Paris-listed Italian eyewear company puchased the network of clinics that operates in Poland, Slovakia, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the Czech Republic
Paris-listed Italian eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica, a company whose main owner is the Del Vecchio Family through Delfin and Luxottica Group (shareholders structure), acquired Optegra, an integrated ophthalmic platform operating in the UK, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and the Netherlands (press release), from London’s private equity britannico MidEuropa (press release) which purchased a controlling stake in the target in 2023 with Dutch H2 Equity Partners (statement). Optegra attracted the investment of The Netherlands firm in early 2021 (press release). The investor sold its minority two years later (press release of financial advisor Lincoln).
The closing of the transaction for which the parties did not disclose further terms could take place by the end of 2025.
EssilorLuxottica retained Rothschild & Co, Houlihan Lokey, White & Case, PwCoopers, LEK, and Mansfield Advisors.
Optegra also owns the brands Lexuma nd Iris and handles a network of more than 70 ophthalmic hospitals and diagnostic centers in Europe. The company provides patients with AI-based essential treatments in the pre- and post-operative phases for eye care and elective procedures for vision correction with access under health service agreement and on a solvency basis.
In 2025, Optegra acquired 51% of Dutch Iris Eye Clinics through a joint venture with Quadrum Capital which alredy invested in the asset in 2023 through Quadrum Investment Fund IV (press release).
Peter Byloos, the ceo of Optegra Eye Health Care, said: “Joining EssilorLuxottica marks the beginning of a new phase of transformation for Optegra. Their leadership in vision care, together with our clinical excellence and an approach built around patient needs, creates an innovative platform that can redefine the paradigm of ophthalmic services in Europe. This partnership accelerates our growth path and strengthens our ability to offer patients advanced, digital and integrated solutions. This deal is an important opportunity for our medical teams, people and management to become part of a global ecosystem that inspires and drives the future of vision care.”
Robert Knorr, a managing partner of MidEuropa, commented: ” We accelerated Optegra’s organic growth with expansion into two new markets, the Netherlands and Slovakia grace to the company’s management and the collaboration with Byloos. We also supported the opening of new clinics in the United Kingdom and completed eight strategic acquisitions in five different countries. We are proud of our contribution to the digitization of Optegra with the adoption of state-of-the-art AI technologies and the ambition to make high-quality ophthalmic care increasingly accessible. We are convinced that EssilorLuxottica is the ideal partner to lead Optegra into a new season of growth and innovation”.
London-based MidEuropa has offices in Warsaw and Bucharest. Since its foundation, the firm raised and managed resources worth more than 6.5 billion euros, closed 46 investments and completed more than 280 add-on acquisitions in 20 countries. MidEurope supported Optegra for its expansion in Slovakia, where it achieved a leading position, and the Netherlands. The company also opened new greenfield clinics in the United Kingdom and completed eight additional acquisitions in five countries. In 2025, MidEuropa also sols Regina Maria to Mehiläinen (press release) and launched the IPO of Diagnostyka on Warsaw Stock Exchange (press release).
Optegra built solid clinical leadership and an influential reputation based on excellence of care and industry-leading results, fitting seamlessly into EssilorLuxottica’s ever-expanding med-tech portfolio, whose offerings now extend well beyond frames and lenses to include cutting-edge AI technologies, wearables, medical equipment, and scientific vision care solutions.
EssilorLuxottica chairman and chief executive officer Francesco Milleri and deputy ceo Paul du Saillant said: “With the acquisition of Optegra, we now enter a new dimension, where comprehensive pathways of vision care, advanced diagnostics, therapeutic treatments and eye surgery converge into a single integrated platform. Our strategic assets will enable us to realize this vision: an extensive distribution network with innovative clinical approaches, smart eyewear with integrated functions to help us take care of our health, and diagnostic capabilities capable of detecting diverse diseases, from neurodegenerative diseases to cardiovascular dysfunction. With the expertise of its medical teams, Optegra will bring new clinical expertise into our group, enabling us to respond to patient needs with increasingly cutting-edge vision care technologies and treatments, seamlessly integrated into a reliable ecosystem that will give concrete shape to our ambitions in med-tech. As our expertise in AI and big data continues to grow, we will be able to elevate the patient experience, making it increasingly personalized and integrated”.
EssilorLuxottica owns lens technologies such as Varilux, Stellest, and Transitions, brands such as Ray-Ban, Oakley, and Supreme, and optical retail brands such as Sunglass Hut, LensCrafters, Vision Express, and Apollo. It offers medical instruments, visual health solutions and smart glasses (press release). The company has more than 200000 employees in 150 countries, 600 factories and 18000 stores. In 2024, Essilor Luxottica generated consolidated revenues of 26.5 billion, operative profits of 4.4 billion andnet debts of 11 billion (summary sheet). In 1Q25, the company generated sales of 6.85 billion (press release).
