1-800-Contacts launches eyewear services platform
1-800-Contacts is forming a new standalone business focused on providing technology and services to third parties in the vision space.
The online specialty eyewear retailer is introducing Luna Solutions, a separate business held under common ownership with 1-800 Contacts that is formed through the combination of Premium Vision, Ditto, 6over6, and ExpressExam.
This new company offers 20 integrated technologies and services, including telehealth platforms for new and renewal glasses and contacts prescriptions, eyewear virtual try-on, a digital pupillary distance tool, glasses and contacts fulfillment, and more.
The suite of solutions and services offered by Luna is designed to enable eyewear retailers, brands and doctors to modernize their customer experience, both online and in stores. This new combined company will operate under the brand, Luna.
Premium Vision provides contact lens fulfillment services and an e-commerce site platform to other optical retailers. In 2021, 1-800 Contacts announced the acquisition of Ditto, an eyewear virtual try-on technology company, and shared its intention to combine Ditto with 6over6, which 1-800-Contacts acquired in 2019. 6over6 has created a medical-grade mobile subjective refraction app that enables customers to obtain a new prescription using only a smartphone. ExpressExam is a telehealth prescription renewal platform that connects customers with eye doctors in order to renew a contact lens or glasses prescription online.
In 2019, Zenni Optical created a virtual try-on feature, in partnership with Ditto, which provides customers a realistic preview of Zenni glasses on their face using a facial analysis tool. It enables consumers to use their iOS or Android mobile device or computer camera to capture a five-second video that includes a 3D 180-degree scan of their face. Customers can virtually “try on” up to 50 different pairs of eyewear that are displayed on one page for comparative review, and also see how frames look from multiple angles before finalizing their purchase.
"We have always been focused on the constant pursuit of a better way for vision,” said John Graham, CEO of 1-800 Contacts. “We take a customer-centric approach to make buying glasses and contacts simple and affordable. To expand our reach, we knew we'd have to expand upon our partnerships with other retailers and doctors."
"We are excited to bring the complementary capabilities of Ditto, 6over6, Premium Vision, and ExpressExam together to create the Luna business. This suite of products is unmatched in the industry and creates turnkey solutions that make it much easier for our clients to successfully execute the digital transformation that will set them up for future success," said Kellen Fowler, President of Luna.
Prior to her appointment as president of Luna, Fowler was the senior VP of Strategy and Business Development at 1-800 Contacts. In that role, he was closely involved in building ExpressExam, growing Premium Vision, acquiring 6over6 and Ditto, and developing the strategy to combine them in a unified business.
Luna currently has 130 employees in Israel and the U.S., over 75 million annual users, 26 patents and several certifications. There are 65 countries with Luna clients.