Composing company history

Company History

From a supplier of superior specialty products to an innovative and customer-focused solution provider

In 2002, Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, as it is known today, was created from the merger of the ZEISS Ophthalmology division with Asclepion-Meditec AG, a medical lasers specialist. On 22 July 2002, the Carl Zeiss Meditec AG shares were traded on the Neuer Markt for the first time, making it a publicly traded. Since then, the company has been striving to shape medical progress, efficiency and access to healthcare through innovative technology and support doctors to improve their patients’ quality of life. The Company does this by combining diagnostics technology with therapy and surgical solutions that optimize customers' workflows to more effectively diagnose and treat diseases. And thus, out of a ZEISS division steeped in optical legacy and a nascent start-up within that division emerged to what is now a world leader in ophthalmology and microsurgery: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG.

The following page provides an overview of important milestones in the company's development.

Key Milestones in the Development of the Medical Device Business of ZEISS

Year Event
2022 With the acquisition of Preceyes B.V., Eindhoven (Netherlands), the Carl Zeiss Meditec Group strengthens its technological position as well as its product portfolio in the field of vitreoretinal surgery through robotic technologies.
2022 2022 Carl Zeiss Meditec AG acquires two manufacturers of surgical instruments (Kogent Surgical, LLC and Katalyst Surgical, LLC) to further strengthen its positioning as a solution provider.
2019 The Christoffel Mission for the Blind (CBM) and ZEISS have – together with a local partner, the Poona Blind Men Association – opened a new training center for treating cataracts in Pune, India.
2018 The Carl Zeiss Meditec AG shares are listed on the TecDAX and MDAX of the German stock exchange.
2018 Carl Zeiss Meditec announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire IanTECH to expand its portfolio in cataract surgery
2018 CBM (Christoffel Mission for the Blind) and ZEISS expand successful collaboration in Paraguay: Dedicated training center for ophthalmologists inaugurated in Asunción.
2017 ZEISS continues to advance digitalization of eye care with the acquisition of Veracity Innovations, LLC, a powerful, intuitive cloud-based platform for cataract surgery.
2017 ZEISS introduced KINEVO 900 at the AANS – the first Robotic Visualization system for neurosurgeons.
2016 ZEISS celebrates 200 years.
2016 ZEISS started the collaboration with the Advanced Retina Imaging Network (ARIN) to enter into a new world of visualization of the eye´s anatomy with ZEISS PLEX® Elite. The ARIN is a unique global consortium of clinicians and scientists from around the world.
2016 ZEISS receives US FDA Approval for VisuMax SMILE vision correction procedure, the latest advancement in laser eye surgery.
2016 Carl Zeiss Meditec AG consolidates its ophthalmology activities in a single Strategic Business Unit (SBU).
2015 ZEISS Strengthens its Presence in the Arab World: the Medical Technology business group of ZEISS opens a new office in Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC).
2015 The New Humphrey Field Analyzer 3 (HFA3) from ZEISS Sets a New Standard for Efficient Visual Field Testing.
2014 Introduction of hydrophobic monofocal aspheric intraocular lens CT LUCIA with C-loop design.
2014 Carl Zeiss Meditec AG introduces the first surgical microscope with integrated intra-operative OCT, the OPMI LUMERA® 700 and RESCAN™ 700 at WOC in Japan.
Introduction of the IOLMaster® 700 with SWEPT Source Biometry™ for better predictability and optimized workflows in cataract surgery.
2014 Acquisition of US-based manufacturer of Intraocular Lenses (IOLs) Aaren Scientific broadens portfolio of intraocular lenses from ZEISS in surgical ophthalmology; Acquisition of long-standing partner Optronik AS to better serve Turkish market.
Year Event
2013 Introduction of hydrophobic monofocal aspheric intraocular lens CT LUCIA with C-loop design.
2013 Introduction of the IOLMaster® 700 with SWEPT Source Biometry™ for better predictability and optimized workflows in cataract surgery.
2013 Carl Zeiss Meditec AG introduces the first surgical microscope with integrated intra-operative OCT, the OPMI LUMERA® 700 and RESCAN™ 700 at WOC in Japan.
2013 Acquisition of US-based manufacturer of Intraocular Lenses (IOLs) Aaren Scientific broadens portfolio of intraocular lenses from ZEISS in surgical ophthalmology; Acquisition of long-standing partner Optronik AS to better serve Turkish market.
2012 Inauguration of the Innovation Center for Research and Development in Shanghai, China, to strengthen the company’s presence there.
2012 Carl Zeiss Meditec AG introduces with AT LISA® tri the first preloaded true-MICS IOL with three focal points for optimized vision at far, intermediate and near distances.
2011 Acquisition of the ophthalmology business of Spanish dealer IMEX and enhancement of sales activities on the Iberian peninsula.
2011 Inauguration of the Center of Application and Research, CARIn, in Bangalore, India, and enhancement of the presence in this market that is vital to Carl Zeiss Meditec.
2009 Carl Zeiss Meditec AG becomes a solutions provider offering ZEISS Toric Solution, ZEISS Refractive Laser Solution, ZEISS Ophthalmic Data Management Solution.
2008 Carl Zeiss Meditec AG introduces major product innovations to the market: AT LISA® and AT LISA® toric are the world’s first real microincision lenses for refractive microincision cataract surgery (MICS), the OPMI® Lumera® surgical microscope revolutionizes the red reflex, and the Cirrus™ HD-OCT optical coherence tomograph shows details of the human eye which have never been seen before.
2007 The Carl Zeiss Meditec AG share is listed on the TecDAX of the German stock exchange. The Company strengthens its position in the field of intraocular lenses by acquiring Acri.Tec AG.
2006 Surgeons use the VisuMax® femtosecond laser for the correction of visual defects.
Year Event
2006 The merger of Carl Zeiss Surgical and Carl Zeiss Meditec creates a market leader in visualization solutions for surgical applications.
2005 Carl Zeiss Meditec moves into the surgical ophthalmology market segment by acquiring IOLTECH S.A., a specialist in intraocular lenses.
2004 The OPMI® Pentero® neurosurgery microscope provides a comprehensive range of digital visualization possibilities.
2003 INTRABEAM® is an innovative system for breast cancer therapy developed by Carl Zeiss Meditec AG and proven in numerous clinical studies.
2002 With its entry in the commercial register, Carl Zeiss Meditec AG is listed on the German stock exchange in July 2002.
2002 Acquisition of Asclepion-Meditec AG (manufacturer of innovative refraction lasers) by the Ophthalmology division of Carl Zeiss AG, leading to the creation of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG.
Introduction of MEL 80™ refractive laser for faster and more precise treatment of visual defects. Carl Zeiss Meditec launches the innovative Stratus OCT™ in the glaucoma and retinal imaging market segment.
1999 Non-contact optical biometry with the IOLMaster® opens new possibilities for the treatment of cataract.
1997 The first OCT 1 system was launched on the market under the ZEISS brand name and opened up a totally new depth dimension for the diagnosis of retinal diseases.
1991 Reunification of West and East German parts of Carl Zeiss; acquisition of Humphrey Instruments (now Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc.), a major producer of ophthalmic diagnostic devices.
Year Event
1984 Introduction of HFA Perimeter, a device to measure the visual field. It is primarily used in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma.
1957 Xenon light coagulator – predecessor of the laser used for eye surgery.
1953 The OPMI® surgical microscope is presented by Prof. Horst Wullstein for the first time at the World’s Fair in Amsterdam.
1912 Founding of the department for medical optics and ophthalmology.
1911 Development of the slit lamp together with Allvar Gullstrand.
1866 Start of collaboration with Ernst Abbe on the production of lenses based on precise calculations. Microsurgery on finest tissues begins with Carl Zeiss surgical microscopes.
1846 Carl Zeiss opens a workshop for precision mechanics and optics.