Appenzell contact lenses

What Appenzell contact lenses does

Appenzeller Kontaktlinsen AG is a privately held Swiss manufacturer of custom-made contact lenses, founded in 2010 as Lens4me and rebranded in 2013, headquartered in Speicher, Switzerland. The company serves patients with complex vision correction needs — including keratoconus, irregular cornea, post-surgical corneas, presbyopia, progressive myopia, and large-pupil astigmatism — by producing soft, rigid, scleral, and orthokeratology lenses tailored to individual eye measurements rather than standardized parameters. Its authorized-dealer channel is exclusively B2B, distributing only through registered opticians and ophthalmologists in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and France.

The company differentiates on proprietary Freeform technology that combines precision CNC cutting, impression- and scan-based digital eye definition (with over 160,000 measurable parameters), and integration of Belin/Ambrosio keratoconus and OVITZ xwave aberration software. Its product portfolio spans sub-brands including i-SOFT, Personnelle, Personnelle-KK / Excellent-KK, i-MAP, i-MAP AS, Excellent AS/MK, i-MATRIX, i-Shape, i-Form, i-NIGHT (orthokeratology), proASSIST (myopia management), and the patented i-INSERT insertion aid. The i-MATRIX Multi lens received the Silmo d'Or 2017 innovation award.

The business model is a one-time-sale specialty medical-device manufacturer with a single-tier B2B distribution channel: products are not sold directly to consumers and pricing is not publicly disclosed. Revenue mechanics rest on custom lens orders placed by authorized dealers through a dedicated ordering portal, supported by continuing education (i-Learn FIT1–FIT5 seminars), trade show participation (opti, COC Paris), and an OEM/licensing relationship with French company Novacel (Binova i-Flex SC Progressive). With 30+ staff as of 2020 and a single production site in Speicher, the company operates as a focused niche manufacturer rather than a volume player in the broader contact lens market.

Name

Appenzell contact lenses

Legal name

Appenzeller Kontaktlinsen AG

Website

https://appenzeller-kontaktlinsen.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Appenzeller Kontaktlinsen AG is a Swiss specialty manufacturer of custom-made contact lenses — soft, rigid, scleral, and orthokeratology — produced via Freeform technology and distributed exclusively through authorized opticians and ophthalmologists across Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty 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)

akta.pro secondary industry

Contact Lens Specialty & Myopia Control (HLAKAKAK)

Keywords

• Custom contact lenses
• Scleral lens manufacturing
• Orthokeratology lenses
• Keratoconus contact lenses
• Myopia management lenses

Headquarters

HQ city

Speicher

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Contact Lenses: Manufacture and sale of custom-made contact lenses for various conditions including myopia management, orthokeratology, keratoconus, and scleral lenses. Lenses are customized to individual eye measurements and distributed exclusively through authorized opticians and ophthalmologists.
2. Care Products and Accessories: Cleaning solutions, peroxides with catalyst and tablet systems, and accessories for contact lens storage, insertion and removal. Distributed exclusively through authorized dealers.
3. OEM/Licensing (Novacel): Manufacturing of Binova i-Flex SC Progressive scleral lenses for French company Novacel, under which the i-MATRIX Multi won the Silmo d'Or 2017 award.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Appenzeller Kontaktlinsen AG manufactures custom-made hydrophilic and rigid contact lenses for complex vision correction, including soft lenses, rigid gas-permeable lenses, scleral lenses, keratoconus lenses, myopia management lenses, and orthokeratology lenses. Every lens is individually designed using Freeform technology with nano-scale precision cutting, advanced profilometry, and digital eye definition (over 160,000 parameters). Products are sold exclusively through authorized opticians and ophthalmologists across Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and France, complemented by care products and the patented i-INSERT application aid.

Product overview

Appenzell contact lenses offers a comprehensive portfolio of custom-made contact lenses manufactured in Switzerland. The product line includes soft lenses (i-SOFT 3-month, Personnelle 6/12-month), rigid lenses (i-MAP AS, Excellent AS/MK), specialty lenses for keratoconus (Personnelle-KK, Excellent-KK), irregular cornea (i-MAP), scleral lenses (i-MATRIX, i-Shape, i-FORM), myopia management (proASSIST), and orthokeratology (i-NIGHT). The company uses advanced Freeform technology, aberration analysis, and digital profiling (over 160,000 parameters) for precision fitting. Products are available exclusively through authorized opticians and ophthalmologists, with a complete ecosystem of care products and insertion accessories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• i-SOFT: Three-month soft contact lenses
• Personnelle
• i-MAP AS
• proASSIST
• i-NIGHT
• i-MATRIX
• Personnelle-KK / Excellent-KK
• i-MAP
• Excellent AS / Excellent MK
• i-Shape
• i-INSERT
• i-Form

Products and services

• i-SOFT Soft 3-month replacement contact lenses for clear, sharp vision. Cost-effective replacement option for risk-averse customers who insist on quality.
• Personnelle Six-month and yearly soft contact lenses including Personnelle Smart (reduces eye strain from digital media) and Personnelle Multi (comfortable vision at all distances for presbyopia).
• Personnelle-KK / Excellent-KK Keratoconus contact lenses for individuals with pronounced conus. Easy-fitting with maximum comfort and optimal relief for the sensitive apex. Available in multifocal designs for presbyopia correction.
• i-MAP AS Rigid contact lenses ideal for individuals with astigmatism and large pupil diameter. Excellent optical properties with support shifted to peripheral cornea, ensuring oxygen supply.
• i-MAP Multi-curvature, freely designable contact lenses for irregular cornea including keratoconus, keratoglobus, post-keratoplasty, LASIK treatment, or mechanical injury. Custom designed for each patient.
• Excellent AS / Excellent MK Classic aspheric or dual curve contact lenses available as unifocal, multifocal, and bifocal. Extremely comfortable with optimal tear fluid exchange.
• i-MATRIX Scleral lenses for corneal irregularities. Rests solely on the sclera, vaulting over cornea and limbus. Does not move on the eye so dust cannot get under the lens.
• i-Shape Advanced Freeform technology scleral lens using latest aberration technology and Belin/Ambrosio keratoconus software. Quick fitting in minutes with high-precision profile measurement (over 160,000 parameters).
• i-Form Scleral Impression-based Freeform scleral lens technology using modern impression procedure instead of measurement values. Sister lens to i-SHAPE with same precision but different approach.
• i-NIGHT Orthokeratology night lenses that gently alter corneal curvature during sleep. Can slow and halt progress of myopia, especially important for children with progressive myopia.
• proASSIST Myopia management contact lenses delivering same vision effect as Ortho-K lenses. Available as custom daily-wear soft and rigid lenses for progressive myopia.
• i-INSERT Inserting aid for scleral lenses. Smart, steady way to apply lenses with suction cup attachment, keeping both hands free. Made from sustainable wax-plastic blend with built-in passive light (glows without bulbs or LEDs). Patented design.
• Care products and accessories Cleaning and maintenance products for contact lenses meeting stringent quality standards, plus accessories for storage, insertion, and removal. Distributed exclusively through authorized dealers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% symptom reduction achieved with i-Shape scleral lens for post-LASIK Sicca patient
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NovacelcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerAppenzeller manufactures the Binova i-Flex SC Progressive scleral lenses for French company Novacel. The i-MATRIX Multi lens, sold under this partnership as Binova i-Flex SC Progressive, won the Silmo d'Or 2017 award.
• VDC/O (Verband der Kontaktlinsen-Spezialisten Oesterreich)minorOthersAustrian association of contact lens specialists. Membership helps with networking and industry collaboration.
• INTERLENS SCHWEIZminorOthersSwiss contact lens industry association for networking and sharing ideas.
• OHI AT (Optometrie Handel Innsbruck)minorOthersAustrian optometry association.
• KVA AT (Kontaktlinsen Verband Austria)minorOthersAustrian contact lens association.
• SEHENSWERTminorOthersIndustry association for vision and optics professionals.
• OPTICOACH CHminorOthersSwiss optometry coaching and education association.
• SFO (Société Française d'Optique)minorOthersFrench optical society membership for industry networking.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Alcon Inc. Global contact lens and ophthalmic devices leader with broad portfolio including specialty and standard lenses. Incumbent overlap is partial — Alcon serves the same end patients through optometrists but does not focus exclusively on custom Freeform specialty fitting.
• CooperVision: One of the four largest global soft contact lens manufacturers, with growing specialty and myopia-management exposure (e.g., MiSight). Overlaps with Appenzeller in serving optometrists but at mass-market scale rather than custom Freeform.
• Johnson & Johnson Vision: Global contact lens incumbent (Acuvue franchise) increasingly active in myopia management (Abiliti 1-Day). Broad incumbent that competes for practitioner mindshare rather than direct head-to-head in custom Freeform specialty.
• Bausch + Lomb: Major global contact lens manufacturer (Biotrue, Ultra) with specialty lens portfolio. Broad incumbent serving similar practitioner channel but at mass-market scale rather than custom-fit specialty.

Direct peers

• mark'ennovy Personalized Care: Spanish-headquartered custom contact lens manufacturer with broad European and Latin American distribution. Highly comparable on custom soft and specialty lens manufacturing and personalized B2B practitioner model.
• Hecht Contactlinsen GmbH: German custom contact lens manufacturer with a similar specialty/keratoconus/scleral product portfolio. Closely comparable B2B practitioner-channel model, German-speaking market focus, and custom manufacturing approach.
• MPG&E (E&H): Netherlands-based custom contact lens manufacturer offering specialty lenses including keratoconus, scleral, orthokeratology, and multifocal designs. Comparable on custom-manufacturing technology, specialty focus, and European practitioner-channel distribution.
• Procornea Nederland B.V. Dutch specialty custom contact lens manufacturer with similar keratoconus, scleral, and ortho-K product lines. Comparable on freeform/custom manufacturing technology and European practitioner channel.
• Falco Linsen AG: Swiss specialty contact lens manufacturer focused on keratoconus, scleral, and ortho-K lenses. Comparable DACH-headquartered custom-manufacturing peer with similar specialty clinical positioning.
• Galifa Contactlinsen AG: Swiss-based custom contact lens manufacturer offering specialty lenses for keratoconus, scleral, ortho-K, and multifocal applications. Closely comparable to Appenzeller on geography (DACH), custom-manufacturing model, and specialty clinical focus.

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/appenzeller_kontaktlinsen_ag/?hl=de

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Appenzell contact lenses