Vision Ease Lens Legacy

Vision-Ease Lens is one of the oldest lens manufacturers still in existence today. It has experienced many internal and external changes throughout the past century and remains an industry leader in ophthalmic lens technology. In fact, some of the most exciting and groundbreaking milestones have happened in the just the past few years, and even greater achievements are on the horizon.

1930Founded in St. Cloud, MN
1969Acquired by BMC Industries
1982Plastic (organic) lens production begins
1985First major ophthalmic lens company to introduce prescription polycarbonate lenses
1993Introduced first progressive lenses designed for polycarbonate
1995Polarized lenses (SunRx®) introduced
1996Products introduced in United Kingdom
1997Opened Jakarta Manufacturing Facility
1997Launched Tegra® premium high performance lenses
1998Acquisition of Orcolite
1998Opened Ramsey, MN manufacturing facility
1998Tegra awarded the OLA Award of Excellence
1999Service Office opened in Mullheim, Germany
1999Outlook® premium progressive lenses introduced
2000French HLP Laboratory acquired
2001Co-development of SunRx Melanin
2002Film patents issued
2003Wal-Mart named SunRx® as VPI
2004Luxottica Retail Lens Supplier of the Year
2004Acquired by Insight Equity
2005Illumina premium progressive lenses introduced
2005Luxottica Retail Lens Supplier of the Year
2005Introduced LifeRx™ Photochromic Lenses
2006LifeRx awarded the OLA “Best in Lens Materials” Award
2006LifeRx lenses account for 60% of total market growth
2007

Launched Coppertone™ Polarized Lenses

2009Launched Thindex 1.70 High Index Lenses
2009Coppertone Polarized Lenses awarded OLAs 'Best in Lens Material and Treatment' Award