Gimbel Eye Centre
Gimbel Eye Centre is a Calgary-based, founder-owned ophthalmology practice founded in 1964 that performs refractive and cataract surgery (LASIK, PRK, RLE, ICL, IOLs, cross-linking) for individual patients across two Alberta locations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1964
- HeadquartersCalgary, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Gimbel Eye Centre does
Gimbel Eye Centre is a privately held ophthalmology practice founded in 1964 in Calgary, Alberta, specializing in refractive and cataract surgery. The practice operates a multi-modality clinical offering that includes LASIK, PRK, refractive lens exchange (RLE), implantable collamer lenses (ICL), intraocular lenses (IOLs), collagen cross-linking, and cataract surgery. It claims several Canadian firsts, including the first laser vision correction, the first RLE, and the first implantable corrective lenses performed in Canada, and has accumulated over 200,000 surgical procedures across its history.
The business model is direct-to-consumer: patients self-refer or are referred by optometrists for elective vision-correction surgery as well as medically indicated cataract care. Revenue is generated per procedure, with pricing set individually by modality (LASIK and PRK typically priced per eye; RLE, ICL, and cataract priced per eye or per case inclusive of the lens implant). The practice maintains two locations — Calgary (headquarters) and Edmonton — and is operated by a team of specialist ophthalmologists alongside an optometrist, with no external private equity or venture capital involvement.
The practice is founder-led: Dr. Howard Gimbel, recently appointed to the Order of Canada, is transitioning into a new role, indicating an active succession event. As a single-specialty surgical practice, Gimbel Eye Centre is differentiated primarily by clinical reputation, surgeon tenure, and procedural breadth rather than by technology platform or scale economics.
Gimbel Eye Centre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gimbel Eye Centre
- Legal name
- Gimbel Eye Centre
- Website
- https://gimbel.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1964
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Gimbel Eye Centre is a Calgary-based, founder-owned ophthalmology practice founded in 1964 that performs refractive and cataract surgery (LASIK, PRK, RLE, ICL, IOLs, cross-linking) for individual patients across two Alberta locations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gimbel Eye Centre industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vision Correction Surgery
- NAICS
- Offices of Optometrists (62132)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ophthalmology Clinics (Medical & Surgical Eye Care) (HLAKAKAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cornea, External Disease & Refractive Surgery (LASIK/PRK) (HLAKAKAF), Ophthalmology Surgery Centers (HLAFAIAF), Ocular Imaging & Diagnostic Testing Centers (HLAKAKAN)
Keywords
Where Gimbel Eye Centre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Calgary
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Gimbel Eye Centre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Vision Correction Surgical Procedures: Fee-for-service revenue from surgical vision correction procedures including LASIK, PRK, RLE, ICL implantation, and cataract surgery. Revenue is one-time per procedure with potential for follow-up enhancement procedures.
- Eye Care Consultations and Assessments: Revenue from pre-operative assessments, consultations, and post-operative care visits. The practice offers complimentary assessments as a patient acquisition tool.
- Financing and Payment Plans: The practice offers financing options to help patients manage the cost of surgical procedures, which may involve partnerships with financial service providers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Quote-based surgical pricing following complimentary assessment |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Gimbel Eye Centre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gimbel Eye Centre is a specialized ophthalmology practice that performs vision correction surgical procedures including LASIK, PRK, refractive lens exchange (RLE), implantable collamer lenses (ICL), cataract surgery, and collagen cross-linking. The practice offers pre-operative assessments, surgical procedures, and post-operative care for patients with refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, presbyopia) and cataracts.
Product overview
Gimbel Eye Centre is a specialized eye care practice offering a comprehensive suite of vision correction procedures. Their core portfolio consists of surgical treatments including LASIK Surgery, Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK), Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE), Implantable Collamer Lenses (ICL), Cataract Surgery, Collagen Cross-linking, and Intraocular Lens (IOL) implants. These procedures address common refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, presbyopia) as well as eye diseases. The practice also provides Vision Enhancements for post-operative refinement. The centre was the first in Canada to perform laser vision correction, refractive lens exchange, and implantable corrective lens procedures, having completed over 200,000 vision correction procedures.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- LASIK Surgery
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 200,000 vision correction procedures performed by their surgeons
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Gimbel Eye Centre
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Gimbel Eye Centre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Gimbel Eye Centre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- ASCRS (American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)minorProfessional society affiliation providing access to latest research, techniques, and best practices in cataract and refractive surgery.
- ASOA (American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators)minorProfessional society affiliation supporting practice management excellence and operational standards in ophthalmic practices.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights2 records
Gimbel Eye Centre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bochner Eye Institute: Toronto-based premium refractive surgery clinic offering LASIK, PRK, ICL, RLE, and cataract surgery. Comparable in surgeon-led, premium positioning to Gimbel and competes for the high-end Canadian refractive surgery market.
- LASIK MD: Canada's largest laser vision correction provider with dozens of clinics across the country. Direct competitor to Gimbel Eye Centre in LASIK, PRK, and ICL procedures, competing on the same elective refractive surgery patient pool with stronger scale and brand recognition.
- Herzig Eye Institute: Toronto-based refractive surgery clinic offering LASIK, SMILE, ICL, RLE, and cataract procedures with premium IOLs. Competes with Gimbel in the Canadian premium refractive surgery segment with similar technology and surgeon-led positioning.
- TLC Laser Eye Centres: Long-established North American laser eye surgery chain offering LASIK and other refractive procedures in Canadian markets. Operates with similar fee-for-service model and competes for the same elective vision correction patients as Gimbel.
Broad incumbents
- Vision Group Holdings: Canadian parent company that operates and invests in multiple laser vision correction and ophthalmology brands. Provides broader competitive context as a scaled consolidator in the same refractive surgery space where Gimbel operates.
Regional players
- Pacific Laser Eye Centre: Vancouver-based refractive surgery practice serving British Columbia with LASIK, PRK, and ICL procedures. Comparable in clinic-based, surgeon-led service model to Gimbel but operates in a different Western Canadian geography.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Gimbel Eye Centre social profiles
Digital presenceGimbel Eye Centre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gimbel Eye Centre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Gimbel Eye Centre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gimbel Eye Centre 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 Gimbel Eye Centre
What does Gimbel Eye Centre do?
Gimbel Eye Centre is a specialized ophthalmology practice that performs vision correction surgical procedures including LASIK, PRK, refractive lens exchange (RLE), implantable collamer lenses (ICL), cataract surgery, and collagen cross-linking. The practice offers pre-operative assessments, surgical procedures, and post-operative care for patients with refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, presbyopia) and cataracts.
Is Gimbel Eye Centre a public or private company?
Gimbel Eye Centre is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Gimbel Eye Centre founded?
Gimbel Eye Centre was founded in 1964. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Gimbel Eye Centre based?
Gimbel Eye Centre is headquartered in Calgary, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Gimbel Eye Centre make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Vision Correction Surgical Procedures are the primary driver. The others are eye Care Consultations and Assessments and financing and Payment Plans.
Who are Gimbel Eye Centre's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bochner Eye Institute, LASIK MD, Herzig Eye Institute and TLC Laser Eye Centres. Vision Group Holdings is listed as a broad incumbent. Pacific Laser Eye Centre is listed as a regional player.
Does Gimbel Eye Centre have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gimbel Eye Centre.
What industry is Gimbel Eye Centre in?
Gimbel Eye Centre's product category is Vision Correction Surgery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAKAKAC, Ophthalmology Clinics (Medical & Surgical Eye Care), with a secondary code of HLAKAKAF, Cornea, External Disease & Refractive Surgery (LASIK/PRK). Its NAICS code is 62132.