Gutblick

What Gutblick does

Gutblick is a Swiss ambulatory ophthalmology practice network (Praxisverbund) headquartered in Pfäffikon SZ and operating across German-speaking Switzerland. The company delivers the full spectrum of outpatient eye care through a hub-and-spoke model of 12 (15 post-merger, December 2025) consultation sites and 8 surgical centers, supported by two optical retail stores in Wallisellen and Aarau, and a dedicated research arm, Gutblick Research. It serves patients of all ages, from pediatric myopia and strabismus management to age-related cataract, glaucoma, and retinal disease, with a payer mix that blends Swiss basic-insurance ambulatory tariffs for medical/surgical care with self-pay pricing for screening packages (CHF 199), vision tests (from CHF 59), aesthetic eyelid procedures, and refractive laser surgery.

Operations cover cataract surgery (ultrasound and laser-based), glaucoma care (laser, MIGS, micro-shunts, drainage implants, revisions), retinal surgery (vitrectomy, detachment repair, macular surgery, IVT for wet AMD), refractive surgery through partner ClearVision using SMILE Pro and Femto-LASIK with Zeiss VISUMAX 800, eyelid and oculoplastic procedures, pediatric ophthalmology, and emergency eye care. Differentiated services include photobiomodulation for dry AMD with the Valeda device — the first offering of its kind in Switzerland, co-developed by Prof. Dr. Dr. Marion Munk and led out of Gutblick Research — and Intense Pulsed Light therapy for chronic dry eyes.

The business combines a roll-up growth model (more than a dozen practice acquisitions since 2014 plus the December 2025 merger with Augenkliniken Wettingen, Baden and Etzelmatt) with a research and AI-enabled platform strategy. AI capabilities include computer-vision image analysis (Easy Eye FM, Retfound, RetinAI Discovery) for AMD and diabetic macular edema assessment, predictive analytics for personalized therapy, and the development of Swiss-population foundational retinal models. The group is SIWF-certified for both Ophthalmologie (C1) and Ophthalmochirurgie (C2) — a credential held by only a small number of Swiss private practices — and published 162,000 outpatient consultations and approximately 5,500 surgical procedures in 2024 with patient satisfaction metrics above 95.5% across surgical and examination pathways.

Name

Gutblick

Legal name

Augenarzt-Praxisgemeinschaft Gutblick AG und Gutblick Augengesundheit AG

Website

https://gutblick.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Gutblick is a Swiss ambulatory ophthalmology practice network operating 15 locations and 8 surgical centers in German-speaking Switzerland, delivering cataract, glaucoma, retina, refractive, pediatric, and eyelid surgery — plus a research arm (Gutblick Research) and AI-supported retinal diagnostics — to patients of all ages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outpatient Ophthalmology Services

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (6211), Offices of Optometrists (62132), Optical Goods Retailers (45613), Diagnostic Imaging Centers (621512)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Ophthalmic Goods (3851)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care (HLAKAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Retina & Vitreous Specialists (HLAKAKAE), Cornea, External Disease & Refractive Surgery (LASIK/PRK) (HLAKAKAF), Glaucoma Diagnostics & Surgical Devices (Tonometry, Gonioscopy, MIGS, Drainage Implants, Laser Trabeculoplasty) (HLAHAJAI), Vision & Ophthalmic Diagnostic Centers (Optometry/OCT/Retinal Imaging) (HLAFAKAI)

Keywords

• Ophthalmology practice network
• Outpatient eye care
• Cataract surgery
• Refractive laser surgery
• Retinal disease treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Wallisellen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Medical Consultations: Outpatient ophthalmology consultations and examinations across 12+ locations in German-speaking Switzerland. Includes routine check-ups, diagnostic assessments, and specialist consultations.
2. Surgical Procedures: Ambulatory surgical operations including cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery, refractive laser surgery, eyelid surgery, and retina surgery. Performed at 8 operating locations with approximately 5,500 operations annually.
3. Vision Tests and Eyeglass Prescriptions: Eye tests with professional eyeglass prescriptions starting from CHF 59.
4. Medical Screening: Comprehensive medical screening package for CHF 199 including all screenings and a written report.
5. Optical Retail: Optical stores in Wallisellen and Aarau offering medical screenings and high-quality eyeglasses for adults and children, as well as contact lenses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Gutblick operates a network of 12+ (now 15) ambulatory ophthalmology practices in German-speaking Switzerland delivering the full spectrum of eye care, from routine examinations and diagnostics to outpatient surgical procedures including cataract, glaucoma, retina, refractive laser, eyelid, and pediatric strabismus surgery. The offering is complemented by optical retail stores in Wallisellen and Aarau and an in-house research division (Gutblick Research) conducting clinical studies on macular and retinal disease. Specialized therapies include photobiomodulation for dry AMD using the Valeda device, IPL for dry eyes, intravitreal injections, retinal/YAG laser, myopia management, and emergency eye care.

Product overview

Gutblick is a Swiss ophthalmology practice network (Praxisverbund für ambulante Augenmedizin) providing the full spectrum of outpatient eye care across a unified platform of 12+ locations in German-speaking Switzerland, with recent merger adding 3 more clinics. The core offering centers on medical and surgical ophthalmology services including cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery, retinal surgery, refractive laser surgery (via partner ClearVision using VISUMAX 800 Zeiss), eyelid surgery, pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus, and emergency care. Adjacent to the medical practices, Gutblick operates optical retail stores (Optiker-Store) in Wallisellen and Aarau, and a dedicated research division (Gutblick Research) conducting clinical studies in macula, uveitis, and retina. Specialized treatment modules include photobiomodulation with Valeda for dry AMD, IPL therapy for dry eyes, intravitreal injections for wet AMD, retinal/YAG laser procedures, myopia management, medical screening, vision tests, and orthoptics. The network is further supported by a patient symptom checker and internal OP disposition and service center infrastructure. With 162,000 consultations and 5,500 operations in 2024 across 8 surgical locations, the network functions as a multi-site platform delivering both primary care and advanced surgical interventions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Augenmedizin (Core Ophthalmology Services) Comprehensive network-wide ophthalmology services spanning diagnosis, medical treatment, and outpatient surgery across 12+ (now 15) locations in German-speaking Switzerland, including slit-lamp examination, tonometry, perimetry, and full specialist consultation for all eye conditions.
• Kataraktchirurgie (Cataract Surgery) Modern ultrasound and laser-assisted cataract surgery using state-of-the-art intraocular lenses, combinable with retina or glaucoma procedures during the same intervention. Performed across the network's 8 surgical centers.
• Glaukomchirurgie (Glaucoma Surgery) Full spectrum of glaucoma surgery from laser treatment and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) to micro-shunts, large drainage implants, and revision surgery for patients across the network.
• Refraktive Chirurgie / Augenlasern (Refractive Surgery via ClearVision) Refractive laser surgery using SMILE Pro, Femto-LASIK, and Trans-PRK for precise correction of refractive errors, performed in partnership with ClearVision.
• Netzhautchirurgie (Retinal Surgery) Retinal surgery including retinal detachment repair, macular surgery, vitrectomies, secondary lens implantation, and globe preservation procedures.
• Kinderaugenheilkunde und Strabologie (Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus) Therapy for eye movement disorders, particularly strabismus (squint), including eye muscle surgery, vision screening, and treatment for amblyopia in children and adolescents.
• Photobiomodulation bei trockener AMD (Valeda therapy) Photobiomodulation therapy using the Valeda device for treating dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) — first approved such treatment in Switzerland, co-developed by Prof. Dr. Dr. Marion Munk of Gutblick Research. Available at Bern, Wallisellen, Aarau, and St. Gallen.
• Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapie Innovative light pulse therapy particularly effective for chronic dry eyes caused by Meibomian gland dysfunction, offered at the Wallisellen location.
• Lidchirurgie (Eyelid / Oculoplastic Surgery) Upper and lower eyelid blepharoplasty, brow lift, eyelid malposition corrections (ectropium, entropium), eyelid tumor excision, ptosis repair, reconstructions, punctoplasty, tear duct procedures, and non-surgical muscle relaxant treatments.
• Netzhaut- und YAG-Laser (Retinal & YAG Laser) Argon laser coagulation for retinal holes, threatening retinal detachment, wet AMD, and diabetic retinopathy; YAG laser capsulotomy for after-cataract treatment.
• Myopie-Management (Myopia Management for Children) Myopia management using atropine eye drops, myopia-control spectacle lenses, and orthokeratology lenses to slow progression of myopia in children and adolescents.
• Medical Screening Comprehensive professional medical screening package for CHF 199, including all screenings and a written report. Available at optical stores in Wallisellen and Aarau.
• Sehtest mit Brillenrezept (Vision Test with Prescription) Vision test with professional eyeglass prescription available from CHF 59; includes fitting and selection of glasses at Wallisellen and Aarau optical stores.
• Orthoptik (Orthoptics) Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of strabismus, visual disturbances, and amblyopia including cover tests, prism glasses, and nystagmus therapy.
• Augennotfälle (Eye Emergencies) Emergency eye care for eye injuries, foreign bodies, chemical burns, vision disturbances, acute glaucoma attacks, and severe inflammation at multiple practice locations.
• Routinekontrollen (Routine Eye Examinations) Comprehensive routine eye examinations including slit lamp examination, tonometry, perimetry, ophthalmoscopy, Schirmer test, cover test, and Landolt visual acuity test for patients of all ages.
• Gutblick Optikergeschäfte (Optical Retail Stores) Optical retail stores in Wallisellen and Aarau offering medical screenings, a wide selection of high-quality eyeglasses for adults and children, and contact lenses with professional fitting.
• Gutblick Research (Clinical Research Division) Gutblick's in-house clinical research division conducting studies in macula, uveitis, retina, and imaging, with 4 research centers, 50+ publications, 55 study patients, and 3 ongoing international multi-center clinical trials led by Prof. Dr. Dr. Marion Munk.

Quantifiable outcome

• 162,000 consultations in 2024
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability6 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Augenkliniken Wettingen, Baden und EtzelmattcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025The eye clinics Wettingen, Baden and Etzelmatt under the leadership of PD Dr. med. Martina Knecht-Bösch and PD Dr. med. Pascal Knecht-Bösch joined the Gutblick group in December 2025. Together, the groups operate 15 locations with approximately 50 physicians and 240 employees, complemented by the Ophthalmo Connect network.
• Bugando Medical Centre, TanzaniaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024First visit to Bugando Medical Centre in Tanzania in July 2024 as part of 'Vision for the World' initiative. Goal is to improve patient care locally and provide more people access to adequate ophthalmology.
• Augenzentrum PD Dr. Zulauf AG, ChurminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023The Augenzentrum PD Dr. Zulauf AG in Chur merged with Augenarzt-Praxisgemeinschaft Gutblick AG in November 2023. The center has two consultation rooms and own operating facilities.
• ClearVisioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClearVision is Gutblick's partner for refractive laser operations. The partnership has performed several thousand refractive laser procedures (Augenlasern). ClearVision operates dedicated laser centers in Zürich and other locations.
• International Research InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGutblick Research collaborates with universities, industry, and other research institutions on international level. Partners include international ophthalmology research networks for rare retinal and inflammatory eye diseases. They conduct 3 ongoing multi-center international clinical studies.
• AI Technology Providers (Easy Eye FM, Retfound, RetinAI Discovery)coreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration of AI-based software for retinal image analysis and disease progression modeling. Systems used include Easy Eye FM, Retfound, and RetinAI Discovery for personalized treatment planning.
• St. Lucy FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPD Dr. med. Pascal Knecht-Bösch serves as Medical Director of St. Lucy Foundation since November 2013, indicating a long-term commitment to international medical charity work.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Care Vision Germany: German refractive laser surgery chain with comparable SMILE/LASIK offering; relevant regional peer given cross-border patient flow and shared clinical protocols in the DACH refractive market.
• EuroEyes International Eye Group: DACH-focused refractive surgery chain offering LASIK/SMILE/ICL; a regional comparable for Gutblick's ClearVision partnership given their shared refractive-laser positioning across the German-speaking market.

Direct peers

• Pallas Klinik (Pallas Group): Large Swiss ophthalmology and aesthetics clinic chain with multiple sites; the closest direct competitor to Gutblick's ambulatory eye-care network model in Switzerland, offering cataract, refractive and aesthetic ophthalmology at comparable scale.
• Vista Augenklinik (Vista Augenpraxen): Swiss ambulatory ophthalmology network with practices across German-speaking Switzerland providing cataract, glaucoma, retinal and refractive services, directly competing with Gutblick for patients and referring physicians.

Broad incumbents

• Fielmann AG: Europe's largest optical retail chain with material Swiss operations through its Visilab banner; competes for eyeglass/contact-lens dispensing and basic screening while overlapping with Gutblick Optiker-Store's offering.
• Augenklinik Inselspital, Universitätsspital Bern: The university eye clinic in Bern is the major public-sector ophthalmology provider in the Bern area and a key referral partner/competitor to Gutblick's Bern Marktgasse practice for tertiary cases.
• Swiss Medical Network / Hirslanden: Switzerland's largest private hospital group with ophthalmology capacity; relevant incumbent reference for what scaled, integrated ambulatory-specialty providers could look like if they extend into eye-care consolidation.
• Augenklinik Universitätsspital Zürich: The university eye hospital at USZ is the leading academic ophthalmology referral center in the Zürich region, offering complex retina, glaucoma and oculoplastics alongside teaching — a broader incumbent that anchors tertiary referrals for cases exceeding Gutblick's ambulatory scope.

Emerging players

• AEYE Health: AI-based retinal diagnostic developer (FDA-cleared autonomous AI for DR); comparable to Gutblick's AI diagnostics direction through RetinAI Discovery and Easy Eye FM integrations, signaling future competitive entrants.

Others

• RetinAI Medical (RetinAI Discovery): Swiss-based AI ophthalmology analytics vendor whose Discovery platform is already integrated at Gutblick; functionally a technology partner, but also a strategic adjacency that other specialty networks could adopt.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/gutblickaugengesundheit
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/augenarzt-praxisgemeinschaft-gutblick-ag

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Gutblick