EssilorLuxottica to Acquire Optegra in Expanding Surgical Care

Group expands surgical footprint with 70+ Optegra clinics across Europe
EssilorLuxottica (Charenton-le-Pont, France) has entered into an agreement to acquire Optegra (London, United Kingdom), a network of eye hospitals and surgical centers operating across five European countries. The deal adds more than 70 clinics into the company’s expanding med-tech portfolio and continues its push toward full vertical integration from diagnostics to devices, and now, surgical care.

Surgical expansion in a year of acquisitions

The move is the latest in a string of acquisitions that suggest EssilorLuxottica isn’t just testing the waters, it’s moving deliberately into the heart of clinical ophthalmic care.

Over the past 18 months, the Franco-Italian optical giant has made headlines with a series of med-tech acquisitions, including Heidelberg Engineering for diagnostic imaging, Cellview Imaging for retinal cameras and Espansione Group for dry eye and retinal treatment devices. With Optegra, the company adds operating rooms to the list.

Announced on May 30, 2025, the agreement brings surgical firepower to five key markets: the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia. Optegra and its affiliated brands, Lexum and Iris, offer a mix of publicly funded and private-pay services, including cataract removal, glaucoma and AMD treatments, and laser vision correction.

In a joint statement, EssilorLuxottica Chairman and CEO Francesco Milleri and Deputy CEO Paul du Saillant described the acquisition as a step toward delivering one connected patient journey. Their vision includes everything from smart eyewear that collects health data to diagnostic tools that spot early signs of systemic disease. “We have the strategic assets to fuel this vision,” they said.

If earlier acquisitions laid the groundwork, this one pours the concrete. With Optegra, EssilorLuxottica moves closer to offering full-spectrum eye care, from designing the tools to directing how and where they’re used.

What Optegra adds to the chain

Founded in 2007, Optegra operates under its own name as well as the Lexum and Iris brands. Over the years, it has built a strong clinical reputation for surgical precision, patient satisfaction and advanced technologies in both pre- and post-operative care. The company’s service offering includes medically necessary procedures like cataract surgery and AMD treatment, as well as elective vision correction such as refractive lens exchange and laser eye surgery.

Optegra’s clinical teams use AI to enhance diagnostics, guide surgical planning and support patient follow-up, which match with EssilorLuxottica’s growing investments in data-driven care.

“Joining forces with EssilorLuxottica marks a transformative chapter for Optegra,” said Dr. Peter Byloos, chief executive officer of Optegra Eye Health Care. “Their global leadership in vision care, combined with our clinical excellence and patient-centric approach, creates an innovative platform to redefine the paradigm of ophthalmic services.”

For EssilorLuxottica, this move is more than adding tech and infrastructure. It brings surgical expertise, hospital operations and a functioning clinical model that fits into its expanding role as a care provider.

From growth mode to global stage

Optegra’s recent growth was driven by MidEuropa, a private equity firm that helped the group expand into new markets and adopt digital technologies. During their tenure, the company entered the Netherlands and Slovakia, opened multiple UK clinics, and completed eight strategic acquisitions across five countries.

“Optegra’s evolution under MidEuropa’s ownership reflects our approach to supporting high-quality European healthcare platforms with strong growth potential,” said Robert Knorr, managing partner at MidEuropa. “We believe EssilorLuxottica is the ideal partner to lead Optegra into its next phase of growth and innovation.”

With MidEuropa stepping back after nearly a decade of expansion and digital development, the handoff to EssilorLuxottica shifts the focus from rapid growth to building long-term clinical infrastructure.

Key takeaways of the deal

EssilorLuxottica has entered into an agreement to acquire Optegra.
The deal includes more than 70 surgical and diagnostic centers across five countries.
Optegra operates under the Optegra, Lexum and Iris brands.
Clinical services include cataract surgery, glaucoma and AMD treatment, and refractive procedures.
The platform uses digital tools to guide diagnostics, surgical planning and follow-up care.
This acquisition follows recent moves into diagnostics, imaging and treatment devices.
MidEuropa exits after expanding Optegra’s geographic reach and digital capabilities.
The move supports EssilorLuxottica’s strategy to bring more of the eye care pathway under its umbrella.

Building a vertical care model for the AI age

With the acquisition of Optegra, EssilorLuxottica continues to connect the dots of a full-service eye care system that includes diagnostics, devices, surgical treatment and ongoing management, all under the same umbrella.

As more pieces of the patient journey come under one roof, the line between product maker and care provider is starting to blur. And for EssilorLuxottica, that may be the point.

Editor’s note: For more information, see the EssilorLuxottica to Acquire Optegra Clinics press release and MidEuropa Announces Sale of Optegra to EssilorLuxottica announcement.