Ophthalmologists Gerl & Colleagues

What Ophthalmologists Gerl & Colleagues does

Augenärzte Gerl & Kollegen is a family-owned, multi-location ophthalmology group founded in 1992 by Dr. Ralf Gerl in Ahaus, Germany, now operating a specialist eye hospital (Fachkrankenhaus) plus multiple day clinics and practices across the Münsterland region and the Netherlands. Its clinical platform spans the full ophthalmic continuum — cataract and glaucoma surgery, retinal and vitreoretinal procedures, corneal transplantation and crosslinking, refractive laser surgery (Femto-LASIK, PRK/LASEK), clear lens exchange with multifocal IOLs, phakic lens implantation, intravitreal injections (IVOM), Valeda light therapy for AMD, aesthetic eyelid surgery, and orthoptic/vision therapy — supported by an in-house diagnostic suite (OCT, Pentacam, HRT, GDX VCC, Pascal tonometry, aberrometry, pachymetry, optomap). The group performs approximately 15,000 operations per year across its locations and maintains an active clinical research program via partnerships including the IVCRC.net network and humanitarian eye-camp collaborations.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining statutory health insurance reimbursement (gesetzliche Krankenkassen) for medically indicated procedures such as cataract and glaucoma surgery, private health insurance billing for privately insured patients, and direct self-pay pricing for elective refractive surgery, premium multifocal lenses, and aesthetic eyelid procedures — with a published PDF price list for self-pay refractive work. The go-to-market combines a sales-led regional model with digital lead capture (online appointment booking, a free LASIK self-assessment test, an AI-powered chatbot built on OpenAI and Pinecone), in-person themed information evenings (Themenabende), and a referral ecosystem anchored by the registered Qualitätszirkel of 18+ independent partner practices and the EUREGIO Eye Doctors Association. Dutch-language staff and a Dutch website support cross-border patient acquisition. The group is structured through multiple wholly owned MVZ subsidiaries under the Augenklinik Ahaus G + H GmbH & Co. KG holding entity, with leadership transitioned to Dr. med. (Univ. Bud.) Matthias Gerl and partners.

Name

Ophthalmologists Gerl & Colleagues

Legal name

Augenklinik Ahaus G + H GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://augenklinik.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Augenärzte Gerl & Kollegen is a family-owned multi-location ophthalmology group in Germany's Münsterland region, operating a specialist eye hospital plus day clinics and practices across seven sites in Germany and the Netherlands, performing approximately 15,000 eye surgeries annually for statutory, private, and self-pay patients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ophthalmology Services

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (62111), Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals (62231), Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists) (621111)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-General Medical & Surgical Hospitals, Nec (8062), Services-Hospitals (8060)

akta.pro primary industry

Ophthalmology Clinics (Medical & Surgical Eye Care) (HLAKAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ophthalmic Specialty Hospitals (HLAFAHAJ), Ophthalmology Surgery Centers (HLAFAIAF), Cornea, External Disease & Refractive Surgery (LASIK/PRK) (HLAKAKAF), Ocular Imaging & Diagnostic Testing Centers (HLAKAKAN)

Keywords

• Ophthalmology services
• Eye disease treatment
• Refractive surgery
• Cataract surgery
• Vision therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Ahaus

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 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. Surgical Procedures (GKV-covered): Cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery, retinal surgery, and other medically indicated procedures are billed to statutory health insurance providers (gesetzliche Krankenkassen). This represents the core volume driver.
2. Surgical Procedures (Private Pay / Self-Pay): Refractive procedures such as LASIK, Femto-LASIK, PRK/LASEK, lens exchange (Linsentausch), phakic lens implantation, and aesthetic eyelid surgery (Blepharoplastik) are paid out-of-pocket by patients. Pricing is available via a published price list PDF. Multifocal lens implants for presbyopia correction are a significant premium self-pay offering.
3. Private Insurance Consultations and Procedures: All services are also available to privately insured patients (Privatversicherte), who are billed directly through private health insurance.
4. Aesthetic / Elective Procedures: Aesthetic eyelid surgery and other cosmetic procedures are paid directly by patients as elective treatments not covered by insurance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Augenärzte Gerl & Kollegen is a multi-location ophthalmology group operating a specialist eye hospital (Fachkrankenhaus) in Ahaus, day clinics in Coesfeld and Raesfeld, and practices in Ochtrup and Stadtlohn. It provides diagnostic, medical, and surgical eye care including cataract and glaucoma surgery, refractive laser procedures (LASIK, PRK/LASEK), lens exchange, corneal transplantation, retinal surgery, AMD light therapy, and aesthetic eyelid surgery. The clinic performs approximately 15,000 operations per year and serves both statutory/private insured patients and self-pay patients across Germany and the Netherlands.

Product overview

Augenärzte Gerl & Kollegen is a multi-location ophthalmology group consisting of a specialist eye hospital (Fachkrankenhaus) in Ahaus, two eye day clinics (Coesfeld and Raesfeld), and two eye practices (Ochtrup and Stadtlohn) operating in Germany's Münsterland region with additional locations in the Netherlands. The clinic offers a comprehensive portfolio of eye care services including diagnostic services (OCT, Pentacam, HRT, and other advanced imaging), surgical procedures (cataract, glaucoma, retinal, corneal transplants, refractive surgery including LASIK/PRK/LASEK and lens procedures), medical treatments (glaucoma management, AMD including Valeda light therapy, dry eye), aesthetic procedures (eyelid surgery), and vision therapy/orthoptics. The facility serves as a referral center handling approximately 15,000 operations annually and participates in clinical research through the EVIDENT-Eye network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cataract Surgery (Grauer-Star-Operation) Surgical removal of the clouded natural lens and replacement with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL), performed across all clinic locations and covered by statutory health insurance for medically indicated cases.
• Femto-LASIK Bladeless all-laser LASIK procedure using a femtosecond laser to create the corneal flap and an excimer laser to reshape the cornea for vision correction. Self-pay elective refractive procedure.
• PRK/LASEK Surface-based laser refractive procedures (Photorefractive Keratectomy and Laser-assisted subepithelial keratomileusis) for vision correction when the cornea is too thin for LASIK. Self-pay elective procedure.
• Lens Exchange (Linsentausch) Replacement of the natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens (monofocal or multifocal/bifocal/trifocal) to correct refractive errors and presbyopia. Self-pay elective procedure not covered by statutory insurance.
• Phakic Intraocular Lens Implantation Implantation of an artificial lens in addition to the natural eye lens for patients with severe refractive errors who are not candidates for laser procedures. Self-pay elective procedure.
• Glaucoma Treatment (Grüner-Star-Behandlung) Comprehensive glaucoma management including eye-drop therapy, laser therapy, micro-implants, and surgical interventions to lower intraocular pressure. Covered by statutory health insurance.
• Retinal Surgery (Pars Plana Vitrectomy) Surgical removal of the vitreous body for treatment of retinal conditions such as retinal detachment and vitreous hemorrhage. Covered by statutory health insurance for medically indicated cases.
• Retinal Laser Treatment (Argon Laser Coagulation) Argon laser coagulation creating targeted thermal effects on the retina to treat retinal conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and vascular occlusions. Covered by statutory health insurance.
• Intravitreal Injections (IVOM) Injection of medication directly into the vitreous cavity for treatment of retinal and macular conditions such as wet AMD, diabetic macular edema, and vascular occlusions. Covered by statutory health insurance.
• Valeda Light Therapy for AMD Modern targeted light delivery therapy used to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD), offered as part of the clinic's retinal disease services.
• Corneal Treatments Treatment portfolio for corneal diseases including UV-Crosslinking for keratoconus stabilization, PTK laser treatment, corneal transplantation, and DMEK (Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty).
• Aesthetic Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) Blepharoplasty performed under local anesthesia with sedation to restore a more youthful eyelid appearance while maintaining natural expression. Elective self-pay cosmetic procedure.
• Vision Therapy and Orthoptics (Sehschule) Specialized eye care facility for early detection and treatment of strabismus (squint) and visual disorders, including occlusion therapy and eye muscle operations.
• Advanced Ophthalmic Diagnostics Advanced diagnostic imaging and measurement services including Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), Pentacam, Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT), aberrometry, applanation tonometry, Pascal tonometry, pachymetry, optomap, and slit-lamp photography.
• Augenklinik Ahaus Fachkrankenhaus (Inpatient Specialist Eye Hospital) Specialist inpatient ophthalmology hospital in Ahaus offering overnight stays and a clinic hotel for patients having both eyes operated on the same day, in addition to the full outpatient ophthalmology service portfolio.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~15,000 operations per year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IVCRC.net (International Vision Correction Research Centre Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe clinic participates in IVCRC.net, an international research network focused on vision correction. This partnership supports the clinic's clinical research program and allows it to conduct multi-center studies in ophthalmology.
• EUREGIO Eye Doctors AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-border network of ophthalmologists in the Germany-Netherlands border region (EUREGIO). Facilitates professional exchange, referral pathways, and collaborative care for patients on both sides of the border.
• Christoffel Blindenmission (CBM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Christoffel Blindenmission (Christian Blind Mission) for humanitarian eye care projects, primarily in Ethiopia. Dr. Gerl has performed volunteer surgeries and trained local staff as part of this collaboration.
• Qualitätszirkel (Quality Circle) - 18+ Partner PracticescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Dr. Ralf Gerl with 18 independent ophthalmology practices in the Münsterland region. Meets six times per year at the clinic. Discusses treatment concepts, individual cases, and practical practice issues. Registered with the Ärztekammer (medical association).
• Ocunet (Eye Doctors Network)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA consortium of ophthalmologists collaborating on international humanitarian projects. The clinic worked with Ocunet and CBM on eye camps in Ethiopia, where surgeries were performed to restore sight for local patients.
• 12 Partner Practices (Augendiagnostikzentrum Westmünsterland)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTwelve independent eye doctor practices have joined the Augendiagnostikzentrum Westmünsterland (Westmünsterland Eye Diagnostics Center) centered at the Augenklinik Ahaus. These practices share access to advanced diagnostic equipment including the GDX VCC device for early glaucoma detection.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• EuroEyes Clinical University of Hamburg (EuroEyes): Listed German refractive surgery chain offering LASIK, lens exchange, and premium IOLs; comparable in refractive self-pay product mix and operating model, with overlap in German/Nordic referral markets.
• Artemis Augenklinik: German ophthalmology clinic group with multiple locations; directly comparable in offering LASIK, cataract, and premium IOL services across multiple German sites.
• Care Vision Germany: German ophthalmology chain specializing in cataract, glaucoma, and refractive surgery; directly comparable in German ambulatory ophthalmology clinic operations and self-pay refractive offerings.
• LASIK Germany (FreeVis): German refractive surgery chain; directly comparable in self-pay LASIK, PRK, and lens exchange offerings targeted at German-speaking patients.
• Memira (Nordic Eye Clinics): Nordic refractive surgery chain owned by Capio/Nordic Capital; comparable in self-pay vision correction procedures and multi-site clinical delivery model, though operating in Scandinavian markets.

Broad incumbents

• Ober-Scharrer Gruppe (now part of Sanoptis): Largest German ophthalmology network with 80+ centers; directly comparable as a multi-site ophthalmology clinic and day-surgery operator serving GKV and private patients across Germany.
• Optical Express: UK/Ireland-based refractive and ophthalmology chain; comparable in LASIK and lens exchange product mix and large-volume clinical operations, though geographic footprint is UK-centric.
• Asklepios Klinik Augenheilkunde / Oberursel Eye Hospital: Major German private hospital group with inpatient ophthalmology departments; comparable in specialty eye hospital (Fachkrankenhaus) operations and complex surgical case mix.
• HELIOS Klinikum眼科 (Fresenius Helios): Large German private hospital operator with ophthalmology departments; comparable in offering inpatient ophthalmic surgery and serving as a referral center, though operating as a broader multi-specialty hospital.

Regional players

• Universitätsklinikum Münster (UKM) Augenklinik: University eye hospital in the same Münsterland region; comparable in offering advanced ophthalmic care and serving as a referral center, though academic/university setting differs from private practice.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UClslgq9ZHIpmdyYWOFUDixw
• Facebookfacebook.com/augenklinik.de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/augenklinik-ahaus
• Instagraminstagram.com/augenaerztegerlundkollegen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ophthalmologists Gerl & Colleagues