Hamburg, Germany - November 04, 2025

• Scientific review of the Fielmann eye check-up

• Fielmann customers in the greater Hamburg area will receive an eye exam as part of the study.

Fielmann, together with Ocumeda, a leading tele-ophthalmological platform in Europe, has introduced the eye check-up. This innovative, medical service makes eye health affordable and accessible to everyone. The service has been rolled out since 2024 and is already available nationwide in Fielmann branches in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. To date, 300,000 customers have used this service. In 20% of cases, anomalies were detected, which are accompanied by a recommendation for further examinations and treatments by local ophthalmologists and clinics.

The University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) is now scientifically conducting a review of this medical service for eye health; Fielmann is funding the study with €600,000. The principal investigator is Prof. Dr. Martin Spitzer, Director of the Clinic and Polyclinic for Ophthalmology at the UKE. The study compares the medical eye screening with a comprehensive eye exam performed by an ophthalmologist on-site at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf.

About the eye check-up at Fielmann

The Fielmann eye check-up aims to detect changes in the fundus as early as possible. Certified opticians perform a refraction in a Fielmann branch, take images of the retina, and measure the intraocular pressure using state-of-the-art equipment. The collected data is then transmitted digitally to ophthalmologists via the Ocumeda tele-ophthalmology platform and evaluated by them. Customers receive the medical result within one to two days. If anomalies are found, an examination by local ophthalmologists or clinics is recommended. Appointments for an eye check-up can be booked online in advance: https://termine.fielmann.de/service

About the medical study – free eye exam for Fielmann customers

All customers over the age of 18 who have an eye check-up carried out at a Fielmann branch in the greater Hamburg area can participate immediately. Study participants receive the opportunity, free of charge, to have their screening results verified during a comprehensive eye exam by a physician on-site at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf. Appointments for this can be arranged online at short notice. A prerequisite for participating in the study is that there are currently no symptoms or diseases of the eyes. The examination and subsequent discussion of results by experienced ophthalmologists at the UKE takes about two hours. The collected data is used exclusively for scientific purposes and anonymised in accordance with the GDPR. The study results will be published at the end of 2027.

"Regular eye screening is very important. More than 300,000 customers have already chosen this low-threshold and convenient path to eye screening by opting for the Fielmann eye check-up. One of Europe's most renowned medical research institutions is now scientifically evaluating this innovative service. This is another important milestone within the framework of our Vision 2035: in close cooperation with our partners from ophthalmology, we offer high-quality medical services to make eye screening accessible and affordable. In this way, we pursue our goal of helping everyone hear and see the beauty of the world," says Marc Fielmann, CEO of the Fielmann Group.

Why eye screening is important

Studies show that a large proportion of severe visual impairments and blindness could be avoided through early diagnostic and regular ophthalmological check-ups. According to estimates by the World Health Organization, up to 75% of all cases worldwide are preventable or treatable – in industrialised countries like Germany, this proportion is around 40-50%. Nevertheless, only about one third of the population here regularly avails of preventative ophthalmological checkups. Many avoidable visual deteriorations, particularly due to glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration, are therefore still detected too late. "This is why it is so important to investigate whether and in what way an eye screening in cooperation between opticians and ophthalmologists can contribute to identifying patients in need of ophthalmological care at an early stage and referring them to specialist care," explains Prof. Dr. Martin Spitzer, head of the study at the UKE.

These Fielmann branches perform an eye check-up and are participating in the study:

• Hamburg-Barmbek-Nord

• Hamburg-Barmbek (EKZ)

• Hamburg-Bergedorf (Sachsentor)

• Hamburg-Billstedt

• Hamburg-Bramfeld

• Hamburg-City

• Hamburg-Eimsbüttel

• Hamburg-Eppendorf

• Hamburg-Farmsen

• Hamburg-Harburg

• Hamburg-Harburg III

• Hamburg-Langenhorn

• Hamburg-Osdorf (Elbe-EKZ)

• Hamburg-Othmarschen

• Hamburg-Ottensen

• Hamburg-Poppenbüttel

• Hamburg-Rahlstedt

• Hamburg-Schnelsen

• Hamburg-Volksdorf

• Hamburg-Wandsbek

• Ahrensburg

• Bad Oldesloe

• Bad Segeberg

• Buchholz

• Buxtehude

• Elmshorn

• Geesthacht

• Lüneburg (Große Bäckerstraße)

• Mölln

• Norderstedt

• Pinneberg

• Seevetal

• Stade

• Wedel (Bahnhofstraße)

ABOUT THE FIELMANN GROUP
The Fielmann Group is a listed German family business with a focus on ophthalmic optics and hearing aids. Fielmann supplies its 30 million customers with glasses, contact lenses, eye screening services, and hearing systems. As one of the world's leading companies in the industry, the Fielmann Group operates an omnichannel business model with digital sales channels and more than 1,200 branches in Europe and the USA. Founded in 1972, the company is now led in its second generation by Marc Fielmann. The family still owns the majority of the listed public limited company. With its customer-centric philosophy, the Fielmann Group helps everyone hear and see the beauty of the world. Thanks to the commitment of its more than 24,000 employees worldwide, the family company achieves customer satisfaction rates of around 90% and has delivered over 200 million custom-made prescription glasses.

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER HAMBURG-EPPENDORF (UKE)
The UKE is one of the most modern hospitals in Europe and stands for excellent medical care and research. The Clinic for Ophthalmology, under the direction of Prof. Dr. Martin Spitzer, specialises in the diagnostic and treatment of complex eye diseases.

ABOUT OCUMEDA AG
Ocumeda is one of the leading tele-ophthalmology platforms in Europe. Ocumeda's mission is to prevent vision loss and blindness in millions of people. The company was founded by an interdisciplinary team built around renowned ophthalmologists who were repeatedly confronted with patients whose serious eye conditions were often diagnosed too late – with the result that vision loss was no longer preventable. This observation was the impetus for the creation of Ocumeda, with the goal of making eye screening accessible to everyone. To date, Ocumeda has already examined approximately 300,000 patients and has a network of more than 700 optical specialist shops and ophthalmologists.