What Wöhlk Contactlinsen does

Wöhlk Contactlinsen GmbH is a German contact lens manufacturer founded in 1946 by Heinrich Wöhlk, the inventor of the modern corneal contact lens. The company designs, develops, and produces individually customized contact lenses — including rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, soft monthly and daily disposable lenses, orthokeratology lenses (wöhlk OKE), multifocal and toric specialty lenses, and sport lenses — at a single integrated site in Schönkirchen near Kiel that houses manufacturing, an in-house R&D team of engineers, physicists, chemists, and software developers, a research laboratory, and a contact lens studio. Proprietary technology underpins the portfolio: FEN Vision Technology for faster multifocal fitting, Vitafilcon A and B bio-hydrogel materials, nanostructured lens surfaces, plasma surface treatment for RGP lenses, the high-oxygen A120 DK rigid material, an in-house Optocraft measurement platform, and custom fitting software with digital fluorescein image simulation. The company operates under EU MDR and EN ISO 13485 medical device certifications.

The business is a B2B2C manufacturer that sells exclusively through eye care professionals (opticians and ophthalmologists) in Germany and at least six other European countries, with distribution supported by a dedicated field sales force, a partner online portal, the wholly-owned Austrian subsidiary Wöhlk-Contact-Linsen-Vertriebs GmbH, the Bilosa partnership (Austria), and an UltraVision distribution agreement (Germany). Sub-brands include ZEISS (manufactured under a long-standing Carl Zeiss cooperation dating to 1980 and the 1990 ZEISS subsidiary period), EGO, CONTACT, and SEED (daily disposables distributed under the 2019/2021 SEED Co., Ltd. capital alliance and group membership). Wöhlk's revenue derives from hardware sales of contact lenses and care products, with the wyuu subscription/app service adding a recurring-revenue layer. The company employs approximately 140 highly specialized staff, has been a consistent winner of the German Health Award in the contact lens manufacturer category (2023-2025), and operates as a subsidiary of Japan's SEED Co., Ltd. under a Managing Director/CEO (Hiroko Aikawa, since August 2024) appointed from the parent group.

Name

Wöhlk Contactlinsen

Legal name

Wöhlk Contactlinsen GmbH

Website

https://woehlk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wöhlk Contactlinsen GmbH is a German contact lens manufacturer (founded 1946) that designs, produces, and sells individually customized RGP, soft, multifocal, and orthokeratology lenses — plus distributed SEED and ZEISS sub-brands — to opticians and ophthalmologists across Europe from its Schönkirchen R&D and manufacturing site.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contact Lens Manufacturing

NAICS

Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115), Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers (423460)

SIC

Ophthalmic Goods (3851)

akta.pro primary industry

Contact Lenses & Care Systems (Soft/RGP/Scleral Lenses; Cleaning/Disinfection Solutions) (HLAHAJAE)

Keywords

• Custom contact lens manufacturing
• Rigid gas permeable lenses
• Soft contact lenses
• Orthokeratology lenses
• Medical device contact lenses

Headquarters

HQ city

Schönkirchen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contact Lens Sales: Wöhlk generates revenue primarily through the sale of contact lenses, including daily disposable lenses, monthly replacement lenses, and individually customized rigid and soft lenses. Products are sold to eye care professionals (opticians, ophthalmologists) who in turn supply end consumers. Wöhlk also distributes SEED daily contact lenses through its partnership with SEED Co., Ltd.
2. Contact Lens Care Products: Sale of care products for both soft and rigid contact lenses, including specialized care products for the EGO contact lens line.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Wöhlk Contactlinsen manufactures and sells individually customized contact lenses — soft and rigid gas permeable (RGP), daily, monthly, and specialty lenses (multifocal, toric, orthokeratology, sport) — out of its Schönkirchen facility in Germany. The company sells primarily to eye care professionals (opticians and ophthalmologists) through field sales, a partner portal, and distribution partners (Bilosa in Austria, UltraVision in Germany), supplemented by SEED and ZEISS distributed daily lenses, lens care products, fitting software, and the wyuu subscription service.

Product overview

Wöhlk Contactlinsen is a German contact lens manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of contact lenses and related products. The portfolio includes daily, monthly, and custom-made lenses under multiple brands (ZEISS, EGO, CONTACT, SEED), as well as specialty lenses (orthokeratology, sport, multifocal). Key product lines include CONTACT LIFE monthly lenses made from proprietary Vitafilcon A bio-hydrogel, CONTACT INDIVIDUAL custom soft lenses, wöhlk MULTI FEN rigid multifocal lenses, wöhlk OKE orthokeratology lenses, and EGO premium lenses with nanotechnology surfaces. The company also offers care products, eye care supplements (Lipo Nit), fitting software for eye care professionals, and the wyuu subscription service. Manufacturing and R&D are conducted at the company's headquarters in Schönkirchen, Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ZEISS: ZEISS contact lenses - daily contact lenses produced by Wöhlk including spheric, toric, and multifocal variants
• EGO
• CONTACT
• SEED

Products and services

• CONTACT LIFE Monthly replacement soft contact lenses made from Wöhlk's proprietary Vitafilcon A bio-hydrogel material, available in spheric, toric, multifocal (multi spheric) and multi-toric variants, distributed through eye care professionals.
• CONTACT INDIVIDUAL Custom-made soft 6-month replacement contact lenses available with proprietary technologies including FEN Vision Technology, multi-focal options, and BIO variants, individually manufactured to patient parameters.
• wöhlk MULTI FEN (rigid gas permeable multifocal) Rigid gas permeable multifocal contact lens incorporating Wöhlk's FEN (Focus Encapsulated Network) Vision Technology for natural vision and reduced fitting time for presbyopic patients.
• wöhlk OKE (Orthokeratology lens) Orthokeratology lens for overnight vision correction, reshaping the cornea during sleep to enable glasses-free daytime vision; available in rotationally symmetric and peripheral toric variants with a dedicated decompression zone. Suitable for myopia (-1.0 to -5.0 D) and corneal astigmatism up to 2.0 D.
• SPORT CONTRAST Three-month replacement sport contact lens with specialized filter combinations improving depth perception, peripheral vision, and color/contrast perception; available in yellow, orange, and brown tints with UV protection.
• ZEISS Contact Lenses (Contact Day 1) Daily contact lenses manufactured under the ZEISS brand partnership in spheric, toric, and multifocal variants with UV protection, produced by Wöhlk Contactlinsen.
• EGO Contactlinsen Premium contact lens brand with proprietary nanotechnology lens surface (reducing deposits) using Vitafilcon B bio-hydrogel material, supplemented by specialized care products.
• SEED 1dayPure daily lenses Daily disposable contact lenses from Japanese partner SEED Co., Ltd., distributed through Wöhlk in spheric, toric, multistage, and EDOF (Extended Depth of Focus) variants for presbyopia.
• Individual Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Lenses Custom-made rigid gas permeable contact lenses manufactured to individual specifications with standard plasma surface treatment for improved wettability, comfort, and reduced deposit accumulation; A120 high-DK material available since 2017.
• Contact Lens Care Products Cleaning and disinfection care solutions for both soft and rigid contact lenses, including special care products formulated for the EGO contact lens line.
• Lipo Nit Eye Care Products Eye care products supporting tear film quality, complementing Wöhlk's contact lens offerings and successful contact lens fitting.
• Wöhlk Fitting Software Proprietary fitting software for eye care professionals that calculates final contact lens parameters from corneal radii, topography, and refraction data, with digital fluorescein image simulation to verify optimal lens fit.
• wyuu Subscription Service Contact lens subscription service with a combined app for convenient customer management and ordering of Wöhlk contact lenses.
• CONTACT Contactlinsen (CONTACT brand portfolio) Contact lens brand encompassing monthly lenses (CONTACT LIFE), individual custom lenses (CONTACT INDIVIDUAL), CONTACT AIR, and CONTACT LIFE multi spheric, manufactured by Wöhlk.
• CONTACT INDIVIDUAL MULTI FEN New multifocal custom soft contact lens incorporating FEN Vision Technology to reduce fitting time and expand the share of presbyopic patients who can be successfully fitted (worn comfortably by up to 90% of presbyopic patients per Wöhlk).

Quantifiable outcome

• CONTACT INDIVIDUAL MULTI FEN can be worn comfortably by up to 90% of presbyopic patients
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bilosa Handels GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 May 2022Wöhlk partnered with Bilosa Handels GmbH in Austria starting May 2022 to distribute a portion of Wöhlk's product portfolio in Austria. The partnership was expanded from January 2024 to include the full Wöhlk product range. Bilosa's field sales team now advises on all Wöhlk products.
• Lipo NitminorOthers · 1 January 2022Wöhlk expanded its product range to include selected eye care products from the Lipo Nit brand, complementing Wöhlk's contact lens offerings. Lipo Nit products support tear film quality, which is important for successful contact lens fitting.
• UltraVisionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 November 2019Wöhlk took over the German distribution of UltraVision contact lenses starting November 2019, extending Wöhlk's product portfolio in the German market.
• SEED Co., Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019In 2019, Wöhlk formed a capital alliance with Japanese contact lens manufacturer SEED Co., Ltd., strengthening its position on the international market and expanding the product portfolio to include various daily contact lenses (SEED 1dayPure series). In 2021, Wöhlk became a member of the SEED Group. The partnership enables Wöhlk to distribute SEED daily contact lenses, particularly for presbyopia care with the 1dayPure EDOF lens.
• Carl ZeisscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1980Wöhlk signed its first cooperation agreement with Carl Zeiss in 1980. In 1990, Wöhlk-Contact-Linsen became a 100% subsidiary of ZEISS. The partnership enables Wöhlk to manufacture and distribute ZEISS-branded contact lenses (ZEISS Contact Day 1 daily lenses).
• Fraunhofer InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWöhlk collaborates with Fraunhofer Institute as part of its network of internationally renowned scientific institutions for joint research projects.
• Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWöhlk works with the Leibniz Institute for Polymer Research in joint research projects, contributing to the development of new polymer coatings and materials for contact lenses.
• European Research Association for Thin Films (EFDS / Europäische Forschungsgesellschaft Dünne Schichten e.V.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWöhlk collaborates with this research association on thin film research applicable to contact lens coatings and surface treatments.
• Institut für Kunststoffverarbeitung (IKV Aachen)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWöhlk partners with IKV Aachen for research in polymer processing technology relevant to contact lens manufacturing.
• Institut für Werkstoff- und Oberflächentechnologie (Fachhochschule Kiel)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWöhlk collaborates with the Institute for Materials and Surface Technology at FH Kiel for surface technology research.
• Technische Universität MünchenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWöhlk supports research projects and doctoral theses at TU Munich as part of its university collaboration network.
• Fachhochschule LübeckminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWöhlk supports research projects, diploma, and doctoral theses at FH Lübeck as part of its university collaboration.
• Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWöhlk collaborates with the Institute for Experimental and Applied Physics and the Technical Faculty of CAU Kiel for research projects and theses.
• SPECTARIS (German High-Tech Industry Association for Optics, Photonics, Analytics and Medical Technology)minorOthersWöhlk maintains close contact with SPECTARIS, the German industry association for optics, photonics, and medical technology. The company also maintains relationships with BCLA (British Contact Lens Association), VDCO, EFCLIN, CLMA, Euromcontact, and Aston University.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bausch + Lomb: Global contact lens and ophthalmic products major. Former parent of Wöhlk (2000-2005). A broad incumbent whose mass-market contact lens portfolio competes with Wöhlk's offerings through European optical retail and professional channels.
• Alcon: Swiss-American global eye care major with the Dailies and Air Optix contact lens brands. Competes with Wöhlk across mass and specialty segments, with significantly larger R&D and global distribution capabilities.
• SEED Co., Ltd. Japanese contact lens manufacturer and parent company of Wöhlk. While a corporate parent, SEED is also a competitor in the broader contact lens category, with daily disposable lenses (1dayPure series) that Wöhlk distributes in Germany.
• Johnson & Johnson Vision: Global leader in contact lenses through the Acuvue brand. Operates broadly across daily, two-weekly, and specialty lenses, representing the largest competitive force in the contact lens market where Wöhlk competes.
• CooperVision: Global contact lens manufacturer (part of The Cooper Companies) with broad portfolio including daily, monthly, toric, and multifocal lenses. Competes with Wöhlk in European specialty lens categories and in standard prescription lenses sold through opticians.

Direct peers

• SwissLens: Swiss manufacturer of custom-made contact lenses with a focus on specialty and individually fitted lenses. Competes with Wöhlk across Europe in the custom soft and RGP lens segments, serving a similar eye care professional channel.
• mark'ennovy Personalized Contact Lenses: European specialty contact lens manufacturer focused on custom-made lenses for complex prescriptions. Most direct competitor to Wöhlk in the custom/individual contact lens segment across Europe, with similar B2B2C distribution through eye care professionals.
• Hecht Contactlinsen: German specialty contact lens manufacturer producing individually customized lenses. Direct competitor in the German custom lens market with similar product portfolio spanning RGP, soft, multifocal and orthokeratology lenses.
• Cantor & Nissel: UK-based specialty contact lens manufacturer producing custom-made RGP, soft, and scleral lenses. Direct competitor in European custom lens market, comparable in size and product focus to Wöhlk.

Others

• Carl Zeiss Meditec (Vision Care): Former owner of Wöhlk (1990-2000) and still a strategic partner via ZEISS-branded contact lenses manufactured by Wöhlk. Operates broadly in ophthalmic optics and medical technology; relationship is partner-distributor rather than direct competitor in contact lenses.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjnOdxG4bk8SbHjdOhxaOKA
• Facebookfacebook.com/woehlk.contactlinsen
• Instagraminstagram.com/woehlk.contactlinsen

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Wöhlk Contactlinsen