EssilorLuxottica acquires Bern-based RetinAI to accelerate AI-powered eye health innovation

Global vision care leader EssilorLuxottica has acquired Ikerian AG, the Bern-based health technology company operating under the RetinAI brand. The acquisition marks a key milestone in the Group’s medtech strategy, expanding its portfolio with advanced machine learning and data analytics tools that enhance clinical, research, and pharmaceutical workflows.

Founded in 2017, RetinAI develops AI-powered software platforms that collect, process, and analyze large-scale retinal images and biomarker datasets. Its FDA-cleared and CE-marked RetinAI Discovery® platform supports clinicians in diagnosing and monitoring eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. By transforming medical images into actionable insights, RetinAI’s technology enables faster, more accurate decisions in patient care.

The company also collaborates with leading pharmaceutical partners to leverage real-world evidence data, accelerating clinical studies and supporting drug development. These capabilities align closely with EssilorLuxottica’s goal of creating a fully integrated, data-driven ecosystem for vision care.

More accurate diagnoses and effective disease monitoring

“In the past year alone, we’ve made several bold moves in med-tech, all with the goal of building the most comprehensive, digitally enabled patient journey,” said Francesco Milleri, Chairman and CEO of EssilorLuxottica. “Leveraging RetinAI’s AI-powered analytics, we can turn clinical data into insights that enable faster, more accurate diagnoses and more effective disease monitoring.”

For Carlos Ciller, PhD, Chairman and CEO of RetinAI and Ikerian, the acquisition represents a transformative opportunity: “Joining EssilorLuxottica marks a defining moment in our journey. With its global reach and commitment to innovation, we can now bring our vision for data-driven patient care to life on a new scale.”

This acquisition marks the culmination of a rapid growth trajectory for RetinAI and its parent company Ikerian, which previously secured USD 6.18 million in Series A funding to expand their AI-driven platforms and data capabilities.

From its beginnings in Bern as a spin-off focused on ophthalmic imaging, to becoming a recognized partner for pharmaceutical and clinical research worldwide, the company’s evolution exemplifies Western Switzerland’s growing strength in digital health and medical AI innovation.