Fondation Asile des aveugles
Fondation Asile des aveugles is a Swiss non-profit foundation, established in 1843 in Lausanne, operating the Hôpital ophtalmique Jules-Gonin university eye hospital, the CRSV research center, a nursing home, a school for visually impaired children, and low-vision rehabilitation services for patients ranging from pediatric retinoblastoma to elderly visual impairment.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1843
- HeadquartersLausanne, Switzerland
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Fondation Asile des aveugles does
Fondation Asile des aveugles is a Swiss non-profit foundation established in 1843 in Lausanne, dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of visual impairment. It operates through an integrated care and research ecosystem built around its flagship asset, the Hôpital ophtalmique Jules-Gonin — a university ophthalmology service providing 24/7 emergency care, specialized consultations, and surgical interventions for general ophthalmology, ocular oncology, refractive surgery, and pediatric specialties. The foundation is the sole certified Swiss retinoblastoma treatment center in partnership with CHUV and runs an adult ocular oncology program through the OPTIS proton therapy collaboration with the Paul Scherrer Institute. The organization extends beyond the hospital through the Centre de recherche des sciences de la vue (CRSV), the EMS Clair-Soleil nursing home for visually impaired elderly, the CPHV educational center for visually impaired children, a low-vision rehabilitation service, and the Booxaa accessible content platform.
The foundation operates a technology stack spanning clinical diagnostics, research-grade imaging, and consumer applications. Core clinical technology includes intravitreal injection protocols for retinoblastoma pioneered by Prof. Munier, proton therapy delivery via PSI, a telemedicine emergency consultation platform, and the Swiss Ophthalmic Imaging Network (SOIN) consolidating SEE, MI DataLab, and EyeConsent for multicenter imaging research. On the research side, the RIO platform applies machine learning to ocular imaging analysis, biomarker extraction from 3-D retinal images, and AI-based grading of ocular inflammation. Consumer-facing products include App Visions (2025), a multilingual vision-simulation application, and InfoVision (2021), a vision-testing app. The foundation holds exclusive regulatory certifications for retinoblastoma in Switzerland and has been recognized internationally (Falling Walls Winner 2021, Global Ophthalmology Awards Program 2014).
The organization's revenue model blends reimbursed medical services, donations, and research grants. Clinical activity is covered primarily under the Swiss basic health insurance regime (LAMal), with elective procedures (LASIK, PRK, FEMTOLASIK) offered through partnerships with Assura, Helsana, and CSS for special pricing. Donations flow through a dedicated donor relations service, and research is funded by Swiss National Science Foundation grants and other foundations. The foundation deploys a 600+ workforce across 87 professions spanning medicine, research, education, social work, and rehabilitation, distributing services regionally through Lausanne, Rennaz, the Lausanne train station, and Ecublens. Customer segments span general ophthalmology patients, pediatric retinoblastoma patients (including international referrals), visually impaired adults requiring rehabilitation, visually impaired children needing specialized education, and elderly residents in adapted nursing care.
Fondation Asile des aveugles firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fondation Asile des aveugles
- Legal name
- Fondation Asile des aveugles
- Website
- https://ophtalmique.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1843
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Fondation Asile des aveugles is a Swiss non-profit foundation, established in 1843 in Lausanne, operating the Hôpital ophtalmique Jules-Gonin university eye hospital, the CRSV research center, a nursing home, a school for visually impaired children, and low-vision rehabilitation services for patients ranging from pediatric retinoblastoma to elderly visual impairment.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fondation Asile des aveugles industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ophthalmology Hospital Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Optometrists (62132), Offices of Optometrists (621320), Offices of Physicians (6211), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (6233), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)
- SIC
- Services-Hospitals (8060), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Ophthalmic Goods (3851), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ophthalmic Specialty Hospitals (HLAFAHAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care (HLAKAKAA), Vision & Ophthalmic Diagnostic Centers (Optometry/OCT/Retinal Imaging) (HLAFAKAI), Ophthalmology & Vision Telemedicine Platforms (HLALAGAL), High-Acuity 24/7 In-Home Care (Complex Medical/Behavioral Needs) (HSABAHAD), Dementia/Alzheimer’s Respite Care (Specialized) (HLADAKAG)
Keywords
Where Fondation Asile des aveugles is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lausanne
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Fondation Asile des aveugles business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Medical services and treatments: Revenue from ophthalmic medical services including consultations, surgeries, and treatments covered under Swiss health insurance (LAMal)
- Donations and philanthropy: Voluntary donations from individuals supporting visual health research and patient care
- Research funding: Grants and funding for research activities from foundations and Swiss National Science Foundation
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Per service | Standard medical consultation and treatment |
| Other | Per procedure | Special insurance partnerships for laser surgery |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Fondation Asile des aveugles product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fondation Asile des aveugles operates a university ophthalmology hospital (Hôpital ophtalmique Jules-Gonin) that delivers comprehensive eye care including emergency services, diagnostics, medical and surgical treatments. Beyond the hospital, the foundation runs a vision science research center (CRSV), a nursing home for visually impaired elderly (EMS Clair-Soleil), an educational center for visually impaired children (CPHV), and low-vision rehabilitation and social services, all under one integrated non-profit structure.
Product overview
The Fondation Asile des aveugles is a comprehensive eye health institution founded in 1843, comprising multiple interconnected services: the Hôpital ophtalmique Jules-Gonin (core university ophthalmology hospital), the Centre de recherche des sciences de la vue (CRSV) research center, EMS Clair-Soleil nursing home, CPHV educational center, and social services with low vision rehabilitation. The hospital offers specialized medical modules including pediatric and adult ocular oncology, refractive surgery (CCR), eye banking, and a telemedicine platform. The institution also provides digital health tools including the App Visions simulator and InfoVision application.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Hôpital ophtalmique Jules-Gonin: University ophthalmology hospital (service universitaire d'ophtalmologie) providing emergency, surgical, and medical eye care services.
- EMS Clair-Soleil
- CPHV
- Centre de recherche des sciences de la vue (CRSV)
- App Visions
Quantifiable outcome
- Retinoblastoma survival rate exceeding 95%
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Fondation Asile des aveugles
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Fondation Asile des aveugles technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature6 records
Fondation Asile des aveugles partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CHUV (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois)coreExclusive Swiss partnership for retinoblastoma treatment with CHUV holding joint exclusivity for treating retinoblastomas in Switzerland. CHUV provides infrastructure for procedures such as intra-arterial chemotherapy, while the Hôpital ophtalmique provides ophthalmological expertise and examinations under anesthesia.
- Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI)coreCollaboration for proton therapy treatment (OPTIS program) for ocular tumors at the proton therapy center in Villigen, Canton of Aargau. PSI provides the proton therapy infrastructure while the hospital provides patient care and treatment planning.
- Université de LausannecoreAcademic partnership through the Faculty of Biology and Medicine for research and education in ophthalmology
- diabètevaudminorPartnership with the Vaud diabetes patient association for information and support to diabetic patients at risk of diabetic retinopathy
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Fondation Asile des aveugles competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rotterdam Eye Hospital (Het Oogziekenhuis): Dutch independent specialty eye hospital operating with a similar fully-dedicated ophthalmology model, providing tertiary care, research, and education — one of Europe's leading standalone eye hospitals.
- Wilmer Eye Institute (Johns Hopkins): University-affiliated ophthalmology specialty center within Johns Hopkins, with comparable combination of clinical care, translational research, and residency training on a single campus.
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute: University of Miami's ophthalmology specialty hospital, ranked among the top U.S. eye institutes. Directly comparable specialist physician-led hospital model with strong research output in retinal disease and oncology.
- Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC): National specialty eye hospital within the Singapore public healthcare system. Comparable in operating as a specialty tertiary referral center combining clinical practice, research, and education.
- Wills Eye Hospital: U.S.-based specialty ophthalmology hospital historically regarded as a leader in ocular oncology and retinal disease. Operates the same combination of clinical care, residency training, and international patient referrals.
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust: World's oldest and one of the largest dedicated ophthalmology hospitals, operating a similar integrated clinical-research-education model in London. Moorfields runs a comparable specialty hospital with embedded research, education, and international referral patterns to specialized treatments.
- Instituto de Microcirugía Ocular (IMO): Barcelona-based private ophthalmology specialty center with international patient flow and strong ocular oncology and retina sub-specialty expertise — comparable in clinical scope and reach beyond its home market.
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear: Harvard-affiliated specialty hospital for ophthalmology and otolaryngology, operating under a similar academic-medical model integrating clinical care, research, and physician training. Comparable in scope and academic mission.
- Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital: Australian specialty hospital dedicated to eye and ear care, with embedded research and education arms serving as a regional referral center — comparable to Fondation Asile des aveugles's regional role in Suisse romande.
Broad incumbents
- Aravind Eye Care System: Large-volume non-profit ophthalmology hospital network in India, combining high-volume clinical care with research and education missions. Comparable model as a mission-driven eye-care non-profit, though operating at much larger scale.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Fondation Asile des aveugles social profiles
Digital presenceFondation Asile des aveugles financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fondation Asile des aveugles leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles22 records
Fondation Asile des aveugles subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
Fondation Asile des aveugles funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fondation Asile des aveugles 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 Fondation Asile des aveugles
What does Fondation Asile des aveugles do?
Fondation Asile des aveugles operates a university ophthalmology hospital (Hôpital ophtalmique Jules-Gonin) that delivers comprehensive eye care including emergency services, diagnostics, medical and surgical treatments. Beyond the hospital, the foundation runs a vision science research center (CRSV), a nursing home for visually impaired elderly (EMS Clair-Soleil), an educational center for visually impaired children (CPHV), and low-vision rehabilitation and social services, all under one integrated non-profit structure.
Is Fondation Asile des aveugles a public or private company?
Fondation Asile des aveugles is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Fondation Asile des aveugles founded?
Fondation Asile des aveugles was founded in 1843. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Fondation Asile des aveugles based?
Fondation Asile des aveugles is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Fondation Asile des aveugles make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Medical services and treatments are the primary driver. The others are donations and philanthropy and research funding.
Who are Fondation Asile des aveugles's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rotterdam Eye Hospital (Het Oogziekenhuis), Wilmer Eye Institute (Johns Hopkins), Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC), Wills Eye Hospital, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Instituto de Microcirugía Ocular (IMO), Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. Aravind Eye Care System is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Fondation Asile des aveugles have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fondation Asile des aveugles.
What industry is Fondation Asile des aveugles in?
Fondation Asile des aveugles's product category is Ophthalmology Hospital Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAFAHAJ, Ophthalmic Specialty Hospitals, with a secondary code of HLAKAKAA, Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care. Its NAICS code is 62132 and its SIC code is 8060.