ESSILOR FRANCE
Present in more than 100 countries, Essilor is the world leader in ophthalmic optics. He is also the inventor of the Varilux® lens, the first progressive lens to correct presbyopia. Among Essilor's products in France, an essential part of Varilux® progressive lenses and Essilor® single vision lenses with Crizal® treatments are labelled Origine France Garantie.
History. Essilor was created by the merger of the French companies Essel and Silor in 1972. It all began in 1849 with thirteen eyewear workers who created the Fraternal Association of Eyewear Workers, which quickly became the Société des Lunetiers (SL), which later evolved into Essel. It then produced frames, corrective lenses but also topography instruments, compasses and drawing equipment. In 1955, the company successfully launched a new type of spectacle frame: Nylor, whose principle of attaching the lens to the frame with nylon thread is still widely used today. And it was in 1959 that Société des Lunetiers (later Essel) revolutionized the correction of presbyopia by launching the Varilux® lens on the market. This invention by Bernard Maitenaz was the first progressive ophthalmic lens in the world. Silor's story began with Georges Lissac in 1931. The Lissac Brothers company first distributes ophthalmic lenses and frames in its optical stores, before also becoming a manufacturer of frames and corrective lenses. In 1959, when Société des Lunetiers launched the Varilux® lens, Lissac also launched a new first-rate product: the Orma® 1000 lens, made of organic material, both light and unbreakable.
Essel and Silor merged on January 1, 1972, creating Essilor. In the mid-1970s, Essilor became a real group and refocused its activities on frames and corrective lenses. Its territorial expansion continued the following decade until it became the world leader in ophthalmic lenses.
The beginning of the 21st century has been marked by major technological advances. Every year, more than 180 million euros are invested in research and innovation to improve the performance of lenses in terms of correction, prevention and eye protection. France continues to play a key role in the innovation and design of the group's products. In 2014, a new Essilor Innovation and Technology Center was inaugurated in Créteil. It is the largest private research centre in ophthalmic optics in the world.
The products. Clear, sun and photochromic, progressive and single vision corrective lenses, special lenses for non-standard ametropic lenses, protective glasses, low vision equipment, instruments for optical professionals.
Employment. Two factories and five prescription laboratories in Antony, Les Abymes, Dijon, Ligny-en-Barrois, Lyon, and Le Mans produce Varilux® and Essilor® lenses bearing the Origine France Garantie label. In total, more than 3,000 employees in 20 units in France reflect Essilor®'s strong local presence.