuring luxury and premium eyewear brands (RAY-BAN, OAKLEY, GUCCI, PRADA, CHANEL, DOLCE & GABBANA, SAINT LAURENT, TOM FORD), contact lens brands (ALCON, BAUSCH & LOMB, COOPERVISION, JOHNSON & JOHNSON), and hearing aid manufacturers (Phonak, Signia, Starkey). Supplementary services include OC Mobile (at-home optical services), 3D Virtual store experience, loyalty program, e-gift cards, and subscription options for contact lenses. The company differentiates through competitive pricing ('les prix les plus bas d'Europe'), fast delivery (48h), 1-year warranty, and exclusive internet prices.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- OC Mobile: Mobile optical service bringing expertise and quality of Optical Center without traveling
- Level Blue
Products and services
- Prescription Eyeglasses (Lunettes de vue) Prescription eyeglasses from premium and budget brands for individual consumers needing vision correction, available online and in-store across multiple frame shapes, styles, and frame types (cerclée, nylor, percée, prémonté). Entry-level Forfait Junior Optical Center package starts at €39; RAY-BAN prescription glasses from €105; CHANEL from €371.
- Sunglasses (Lunettes de soleil) Non-prescription sunglasses for sun protection and fashion for men, women, children, and babies, offered across premium fashion brands (GUCCI, PRADA, CHANEL, SAINT LAURENT, TOM FORD), sport performance brands (OAKLEY, JULBO), and budget lines (LEVEL, RAY-BAN from €89, GUCCI from €173, SAINT LAURENT from €270, PRADA from €272).
- Contact Lenses (Lentilles de contact) Contact lenses from major manufacturers (ACUVUE, AIR OPTIX, DAILIES, PUREVISION, SOFLENS, BIOFINITY, HYDROFEEL) covering spherical, toric, color, progressive, and aspherical corrections in daily, bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual schedules, available with a subscription delivery option. COOPERVISION BIOFINITY ENERGYS from €31; ACUVUE OASYS MAX 1 Day 90 from €106.
- Hearing Aids (Appareils Auditifs) Hearing aids and audiology products from multiple manufacturers (Phonak, Signia Siemens, Starkey, Audio Service, Ouïezen, Newson, BiotONE, D7), bundled with services including free in-store hearing assessment (bilan auditif gratuit), 30-day free trial, and combined vision-and-hearing pickup in 1 hour. Forfait TOUT COMPRIS 'Ouïezen First' packaged hearing solution priced at €490; Forfait Junior Optical Center entry-level package at €39.
- OC Mobile (At-Home Optical Service) A mobile optical service sub-brand under Optical Center that delivers professional in-home optical consultations and services to customers who cannot or prefer not to visit a physical store.
- 3D Virtual Store Experience (3D Virtuel en magasins) An immersive 3D virtual tour platform allowing customers to remotely explore Optical Center's physical store spaces and product displays across France and other markets without an in-person visit.
- Compte Fidélité (Loyalty Program) A personal customer loyalty account where purchases accumulate euros redeemable across the optical, sunglasses, contact lens, low-vision, hearing, accessories, and warranty categories, with an associated referral sponsorship program offering 20CHF credit per successful referral.
- E-Gift Card (E-Carte Cadeau) Electronic gift card redeemable across Optical Center's full product range including optical frames, sunglasses, contact lenses, low-vision products, hearing aids, accessories, and warranties.
- Care Products (Produits d'entretien) Maintenance and care products for contact lenses and hearing aids, sourced from manufacturers ALCON, AMO (Johnson & Johnson Vision), BAUSCH & LOMB, HORUS PHARMA, MENICON, OPHTALMIC, and PRECILENS.
Quantifiable outcome
- 4.8/5 customer satisfaction rating from 2,707,094 reviews
Companies that use Optical Center
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Optical Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Optical Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Ray-BancorePrimary brand partnership for prescription glasses and sunglasses; extensive product catalog including Aviator, Wayfarer, Clubmaster, Round Metal models
- OAKLEYcoreSport and performance eyewear brand partnership featuring sports sunglasses, cycling glasses, and lifestyle frames including Holbrook, Gascan, and Holbrook Metal collections
- GuccicoreLuxury fashion brand sunglasses partnership with products including GG 0091S, GG 0327S, and GG 1661S models
- PradacoreLuxury fashion brand sunglasses including PR 15WS Papillon collection
- Saint LaurentcoreLuxury fashion brand sunglasses including SL 301 LOULOU and SL 28 collections
- ChanelcoreLuxury fashion brand prescription glasses and sunglasses including CH 2215 collection
- Dolce & GabbanacoreLuxury fashion brand sunglasses including DG 4268 collection
- Tom FordcoreLuxury fashion brand sunglasses and prescription glasses
- Lukkas x Orlinski (Collaboration)minorDesigner collaboration featuring exclusive sunglasses collections (LUSxRO line)
- Alcon (Contact Lenses)coreContact lens brand partnership including ACUVUE, AIR OPTIX, DAILIES, and PUREVISION product lines
- Johnson & Johnson (Contact Lenses)coreContact lens brand partnership including ACUVUE OASYS MAX 1 Day products
- CooperVisioncoreContact lens brand partnership including MyDay Multifocal and BIOFINITY product lines
- Bausch & LombcoreContact lens brand partnership for contact lens products
- PhonakcoreHearing aid brand partnership available in stores
- Signia SiemenscoreHearing aid brand partnership available in stores
- StarkeycoreHearing aid brand partnership available in stores
- Audio ServicecoreHearing aid brand partnership available in stores
- OuïezencoreExclusive hearing aid brand partnership offering 'Ouïezen First' package at €490; combined vision and hearing service in 1 hour
- Mutual Health Insurance PartnersminorPartnership with major mutual insurance companies for third-party payment (tiers payant) and reimbursement support
- Visitors-Book (Reviews Platform)minorThird-party customer review platform hosting 2.7M+ customer reviews with 4.8/5 average rating
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Optical Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Polette: Paris-headquartered digital-native optical retailer offering affordable fashion eyewear and sunglasses directly to consumers, competing on price and proprietary design — direct competitor to Optical Center's online channel in France.
- Clearly: Online optical retailer (EssilorLuxottica-owned) operating in Canada, Europe and beyond, selling premium branded prescription glasses and contact lenses — competes with Optical Center in Canada and European markets.
- Happyview: Online-only French optical retailer selling branded prescription glasses and sunglasses with try-at-home service — directly comparable to Optical Center's e-commerce value proposition.
- Specsavers: UK-origin optical retail chain with significant French and European store footprint, offering prescription glasses, contact lenses, and audiology services — direct omnichannel competitor to Optical Center across multiple markets.
- SmartBuyGlasses: Premium-online optical retailer carrying Ray-Ban, Oakley, Gucci, Prada and others with global ecommerce reach — competes with Optical Center on multi-brand selection and value pricing online.
- Vision Direct: European online contact lens and optical retailer delivering prescription eyewear direct-to-consumer — primary e-commerce competitor to Optical Center's lentilles de contact and lunettes de vue lines.
Emerging players
- Warby Parker: US D2C eyewear pioneer with retail stores and strong value-priced private label; relevant comparable on omnichannel retail model and affordable fashion positioning as it expands internationally.
- Ace & Tate: Amsterdam-based direct-to-consumer eyewear brand combining online ordering with physical stores across Europe; overlapping with Optical Center in Netherlands and broader European footprint and same omnichannel model.
Regional players
- Lenskart: India-headquartered omnichannel optical retailer with vertically integrated model, scaling internationally; comparable to Optical Center on store-plus-digital retail and aggressive pricing strategy in adjacent geography.
Broad incumbents
- EssilorLuxottica: Vertically integrated eyewear conglomerate that supplies most of Optical Center's premium brands and operates retail banners (e.g., Sunglass Hut, LensCrafters); broad incumbent shaping wholesale terms, retail format, and competitive landscape.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Optical Center social profiles
Digital presenceOptical Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Optical Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Optical Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Optical Center 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 Optical Center
What does Optical Center do?
Optical Center is an omni-channel optical and hearing retailer selling prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, and hearing aids both online (optical-center.fr) and through a network of physical stores across 11 countries. The offering centers on a multi-brand product portfolio spanning luxury (RAY-BAN, OAKLEY, GUCCI, PRADA, CHANEL, DOLCE & GABBANA, SAINT LAURENT, TOM FORD) and entry-level tiers, supported by audiology services, an OC Mobile at-home service, a loyalty program, and internet-exclusive pricing with 48-hour delivery.
Is Optical Center a public or private company?
Optical Center is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Optical Center founded?
Optical Center was founded in 1991. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Optical Center based?
Optical Center is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Optical Center make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Optical Products Retail is the primary driver. The others are hearing Aids & Audiology Services and loyalty Program & Referrals.
Who are Optical Center's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Polette, Clearly, Happyview, Specsavers, SmartBuyGlasses and Vision Direct. Emerging players are Warby Parker and Ace & Tate. Lenskart is listed as a regional player. EssilorLuxottica is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Optical Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for Optical Center.
What industry is Optical Center in?
Optical Center's product category is Optical Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAKAKAL, Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Retail (Glasses/Frames/Lenses), with a secondary code of CRAAAKAB, Sunglasses (Non-Prescription). Its NAICS code is 456130 and its SIC code is 3851.