EssilorLuxottica and MidEuropa have entered into an agreement for EssilorLuxottica to acquire Optegra, a fast-growing and highly integrated ophthalmology platform operating in five key European markets: the UK, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and the Netherlands.
A media release said the acquisition represented a significant milestone in EssilorLuxottica’s med-tech strategy, “building on the group’s offering which today spans far beyond frames and lenses to include AI-powered innovative technologies, wearables, medical instruments and science-backed eyecare solutions that improve the lives of millions of people”.
The Optegra group, under the Optegra, Lexum and Iris brands, operates a network of more than 70 eye hospitals and diagnostic facilities across Europe, offering ophthalmic treatments and elective vision correction procedures supported by AI in pre- and post-op stages.
These include sight-saving cataract surgery, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma treatments, refractive lens replacement and laser eye surgery, serving both publicly reimbursed and private-pay patients.
The release said that, since 2007, its highly ranked surgeons and dedicated medical teams had established a “strong foundation of clinical leadership and a trusted reputation for quality care and industry-leading outcomes, making the Optegra platform a natural fit for EssilorLuxottica’s expanding med-tech portfolio”.
Mr Francesco Milleri, chairman and chief executive officer, at EssilorLuxottica, said: “With the acquisition of Optegra, we are stepping into a new frontier – one where comprehensive eyecare, advanced diagnostics, therapeutic interventions and surgical treatments come together in one seamless platform.
“We have the strategic assets to fuel this vision: an extensive distribution network with new clinical approaches, a smart eyewear offering with healthcare potential, and diagnostic capabilities that will be able to detect conditions ranging from neurodegenerative diseases to cardiovascular dysfunction.
“Optegra and its experienced doctors will bring new medical capabilities to our group, enabling us to address patients’ needs with the most advanced vision care technologies and treatments in one trusted system that will anchor our med-tech aspirations.”
The transaction is expected to close later in 2025 pending regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.
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