31.01.2025. Platform bridges the gap between retail optics and ophthalmology with accessible services for the prevention of avoidable eye diseases.

• Simple, secure, and legally compliant for opticians and consumers

• On-site eye care services strengthen the optician's business

75 percent of all cases of vision loss can be prevented with early detection. The capacity of ophthalmologists is already reaching its limits, making it difficult for people to have their eye health checked regularly and at short notice. With the EyeCare Network, ZEISS, in collaboration with Ocumeda, is bridging the gap between specialist opticians and ophthalmology. "We are delighted that, together with Ocumeda – the leading provider of accessible eye care in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland – we will be able to offer our ZEISS partner opticians medical eye check-ups from March 1, 2025. With more than 120,000 eye check-ups already performed, Ocumeda has proven that it meets the highest standards," says Maik Hartung, Head of Business Development, ZEISS Vision Care Germany. “The partnership with ZEISS enables us to fulfill our mission with an even broader network of leading opticians: to prevent vision loss in millions of people,” emphasizes Benedikt Wiechers, CEO & Founder of Ocumeda.

A holistic medical service
Qualified opticians perform medical eye check-ups in specialist stores. The data is transmitted securely and in compliance with GDPR via the ZEISS | Ocumeda platform to board-certifies ophthalmologists in Germany. They in turn send the opticians' customers their medical report by e-mail or post, with a detailed assessment and individual recommendations for action. The results are presented in the findings report as a simple traffic light system: green means no abnormalities requiring clarification, yellow means a recommendation to see an ophthalmologist within a defined period of time, and red means abnormalities have been detected and an urgent recommendation to see an ophthalmologist at short notice.
“Detecting signs of preventable vision loss as early as possible and being able to receive ophthalmological treatment – this is what ZEISS EyeCare Network offers as an easily accessible, additional service when visiting an optician's shop,” explains Georg Baur, Team Leader Vision Technology Solutions, ZEISS Vision Care Germany. With consumers remaining price-sensitive and competitive pressure remaining high, this innovation is an additional benefit for positioning customers as partners for good vision.

Everything from a single source
ZEISS offers opticians a one-stop introduction to the service. “The medical eye check-up complements our customers' range of services in an area that is increasingly in demand. We support simple, secure, and legally compliant integration on site, including qualification and training appointments for staff and customized marketing,” Baur continues. As usual, consumers should go to their local optician. The optician offers the service to their customers, explains the need for preventive care, and performs comprehensive measurements (refraction, visual acuity test, retinal image, tonometry, and health questions). When it comes to a sensitive issue such as maintaining eye health and vision, trust in the optical expert is just as important as easy appointment scheduling and uncomplicated processing. The examination focusing on the back of the eye is carried out using devices tested and approved by Ocumeda, although the use of the ZEISS VISUREF 1000 is recommended. The device provides all the measurement data relevant for a medical eye check-up in just a few minutes thanks to its integrated fundus camera and non-contact tonometer. The interface to the ZEISS EyeCare Network can be used on both tablets and desktop PCs. Baur: “The medical eye check-up is simple, secure, and legally compliant for everyone involved. At ZEISS, we ensure this specifically for our partner opticians by providing simple, intuitive data exchange between ZEISS VISUREF 1000, ZEISS VISUCONSULT 500, and the ZEISS | Ocumeda platform.”

Preventive care for better eye health
A medical eye check-up is an eye examination performed by an ophthalmologist with the aim of detecting changes at the fundus of the eye as early as possible. The most common vision-impairing diseases affecting the fundus of the eye are diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma. However, the eye check-up is not intended to replace the diagnosis of a local ophthalmologist or ophthalmological treatment. It is also not recommended if you have an acute eye condition, are already undergoing ophthalmological treatment, have been diagnosed with an eye disease, or are younger than 18 years of age.
“In my clinical practice, I repeatedly see patients with advanced eye diseases that could have been prevented by timely and regular eye care. Unfortunately, appointments with ophthalmologists are often limited. Opticians can make a very valuable contribution here for their customers,” emphasizes Catharina Busch, Chief Medical Officer of Ocumeda and senior physician at the University Eye Clinic in Leipzig. “But when it comes to our most precious sense, natural vision, we should avoid risks as much as possible. We are convinced that many consumers appreciate receiving an easy-to-use service here in their specialist optician's store. With the ZEISS EyeCare Network, we are now making it as easy as possible to take action here,” adds Baur.

Press release
ZEISS Vision Care | Ocumeda

In Germany, the ZEISS EyeCare Network will be available to ZEISS customers from March 1, 2025. Introduction and training can be arranged at any time via the sales representative. Pricing for this self-pay service is based on non-binding recommendations from ZEISS's optical partners.

About ZEISS
ZEISS is a leading global technology enterprise in the optical and optoelectronic industry. In its four business segments—Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, and Consumer Markets—the ZEISS Group most recently generated annual revenue of around 11 billion euros (September 30, 2024). ZEISS develops, manufactures and distributes highly innovative solutions for industrial metrology and quality assurance, microscopy solutions for life sciences and materials research, and medical technology solutions for diagnostics and therapy in ophthalmology and microsurgery. ZEISS also stands for the world's leading lithography optics, which are used by the chip industry to manufacture semiconductor components. ZEISS brand products such as eyeglass lenses, camera lenses, and binoculars are sought after worldwide and set trends. With this portfolio focused on future growth areas such as digitalization, health, and Industry 4.0, and a strong brand, ZEISS is shaping technological progress and advancing the world of optics and related fields with its solutions. The basis for the success and further continuous expansion of ZEISS's technology and market leadership is its sustained high level of investment in research and development. ZEISS invests 15% of its revenue in research and development—these high expenditures have a long tradition at ZEISS and are equally an investment in the future. With more than 46,000 employees, ZEISS is active in around 50 countries with more than 60 sales and service locations, around 40 research and development locations, and 35 production sites worldwide (September 30, 2024). Founded in Jena in 1846, the company's headquarters are in Oberkochen, Germany. The sole owner of the holding company, Carl Zeiss AG, is the Carl Zeiss Foundation, one of Germany's largest foundations for the promotion of science.
Further information is available at www.zeiss.de.

ZEISS Vision Care
ZEISS Vision Care is one of the world's leading manufacturers of eyeglass lenses and ophthalmic instruments. The division is part of the Consumer Markets segment and develops and manufactures products for the entire ophthalmic value chain, which are sold worldwide under the ZEISS brand. For more information, visit www.zeiss.de/vision-care/unternehmensprofil.

About Ocumeda
Ocumeda was founded by an interdisciplinary team of renowned ophthalmologists and is a leading technology company in the field of preventive eye care. The company develops teleophthalmology solutions for opticians and ophthalmologists with the mission of preventing vision loss in millions of people. To date, Ocumeda has performed over 120,000 eye check-ups and is present in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. For more information, visit www.ocumeda.com.