X-Cel Specialty Contacts
X-Cel Specialty Contacts is a U.S. manufacturer of specialty contact lenses — including custom soft, gas permeable, scleral, and ortho-k designs — selling directly to eye care practitioners fitting patients with hard-to-fit conditions like keratoconus and myopia. The company operates as a subsidiary of Walman within the Essilor family.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1915
- HeadquartersDuluth, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What X-Cel Specialty Contacts does
X-Cel Specialty Contacts is a U.S.-based manufacturer of specialty contact lenses, headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, and operating as a subsidiary of Walman within the Essilor family of companies (alongside the unified Essilor Custom Contacts). The company was founded in 1915 and today reports a workforce of 1,001–5,000 employees, serving eye care practitioners (optometrists, ophthalmologists, and contact lens specialists) who fit patients with conditions that standard contact lenses cannot address — including keratoconus, irregular corneas, dry eye requiring scleral lenses, pediatric and presbyopic patients, and myopia management candidates.
X-Cel's product portfolio spans custom soft lenses, specialty gas permeable (GP) lenses (including corneal GPs and scleral lenses), the REMLens ortho-k system for overnight myopia management, and the ROSE K brand for keratoconus and irregular cornea patients. Manufacturing is described as state-of-the-art, with NCLE-certified consultants providing practitioner-facing clinical support. Core intellectual property resides in proprietary lens designs (REMLens, ROSE K, Atlantis) and custom fabrication capabilities rather than in software or data assets. Distribution is B2B-direct to certified ECPs via an online ordering portal, an online lens configurator, and traditional account-based sales; ordering requires account setup and, for certain products like REMLens, practitioner certification.
The revenue model is straightforward B2B hardware sales of custom-manufactured specialty lenses, with pricing not publicly disclosed (quotes provided through customer service). The company has no external funding, no public listing, and is privately held under Walman/EssilorLuxottica ownership. Strategic positioning emphasizes differentiated clinical solutions for hard-to-fit eyes, practitioner education (CLASS 2020 program, clinical pearls, paperless CE credits), and the resource synergies from the Essilor Custom Contacts unification.
X-Cel Specialty Contacts firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- X-Cel Specialty Contacts
- Legal name
- X-Cel Specialty Contacts
- Website
- https://xcelcontacts.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1915
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- X-Cel Specialty Contacts is a U.S. manufacturer of specialty contact lenses — including custom soft, gas permeable, scleral, and ortho-k designs — selling directly to eye care practitioners fitting patients with hard-to-fit conditions like keratoconus and myopia. The company operates as a subsidiary of Walman within the Essilor family.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
X-Cel Specialty Contacts industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Contact Lenses
- NAICS
- Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115)
- SIC
- Ophthalmic Goods (3851)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Contact Lenses & Care Systems (Soft/RGP/Scleral Lenses; Cleaning/Disinfection Solutions) (HLAHAJAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Cornea, External Disease & Refractive Surgery (LASIK/PRK) (HLAKAKAF)
Keywords
Where X-Cel Specialty Contacts is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Duluth
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
X-Cel Specialty Contacts business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Specialty Contact Lens Sales: X-Cel generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of specialty contact lenses including custom soft lenses, GP lenses, ortho-k lenses, and scleral lenses to eye care practitioners.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
X-Cel Specialty Contacts product offering
Product offeringCore offering
X-Cel Specialty Contacts manufactures and sells specialty contact lenses for patients with hard-to-fit eyes, including custom soft lenses, specialty gas permeable (GP) lenses (corneal GPs and sclerals), and ortho-k lenses (REMLens). The company sells primarily to eye care practitioners through a B2B model, offering state-of-the-art manufacturing, NCLE-certified consultant support, online ordering, and lens configurator tools. Operating as a unified company with Essilor Custom Contacts under the Essilor family and Walman, X-Cel serves practitioners needing custom fabrication for keratoconus, myopia management, dry eye, and other complex vision correction cases.
Product overview
X-Cel Specialty Contacts offers a comprehensive portfolio of specialty contact lenses designed for patients with hard-to-fit eyes. The product lineup includes Custom Soft Lenses for personalized soft lens solutions, Specialty GP Lenses encompassing corneal GPs, sclerals, and ortho-k technology, the REMLens Ortho-k system for overnight myopia management, and the ROSE K brand for keratoconus and irregular cornea cases. The company operates as a unified organization with Essilor Custom Contacts, bringing advanced contact lens solutions and resources to eye care practitioners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Custom Soft Lenses Custom-designed soft contact lenses fabricated for patients with hard-to-fit eyes, providing personalized solutions for various challenging vision needs beyond standard lens options.
- Specialty GP Lenses Specialty gas permeable lenses including corneal GPs, scleral lenses, and ortho-k lenses designed for patients with keratoconus and other hard-to-fit conditions requiring complex vision correction.
- REMLens Ortho-k Orthokeratology lens system designed to temporarily reshape the cornea and slow myopia progression in children and adults; worn overnight and requires practitioner certification.
- ROSE K Lenses Specialized keratoconus lens designs for managing irregular cornea conditions, offering customized solutions for hard-to-fit eyes.
- Atlantis GP Lenses Advanced specialty GP lens product line for specific vision correction needs in challenging eye conditions.
Companies that use X-Cel Specialty Contacts
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
X-Cel Specialty Contacts technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
X-Cel Specialty Contacts partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Essilor Custom ContactscoreX-Cel Specialty Contacts operates as a unified company with Essilor Custom Contacts under the Essilor family. This integration brings advanced solutions and combined resources to eye care practitioners, enhancing product offerings and support capabilities. Both companies are part of the larger Essilor organization, a major player in the optical industry.
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
X-Cel Specialty Contacts competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Bausch + Lomb: One of the largest global contact lens manufacturers with broad mass-market soft lens and growing specialty lens offerings, including scleral and ortho-k products that compete with X-Cel in the same ECP channel.
- CooperVision:
Direct peers
- Essilor Custom Contacts: Now operating as a unified organization with X-Cel Specialty Contacts under the Essilor family. Both entities manufacture custom specialty contact lenses (custom soft, GP, scleral) for eye care practitioners in North America.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
X-Cel Specialty Contacts social profiles
Digital presenceX-Cel Specialty Contacts financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
X-Cel Specialty Contacts leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
X-Cel Specialty Contacts funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
X-Cel Specialty Contacts 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 X-Cel Specialty Contacts
What does X-Cel Specialty Contacts do?
X-Cel Specialty Contacts manufactures and sells specialty contact lenses for patients with hard-to-fit eyes, including custom soft lenses, specialty gas permeable (GP) lenses (corneal GPs and sclerals), and ortho-k lenses (REMLens). The company sells primarily to eye care practitioners through a B2B model, offering state-of-the-art manufacturing, NCLE-certified consultant support, online ordering, and lens configurator tools. Operating as a unified company with Essilor Custom Contacts under the Essilor family and Walman, X-Cel serves practitioners needing custom fabrication for keratoconus, myopia management, dry eye, and other complex vision correction cases.
Is X-Cel Specialty Contacts a public or private company?
X-Cel Specialty Contacts is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was X-Cel Specialty Contacts founded?
X-Cel Specialty Contacts was founded in 1915. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is X-Cel Specialty Contacts based?
X-Cel Specialty Contacts is headquartered in Duluth, United States, in the North America region.
How does X-Cel Specialty Contacts make money?
One revenue line is on record: specialty Contact Lens Sales.
Who are X-Cel Specialty Contacts's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Bausch + Lomb and CooperVision. Essilor Custom Contacts is listed as a direct peer.
Does X-Cel Specialty Contacts have an API?
No public API is recorded for X-Cel Specialty Contacts.
What industry is X-Cel Specialty Contacts in?
X-Cel Specialty Contacts's product category is Specialty Contact Lenses. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAJAE, Contact Lenses & Care Systems (Soft/RGP/Scleral Lenses; Cleaning/Disinfection Solutions), with a secondary code of HLAKAKAF, Cornea, External Disease & Refractive Surgery (LASIK/PRK). Its NAICS code is 339115 and its SIC code is 3851.