History of EssilorLuxottica

EssilorLuxottica is a French-Italian multinational corporation formed in 2018 through the merger of Essilor, a French company known for making ophthalmic lenses, and Luxottica, an Italian leader in eyewear frames and retail. Essilor had a long history dating back to 1849, when it began as a small French company producing lenses and gradually grew into one of the world’s top lens manufacturers. Luxottica, founded in 1961 by Leonardo Del Vecchio in Italy, built its reputation as the largest eyewear maker globally, owning brands like Ray-Ban, Oakley, and Persol, while also running retail chains such as Sunglass Hut and LensCrafters.

The merger created the world’s largest eyewear group, combining Essilor’s lens innovation with Luxottica’s strong brand portfolio and retail distribution. With this integration, EssilorLuxottica became a global leader in the vision care industry, offering a complete value chain from lens technology to stylish eyewear frames. The group today owns a wide range of brands, including both luxury and sports labels, and supplies optical products in over 150 countries.

Headquartered in Charenton-le-Pont, France, EssilorLuxottica employs nearly 190,000 people worldwide and reported revenues of over €24 billion in recent years. Its business continues to grow, not only in eyewear but also in new areas such as hearing solutions, showcasing its commitment to innovation and expanding consumer care.