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. |