Essilor

Essilor is a French multinational corporation specializing in the design, manufacture, and sale of ophthalmic lenses, optical equipment, and instruments.

Established in 1972 through the merger of Essel and Silor, Essilor has grown to become the world's largest manufacturer of ophthalmic lenses. The company is headquartered in Charenton-le-Pont, near Paris, France.

Merger and Expansion

In 2018, Essilor merged with the Italian eyewear corporation Luxottica, forming EssilorLuxottica. This strategic merger combined Essilor's expertise in lens technology

with Luxottica's extensive eyewear brand portfolio, including Ray-Ban, Oakley, Persol, and Oliver Peoples. The merger also expanded EssilorLuxottica's retail presence, encompassing chains such as LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, and Sunglass Hut.

Products and Services

EssilorLuxottica offers a comprehensive range of products and services to meet diverse vision care needs, including:

• Ophthalmic Lenses: Corrective lenses for myopia, hypermetropia, and astigmatism, featuring brands like Varilux (progressive lenses), Crizal (anti-reflective coatings), and Eyezen (designed for digital device users).
• Eyewear: Prescription glasses and sunglasses from their own brands and licensed partnerships, including iconic names like Ray-Ban, Oakley, Persol, and Vogue Eyewear.
• Optical Equipment and Instruments: Equipment for eyecare professionals to support fitting and customization of lenses based on individual prescriptions.
• Retail Services: Personalized eyewear solutions, eye examinations, and lens fittings through retail chains including LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, and Sunglass Hut.

Innovation and Research

EssilorLuxottica is committed to ongoing innovation and research, investing over €200 million annually in these areas.

This has led to advancements such as smart eyewear developed in collaboration with Meta, integrating AI and tiny cameras to enable functions like livestreaming to social media. The company envisions smart glasses eventually replacing smartphones, similar to how streaming services surpassed CDs.

Global Presence

EssilorLuxottica operates globally with manufacturing facilities, prescription laboratories, and distribution centers across North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa.

In the United States, the company maintains significant offices in several locations:

• Warwick, Rhode Island
• Milford, Connecticut
• Newport News, Virginia
• Merrillville, Indiana
• Riverside, California
• Lafayette, Louisiana

Through its extensive product range, commitment to innovation, and global presence, EssilorLuxottica continues to lead the eyewear industry, enhancing vision care and eyewear solutions worldwide.