Leading opticians in Germany 2022-2023, by net revenue

Fielmann was the most successful German optician chain in 2023, generating around 1.34 billion euros in revenue. The company is German, with headquarters in Hamburg and locations operated in other European countries. The next best-known optician brand, among the larger optics companies in Germany, is Apollo Optik, with a revenue of approximately 0.835 billion euros in 2023. 

The eye of the beholder

The German optics industry is one of the best-known in the world, regarding optical products for consumers (glasses and contact lenses), as well as its contribution to science and technology. In Europe, Belgium had the highest share of eyeglasses wearers. German industry revenue has been growing in recent years, picking up again after the drop of the pandemic years. Rising revenue is also visible in e-commerce. This segment is growing slower, but with the expansion of e-commerce in general to all consumer areas, it is to be expected that the trend will also spread to optical products. While some tests and decisions will still require an actual personal appointment, once the consumer has the information they need, they may be able to order additional products online.

Employment figures

While industry employee numbers have dropped recently, they did remain stable, without significant variations. Over 37,500 ophthalmic opticians are working in Germany. In a wider context, health care is among the fields in Germany facing a shortage of skilled professionals. Optics in particular have a long-standing reputation of quality and research opportunities, factors that could prove attractive for successful recruitment despite challenging times.