Art Optical Contact Lens

What Art Optical Contact Lens does

Art Optical Contact Lens, Inc. is a family-owned specialty contact lens manufacturer founded in 1931 and headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan (with manufacturing in adjacent Walker, MI). The company designs and produces custom-built contact lenses for eye care practitioners — optometrists, ophthalmologists, and opticians — who treat patients with complex vision conditions that standard lenses cannot correct, including irregular corneas (keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration, post-surgical), presbyopia, myopia, and high astigmatism. Every lens is custom-built for one eye and one patient, spanning gas-permeable (GP) and soft modalities and covering scleral (Ampleye, SoClear), multifocal/presbyopic (Renovation, EXPERT Progressive, mPower, Bi expert, MagniClear), keratoconus and irregular cornea (Rose K2, KeraSoft Thin, AKS, ACE), myopia management/orthokeratology (MOONLENS), single vision and toric (Thinsite, Achievement, Artcon, GP Torics), and custom soft (Intelliwave PRO) designs.

Underlying technology includes proprietary lens design systems such as Spline Science Technology (Ampleye), the HydroLock moisture-retention coating, the KATTCloud cloud-based design and ordering platform, Free Form Stabilization (Intelliwave PRO), Advanced Ray Tracing (Renovation), and the proprietary MOONLENS orthokeratology algorithm. Manufacturing is ISO 13485 and MDSAP certified — Art Optical was the first exclusive GP manufacturer in the U.S. to achieve both — across a 36,000+ square foot facility employing roughly 55 people with a collective 1,165 years of specialty lens experience.

The business model is direct B2B: practitioners order custom lenses through the company's online customer portal or by phone with certified fitting consultants (Monday–Friday 6am–7pm EST). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; the company also sells lens care supplies and coatings (Tangible Hydra-PEG, Menicon solutions), provides free practitioner training (virtual or in-house with lab tour), and runs a travel grant program with Contamac for optometry residents. An Automated Credit Program launched February 2025 streamlines lens exchanges. Revenue streams are predominantly transactional lens sales to a long-tail of independent practitioners, supplemented by supplies, consultation services, and training.

Name

Art Optical Contact Lens

Legal name

Art Optical Contact Lens, Inc.

Website

https://artoptical.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1931

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Family-owned specialty contact lens manufacturer (founded 1931, Grand Rapids, MI) designing and producing custom GP and soft lenses for eye care practitioners treating complex vision conditions including keratoconus, presbyopia, myopia, and irregular corneas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Contact Lens Manufacturing

NAICS

Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115), Offices of Optometrists (62132)

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

• Specialty contact lenses
• Custom contact lens manufacturing
• Gas permeable lenses
• Scleral contact lenses
• Orthokeratology lens systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Walker

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Contact Lens Sales: Art Optical manufactures and sells custom-built specialty contact lenses to eye care practitioners. Every lens is custom-built for one eye, one patient. Revenue comes from lens orders placed by practitioners through online portal or consultation services. Diagnostic fitting sets are available for purchase or loan to support fitting.
2. Lens Supplies and Solutions: Sale of contact lens care products including saline solutions (LacriPure, Addipak), cleaning solutions (Boston Advance, Progent), lens cases, DMV lens removers/inserters, Tangible Hydra-PEG coating products, and polishing supplies
3. Professional Training Services: Free training programs offered to practitioners covering Ortho-K, Sclerals, Multifocals, Irregular Corneas, Care & Handling, Topography Interpretation. Training can be virtual or in-house with laboratory tour
4. Consultation Services: Certified fitting consultants provide lens design and troubleshooting assistance to practitioners. Consultation services support successful specialty lens fitting and patient outcomes

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Art Optical Contact Lens, Inc. manufactures and distributes custom specialty contact lenses exclusively to licensed eye care practitioners. The product portfolio spans custom gas permeable (GP) and soft specialty lens designs — including scleral, multifocal, keratoconus, orthokeratology (myopia management), toric, and single-vision designs — each fabricated to patient-specific prescriptions. Complementary offerings include lens care supplies and practitioner consultation, fitting, and training services.

Product overview

Art Optical Contact Lens is a specialty contact lens laboratory offering an extensive portfolio of custom contact lenses in both GP (gas permeable) and soft modalities. The product lineup includes scleral lenses (Ampleye, SoClear), multifocal/presbyopic lenses (Renovation, EXPERT Progressive, mPower, Bi expert, CLASIKcn, MagniClear, One Piece Bifocal), keratoconus/irregular cornea lenses (Rose K2 Family, KeraSoft Thin, AKS, ACE, GP Torics, Reverse Geometry), myopia management (Moonlens orthokeratology), single vision lenses (Thinsite, Achievement, Artcon), and soft lenses (Intelliwave PRO). The Tangible Hydra-PEG coating add-on enhances lens comfort and wettability across the portfolio. The company provides lens calculators and fitting tools for practitioners, and operates the proprietary KATTCloud platform for MOONLENS ordering and management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ampleye: GP Scleral Contact Lens featuring 4-zone design with Spline Science Technology for ultimate control of the complete fit.
• Moonlens
• Renovation
• SoClear
• Rose K2
• Intelliwave PRO
• AKS (Art Keratoconic System)
• MagniClear
• Tangible Hydra-PEG

Products and services

• Ampleye® GP Scleral Lens
• SoClear® Family Corneal-Scleral Lenses
• Renovation® Multifocal GP
• EXPERT Progressive GP
• mPower!™ GP Multifocal
• Bi expert® GP Bifocal
• CLASIKcn™ Post-LASIK Presbyopic Lens
• MagniClear® / MagniClear plus® GP Bifocals
• One Piece Bifocal GP
• Rose K2™ Family Keratoconus Lenses
• KeraSoft® Thin Custom Soft Lens
• AKS® (Art Keratoconic System)
• ACE Customizable Aspheric GP
• GP Toric Lenses
• Reverse Geometry Custom GPs
• Moonlens Orthokeratology System
• Thinsite® Ultra Thin Single Vision GP
• Achievement® Junctionless Back Surface GP
• Artcon® GP Lens
• Intelliwave® PRO Soft Contact Lens
• Tangible Hydra-PEG™ Coating
• Lens Care Supplies (LacriPure, Addipak, Boston Advance, Progent, lens cases, DMV removers, polishing supplies)
• Consultation and Practitioner Training Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 94 years in business, 4.7 million+ patients served
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• ContamaccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Art Optical and Contamac partnership provides travel grants to optometry students, residents, and new ODs to attend specialty contact lens meetings and educational events. The Travel Grant Program has recognized 25 individuals since 2022. Winners are selected based on relevance of their submissions to current or future trends in specialty lens fitting, practice, or research.
• KATT Design GroupcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2015Art Optical partnered with KATT Design Group to develop and introduce the Ampleye scleral lens and MOONLENS orthokeratology system. The partnership created the proprietary KATTCloud platform for MOONLENS lens design, ordering, and tracking. Ampleye became the go-to choice for beginning scleral lens fitters and first choice for advanced fitters.
• Tangible SciencesupportingTechnology or IntegrationArt Optical offers Tangible Hydra-PEG coating as a product add-on. THP is a 90% water coating designed to fill microscopic pits in contact lens materials, improving wettability, increasing water retention, minimizing deposits, and increasing lubricity. Available coating materials include Optimum Comfort/Extra/Extreme/Infinite, Hexa 100, and Boston ES/EO/XO/XO2.
• MeniconsupportingOthersArt Optical supplies Menicon products including LacriPure Saline Solution (FDA approved non-preserved saline for rinsing lenses and scleral lens insertion) and Progent cleaning treatment (biweekly cleaning for RGP lenses that loosens and removes surface protein deposits).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Alcon Vision Care: Global contact lens and ophthalmic surgical leader. Competes in mainstream soft lenses and Precision1/Dailies multifocals that overlap with Art Optical's presbyopic and toric offerings; not a direct custom GP/scleral competitor but shapes practitioner prescribing patterns.
• Johnson & Johnson Vision: Major contact lens manufacturer (Acuvue brand) with significant R&D and practitioner relationships. Overlaps with Art Optical in multifocal and toric categories; not focused on custom GP/scleral specialty lenses but raises competitive intensity in adjacent segments.
• Bausch + Lomb: Global ophthalmic device and contact lens company (Bausch Health). Competes broadly in contact lenses, including Boston GP lens care products that Art Optical resells, and has a large specialty vision portfolio that intersects with Art Optical's custom lens business.
• CooperVision (CooperCompanies): One of the world's largest soft contact lens manufacturers, part of CooperCompanies. Overlaps with Art Optical in toric, multifocal, and myopia management lens categories but competes primarily in mainstream soft lenses rather than custom GP/scleral specialty work.

Direct peers

• SynergEyes: Specialty contact lens company producing hybrid and scleral lenses (e.g., UltraHealth, SynergEyes VS) for keratoconus and presbyopia. Direct peer in custom specialty lens designs serving similar practitioner and patient segments.
• Visionary Optics: Specialty contact lens lab focused on scleral lenses for irregular corneas and ocular surface disease. Direct peer in the custom scleral lens category where Art Optical's Ampleye competes.
• TruForm Optics: Specialty contact lens laboratory producing custom GP lenses for keratoconus, presbyopia, and irregular corneas. Direct peer with a similar practitioner-focused custom lens model to Art Optical.
• Euclid Systems Corporation: Specialty contact lens company focused on orthokeratology and myopia management (Emerald™ lens). Direct peer in the overnight orthokeratology category where Art Optical competes with MOONLENS.
• Paragon Vision Sciences: Specialty GP contact lens manufacturer and licensor of the Rose K keratoconus lens design. Direct peer in custom GP lens manufacturing; Art Optical itself licenses Rose K2 from Paragon, making them both supplier and partner/competitor in keratoconus.
• X-Cel Contacts: Specialty GP and custom soft contact lens manufacturer serving eye care practitioners. Direct peer across GP multifocal, scleral, and irregular cornea categories overlapping with Art Optical's portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/artoptical
• Facebookfacebook.com/ArtOptical
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/3686633
• Instagraminstagram.com/artopticalcontactlens
• Xx.com/artoptical

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Art Optical Contact Lens