Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery
IROC AG is a privately held, single-site ophthalmology clinic in Zürich, Switzerland, delivering refractive laser surgery, cataract surgery, customized corneal crosslinking, and macular, glaucoma, and eyelid care to individual patients, supported by leading laser platforms and academic-grade research collaborations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersZürich, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery does
The Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery (IROC AG) is a privately held, single-site ophthalmology clinic headquartered at Stockerstrasse 37 in central Zürich, founded in 2002 by Prof. Dr. med. Dr. rer. nat. Theo Seiler, who performed the world's first laser eye surgery in 1985. The clinic delivers a full spectrum of anterior-segment ophthalmic care — refractive laser procedures (LASIK, SMILE, PRK), cataract surgery with premium intraocular lenses, customized corneal crosslinking for keratoconus, macular therapy (Lucentis/Eylea intravitreal injections), glaucoma management, eyelid surgery, and same-day emergency consultations — supported by a precision technology stack comprising the SCHWIND AMARIS 1050RS excimer laser, Ziemer LDV Z8 and Z2 femtosecond lasers, the MS-39 corneal tomograph, Avedro UV irradiation systems, and Brillouin microscopy co-developed with Harvard University. IROC is the sole provider of customized crosslinking in Switzerland and runs the longest cumulative experience worldwide for the technique, in partnership with University Eye Hospital Dresden.
IROC's commercial model is direct-to-consumer with a hybrid of self-pay and insurance-reimbursed revenue streams. Refractive surgery (CHF 3,200 per eye) and premium lens upgrades (CHF 3,650–3,850 per cataract) are largely out-of-pocket; standard cataract surgery and intravitreal injections are covered under TARDOC; and customized crosslinking is set to enter mandatory Swiss insurance coverage starting 2026. Go-to-market is a mix of direct patient acquisition via the iroc.ch website, optician and ophthalmologist referrals (including the Optics Swiss Services network of ~60 optical stores), patient information evenings, and an international training franchise ('Anterior Segment Excellence', launched 2022) that has hosted 200+ visiting ophthalmologists over the past decade. Pricing is transparently published with bundled post-operative care, and multilingual consultation (English, Spanish, Portuguese, Serbian) supports a modest international patient flow alongside the domestic Swiss base.
Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery
- Legal name
- IROC AG - Institut für Refraktive und Ophthalmo-Chirurgie
- Website
- https://iroc.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- IROC AG is a privately held, single-site ophthalmology clinic in Zürich, Switzerland, delivering refractive laser surgery, cataract surgery, customized corneal crosslinking, and macular, glaucoma, and eyelid care to individual patients, supported by leading laser platforms and academic-grade research collaborations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ophthalmology Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Physicians (62111), Offices of Optometrists (621320)
- SIC
- Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ophthalmology Clinics (Medical & Surgical Eye Care) (HLAKAKAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Ophthalmology Surgery Centers (HLAFAIAF), Optometry Clinics (Primary Eye Care) (HLAKAKAB)
Keywords
Where Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zürich
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Ophthalmic Surgical Procedures: Revenue generated from surgical procedures including eye laser surgery (LASIK, SMILE, PRK), cataract surgery, keratoconus crosslinking, and other ophthalmic procedures. Pricing follows TARDOC-compliant invoices with transparent flat-rate pricing.
- Premium Lens Upgrades: Additional revenue from premium intraocular lenses (multifocal, toric, EDOF, monofocal+) and femtosecond laser usage during cataract surgery, which are not covered by standard health insurance.
- Diagnostic Examinations: Pre-operative examinations and measurements following TARDOC tariff, valid for 6 months. Includes thorough assessment of patient needs, anatomical and physiological measurements.
- Intravitreal Injections: Lucentis and Eylea injections for macular degeneration covered by Swiss health insurance in most cases.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Eye Laser Treatment (LASIK/SMILE/PRK) - Per Eye |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Preliminary Examination |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Phakic Lens Implantation / ICL |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Multifocal Lenses including Femtosecond Laser |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Monofocal+ and EDOF Lenses including Femtosecond Laser |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Toric Lenses including Femtosecond Laser |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Cross-linking (Standard, Accelerated, Customized) |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Intravitreal Injections (Eylea, Lucentis, Ozurdex) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery (IROC) is a Zurich-based eye clinic that provides surgical and medical ophthalmology services, including refractive laser eye surgery (LASIK, SMILE, PRK), cataract surgery with premium intraocular lenses, customized corneal crosslinking for keratoconus, macular therapy (intravitreal injections), glaucoma treatment, eyelid surgery, emergency consultations, and contact lens fitting. The clinic combines patient care with research and training, performing over 4,000 laser eye surgeries annually and serving both domestic Swiss patients and international visitors.
Product overview
IROC (Institut für Refraktive und Ophthalmo-Chirurgie) is an eye clinic offering a comprehensive range of ophthalmological treatments and services. The core offerings include refractive laser eye surgery (LASIK, SMILE, PRK), cataract surgery with premium intraocular lenses (toric, multifocal, EDOF), keratoconus treatment via customized crosslinking, macular therapy for AMD, glaucoma treatment, and eyelid surgery. The clinic operates specialized equipment including SCHWIND AMARIS 1050RS excimer laser, ZIEMER femtosecond lasers, MS-39 corneal tomograph, and Brillouin microscopy for advanced diagnostics. Additional services include emergency consultations, contact lens fitting, and professional training programs for ophthalmologists.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Eye Laser Treatment (LASIK / SMILE / PRK)
Quantifiable outcome
- Cataract surgery complication rates minimized through detailed pre-examination, surgeon experience, and femtosecond laser
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Schwind Eye Tech SolutionscoreIROC has been working with Schwind company's AMARIS 1050RS excimer laser since spring 2016. Prof. Seiler's experience and achievements with the new Schwind laser have been featured in Schwind newsletters.
- Ziemer GroupcoreIROC uses Ziemer LDV Z8 and LDV Z2 femtosecond lasers. Close collaboration ensures access to most recent laser technologies. Frau Etter from Ziemer has participated in training visits.
- AvedrocoreIROC uses Avedro's UV irradiation systems for crosslinking procedures, enabling advanced keratoconus treatment.
- Harvard UniversitycoreIROC developed Brillouin microscopy in cooperation with Harvard University - an innovative diagnostic procedure for superior keratoconus diagnosis.
- University Eye Hospital DresdencoreTogether with University Eye Hospital Dresden, IROC has the longest experience worldwide in customized crosslinking. Joint research has advanced the method.
- University of BernminorPD Dr. Theo G. Seiler appointed professor at University of Bern as of March 2026, strengthening academic ties.
- Optics Swiss Services (OSS)minorIROC experts speak at OSS continuing education events. OSS is a purchasing and networking organization with approximately 60 specialty optical stores in Switzerland as members.
- Kamran M. Riaz (Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma)minorCo-authored international study on secondary lens implants with Prof. Kamran M. Riaz from University of Oklahoma.
- Swiss Ophthalmological Society (SOG) - Refractive Surgery CommissioncorePD Dr. Theo Seiler founded and was elected president of the first Refractive Surgery Commission in Switzerland, based on the German KRC model. Commission develops evidence-based treatment recommendations.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Care Vision: Germany-based refractive surgery clinic network performing LASIK, SMILE, PRK and ICL. Comparable in volume-per-site, surgeon-led premium positioning and DACH patient-recruitment tactics to IROC.
- Pallas Kliniken: Swiss ophthalmology and aesthetic clinic chain operating multiple sites in German-speaking Switzerland. Prof. Maya Müller was Medical Director at Pallas Kliniken from 2012-2019 before joining IROC, indicating direct overlap in refractive/cataract clinical model and patient demographic.
- EuroEyes: German-listed premium refractive surgery chain (LASIK, SMILE, ICL, cataract) expanding across DACH and China. Closest publicly traded comparable for IROC's elective refractive + premium IOL model, with similar technology stack (Zeiss/Schwind lasers).
- Augenklinik Dardenne: Premium German eye surgery hospital combining refractive surgery, cataract with premium IOLs and corneal procedures. Closely aligned to IROC's full-service ophthalmic-surgery mix and surgeon-led private clinic structure.
- Smile Eyes: German refractive clinic chain focused on SMILE/LASIK/IOL cataract. Provides DACH direct competitor on premium refractive patient acquisition, surgeon training model, and Schwind/Ziemer-type equipment stack.
- EyeLaser Center: Austrian/Swiss premium refractive clinic chain offering LASIK, SMILE, ICL and cataract with femto. Comparable in clinical positioning (premium, fellowship-trained surgeons) and pricing tier to IROC's Zurich outpatient model.
Broad incumbents
- Optical Express: UK-headquartered, large-scale refractive and private ophthalmology chain with high patient throughput. Distinct from IROC via scale and high-street retail model but overlaps on core refractive-laser and premium IOL offerings.
Others
- STAAR Surgical: US-listed maker of Implantable Collamer Lenses (ICL/Visian) used in IROC's phakic lens implantation service (CHF 3,450 procedure). Adjacent supplier; an emerging phakic-IOL player whose pipeline could substitute or extend IROC's high-myopia offering.
- Schwind Eye Tech Solutions: German manufacturer of excimer laser platforms (incl. AMARIS 1050RS) used by IROC. Strategic technology partner since 2016 and an adjacent ecosystem vendor shaping the standard of care IROC's refractive volumes depend on.
- Ziemer Group: Swiss-headquartered manufacturer of femtosecond laser systems (LDV Z8, LDV Z2) deployed at IROC. Adjacent technology partner whose product roadmap directly determines IROC's cataract and refractive surgical capability.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery 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 Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery
What does Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery do?
The Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery (IROC) is a Zurich-based eye clinic that provides surgical and medical ophthalmology services, including refractive laser eye surgery (LASIK, SMILE, PRK), cataract surgery with premium intraocular lenses, customized corneal crosslinking for keratoconus, macular therapy (intravitreal injections), glaucoma treatment, eyelid surgery, emergency consultations, and contact lens fitting. The clinic combines patient care with research and training, performing over 4,000 laser eye surgeries annually and serving both domestic Swiss patients and international visitors.
Is Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery a public or private company?
Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery founded?
Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery based?
Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery is headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Ophthalmic Surgical Procedures are the primary driver. The others are premium Lens Upgrades, diagnostic Examinations and intravitreal Injections.
Who are Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Care Vision, Pallas Kliniken, EuroEyes, Augenklinik Dardenne, Smile Eyes and EyeLaser Center. Optical Express is listed as a broad incumbent. Others are STAAR Surgical, Schwind Eye Tech Solutions and Ziemer Group.
Does Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery have an API?
No public API is recorded for Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery.
What industry is Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery in?
Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery's product category is Ophthalmology Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAKAKAC, Ophthalmology Clinics (Medical & Surgical Eye Care), with a secondary code of HLAFAIAF, Ophthalmology Surgery Centers. Its NAICS code is 62111 and its SIC code is 8011.