McLeod Optical
McLeod Optical is a family-owned, 104-year-old wholesale optical laboratory in Warwick, Rhode Island, fabricating prescription lenses and applying anti-reflective coatings for eye care professionals across the New England region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1922
- HeadquartersWarwick, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What McLeod Optical does
McLeod Optical Company Inc. is a privately held, family-owned wholesale optical laboratory founded in 1922 and headquartered in Warwick, Rhode Island, with an additional production lab in Maine serving the broader New England optical marketplace. The company fabricates prescription lenses and processes anti-reflective coatings for eye care professionals — ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians — operating as a wholesale B2B supplier rather than a retail or direct-to-consumer brand. Services include prescription lens fabrication, free-form digital lens processing (with claimed power accuracy within 0.01 diopter and patient-specific position-of-wear optimization), in-house Crizal anti-reflective coating processing, edging and finishing, and a stock lens program for practices that operate their own in-house labs. Specialty services include Chemistrie magnetic clip-on sunwear, slab-offs, lenticulars, bi-concave, digital round segs, and low vision lenses, with marketing, educational, and customized service support offered to accounts.
The product portfolio spans premium branded progressive and single-vision lenses (Varilux, Definity, Shamir, KODAK, Younger), the Crizal no-glare family and the in-house Sharpview AR house brand, Transitions photochromic lenses, EyeZen (digital eye strain), and Optifog (fog-resistant) lenses. Manufacturing inputs are sourced principally through Essilor, which serves as McLeod's premier lens partner and supplies most of the premium branded product lines, alongside Shamir, Transitions Optical, Eastman Kodak (KODAK lens license), and Luxottica (Ray-Ban). Customers onboard through a credit application and place orders through DVI RxWizard (the preferred digital channel), Visionweb, or Eyefinity, with overnight courier pickup and delivery and in-network affiliation with VSP, EyeMed, VCP, and Vision Benefits of America vision plans.
McLeod operates with 1-10 employees under family leadership (Scott McLeod as President, Carmine Albano as General Manager, Carlene Lajoie as Office Manager, and Julie Spaziano, on secondment from Essilor, as Customer Service Manager). The company emphasizes a multigenerational workforce — including children of long-tenured employees — as a differentiator alongside its 104-year operational track record, regional New England service footprint, and direct courier logistics. No external funding, parent company, M&A, or institutional investor signals are present; ownership and control remain concentrated with the McLeod family.
McLeod Optical firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- McLeod Optical
- Legal name
- McLeod Optical Company Inc.
- Website
- https://mcleodoptical.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1922
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- McLeod Optical is a family-owned, 104-year-old wholesale optical laboratory in Warwick, Rhode Island, fabricating prescription lenses and applying anti-reflective coatings for eye care professionals across the New England region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
McLeod Optical industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wholesale Optical Laboratory
- NAICS
- Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115)
- SIC
- Ophthalmic Goods (3851)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Devices (Frames, Lenses, Lens Edging/Finishing Equipment) (HLAHAJAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Retail (Glasses/Frames/Lenses) (HLAKAKAL)
Keywords
Where McLeod Optical is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Warwick
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
McLeod Optical business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Prescription Lens Fabrication: Wholesale optical lab providing prescription lens fabrication services to eye care professionals. Primary revenue stream through custom lens orders, digital lens processing, and AR coating services.
- Lens and Frame Sales: Sales of eyeglass frames, cases, accessories, and stock lenses to eye care practices. Carries premium brands and OEM un-branded products.
- Specialty Services: Additional services including frame repair, low vision products, Chemistrie clip-on systems, slab-offs, and customized marketing and educational services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Account-based wholesale pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
McLeod Optical product offering
Product offeringCore offering
McLeod Optical is a wholesale optical laboratory founded in 1922 that fabricates prescription ophthalmic lenses using digital surfacing and free-form processing technology and applies in-house anti-reflective (AR) coatings. The lab also supplies eyeglass frames, cases, and accessories to ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians primarily across New England.
Product overview
McLeod Optical is a wholesale optical laboratory offering a comprehensive portfolio of ophthalmic lens products and fabrication services. Its core offering spans progressive lenses (Varilux, Definity, Shamir, Kodak, Younger), no-glare/anti-reflective coatings (Crizal family and house brand Sharpview), photochromic lenses (Transitions), and specialty lenses (EyeZen, Optifog). These products are manufactured/fabricated in-house using digital lens processing (free-form surfacing) and in-house AR coating, with supporting services including a stock lens program for practices with in-house labs, Chemistrie magnetic clip-on sunwear processing, slab-off and low vision lens processing, and online ordering via DVI RxWizard, Visionweb, and Eyefinity platforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Prescription lens fabrication (digital and free-form)
Quantifiable outcome
- Power accuracy within 1/100th (0.01) of a diopter with digital surfacing
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use McLeod Optical
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
McLeod Optical technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature4 records
McLeod Optical partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- VSP OpticalcoreInsurance affiliation for vision care plan. VSP is one of the largest vision insurance providers.
- EyeMedcoreInsurance affiliation for vision care plan.
- VCP - Vision Care PlancoreInsurance affiliation for vision care plan.
- Vision Benefits of AmericacoreInsurance affiliation for vision care plan.
- Vision SourcecoreGroup affiliation - Vision Source is a network of independent optometric practices.
- PERCcoreGroup affiliation - optometric partnership network.
- DVI RxWizardcorePreferred online ordering platform. Integrates with practice management systems. McLeod provides setup support through Matt Carroll.
- EssilorcorePremier lens manufacturer partner providing Varilux, Definity, Crizal products. Also provides training resources (ECPU), marketing materials, and Pair 50 program. Customer Service Manager Julie Spaziano is from Essilor.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
McLeod Optical competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- EssilorLuxottica: EssilorLuxottica is the global leader in ophthalmic lenses (Varilux, Crizal, Transitions) and eyewear (Ray-Ban, Oakley), with vertically integrated retail and lab operations. Comparable as the dominant supplier whose products McLeod distributes and fabricates, and as a strategic partner with potential to disintermediate independent labs.
- HOYA Vision Care: HOYA Vision Care is a global lens manufacturer and wholesale lab network offering premium progressive lenses and AR coatings directly to eyecare professionals. Comparable as a competitor supplier whose products (and vertically integrated labs) compete with McLeod's independent offering.
- Visionworks: Visionworks is a national optical retailer with in-house lens fabrication capabilities serving a broad insured and cash-pay customer base. Comparable as a vertically integrated optical retailer/lab operator competing for the same insured patient demand that flows through McLeod's eyecare practice customers.
- National Vision Holdings: National Vision Holdings operates large-scale retail optical chains (America's Best, Eyeglass World) with significant in-house lab capacity. Comparable to McLeod as an optical operator with vertically integrated lab processing, though at massive scale and competing primarily at the consumer retail layer.
- Carl Zeiss Vision: Carl Zeiss Vision manufactures precision ophthalmic lenses and operates wholesale lab services globally. Comparable to McLeod in lens fabrication and digital surfacing, but at a global scale and with proprietary lens technology.
Direct peers
- Pech Optical Corporation: Pech Optical is an independent regional wholesale optical lab serving eyecare professionals with prescription lens fabrication and surfacing. Comparable to McLeod as a privately held, regional B2B lab offering digital processing, AR coatings, and premium brand lenses.
- Walman Optical: Walman Optical is one of the largest US wholesale optical laboratories, providing prescription lens fabrication, AR coating, and eyewear distribution to eyecare professionals nationally. Directly comparable to McLeod in core service offering (digital lens processing, AR, premium brand partnerships) but at far greater scale and geographic reach.
- Sutherlin Optical: Sutherlin Optical is a wholesale optical laboratory providing prescription lens fabrication and finishing services to eyecare professionals in the Mid-Atlantic and surrounding regions. Closely analogous to McLeod's regional wholesale lab model with digital surfacing and AR coating capabilities.
- Cherry Optical Lab: Cherry Optical Lab is an independent wholesale optical laboratory offering digital lens processing, AR coating, and premium brand distribution to eyecare practices. Comparable as a regional/private lab competitor with similar B2B optical lab service model.
Emerging players
- Warby Parker: Warby Parker is a DTC eyewear company operating its own retail stores and centralized optical lab. Comparable as a vertically integrated optical competitor that bypasses traditional wholesale labs, reducing the demand pool for independent regional labs like McLeod.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
McLeod Optical social profiles
Digital presenceMcLeod Optical financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
McLeod Optical leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
McLeod Optical funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
McLeod Optical 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 McLeod Optical
What does McLeod Optical do?
McLeod Optical is a wholesale optical laboratory founded in 1922 that fabricates prescription ophthalmic lenses using digital surfacing and free-form processing technology and applies in-house anti-reflective (AR) coatings. The lab also supplies eyeglass frames, cases, and accessories to ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians primarily across New England.
Is McLeod Optical a public or private company?
McLeod Optical is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was McLeod Optical founded?
McLeod Optical was founded in 1922. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is McLeod Optical based?
McLeod Optical is headquartered in Warwick, United States, in the North America region.
How does McLeod Optical make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Prescription Lens Fabrication is the primary driver. The others are lens and Frame Sales and specialty Services.
Who are McLeod Optical's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are EssilorLuxottica, HOYA Vision Care, Visionworks, National Vision Holdings and Carl Zeiss Vision. Direct peers are Pech Optical Corporation, Walman Optical, Sutherlin Optical and Cherry Optical Lab. Warby Parker is listed as an emerging player.
Does McLeod Optical have an API?
No public API is recorded for McLeod Optical.
What industry is McLeod Optical in?
McLeod Optical's product category is Wholesale Optical Laboratory. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAJAD, Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Devices (Frames, Lenses, Lens Edging/Finishing Equipment), with a secondary code of HLAKAKAL, Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Retail (Glasses/Frames/Lenses). Its NAICS code is 339115 and its SIC code is 3851.