DRAPER, Utah—1-800 Contacts will be announcing the formation of a standalone business focused on providing technology and services to third parties in the vision space, VMAIL has learned. The new business-to-business (B2B) company will offer 20 integrated technologies and services—ranging from 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. This suite of solutions will enable eyewear retailers, brands and doctors to modernize their customer experience both online and in stores, the company said.

The new combined company will operate under the brand, Luna. Luna means moon in Latin and speaks to the company's "moonshot goal" of offering quality, affordable, accessible vision for all, the company explained. John Graham, CEO of 1-800 Contacts, said, “We have always been focused on the constant pursuit of a better way for vision. 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.” 

Luna is a separate business held under common ownership with 1-800 Contacts that is being formed through the combination of the businesses of Premium Vision, Ditto, 6over6 and ExpressExam, each of which are distinctive leaders in their respective areas. 


Kellen Fowler.
Premium Vision is an affiliate business of 1-800 Contacts that 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, as VMAIL reported, the leading eyewear virtual try-on technology company. At that time, the company shared its intention to combine Ditto with 6Over6, which 1-800 Contacts acquired in 2019, as reported by VMAIL. 6over6 has created the world’s first medical grade mobile subjective refraction app so customers can obtain a new prescription using only a smartphone. ExpressExam is a telehealth prescription renewal platform that connects customers with doctors in order to renew a contact lens or glasses prescription online.
 
Stated Kellen Fowler, president of Luna, "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." 


Kate Doerksen.
Fowler has been an executive at 1-800 Contacts and helped to launch Express Exam. Kate Doerksen, cofounder of Ditto, will be head of revenue at Luna. Ofer Limon, cofounder, 6over6, is now head of clinical products and technology at Luna.

Doerksen noted, "Our clients have been asking us for additional technology solutions for years. By combining forces, Luna can deliver much-needed integrated technology and services solutions. We have products that can help every single optical retailer, optometrist, and eyewear brand modernize their patient experience.”


Ofer Limon.
Further, she noted, Luna will have access to 1-800's North American infrastructure for contact lenses warehousing and fulfillment, which will be offered to business partners, to create an unmatched turnkey suite of digital technologies and services.
 
In addition to partnerships with leading global retailers, brands and doctors around the world, Luna's goal, the company said, is to make the process of buying eyewear and contacts "simple and exceptional online and in stores. We will leverage our solutions to help bring vision care to the 2.5 billion people globally who need glasses and don’t have access to them," the company said.

Luna will have 130 employees with hubs in Israel and around the U.S. The company said it is currently serving 75,000-plus annual users, has 26 patents and a growing number of certifications and currently works with Luna clients in 65 countries.