Coastal Contacts buys Dutch firm

Canadian online contact lens company Coastal Contacts has expanded further into Europe with the purchase of the Dutch online lens company MyLenses for an undisclosed sum.

Coastal expected MyLenses to have a turnover of C$7m (£3.3m) this year. The Dutch firm's founder, Robert van der Leeuw, continues as managing director.

Van der Leeuw said that the takeover would let Coastal expand in Europe, where it already owns the Swedish company Lensway: 'The industry is moving to another level in which relationships with consumers, eye care practitioners and major manufacturers will result in the online channel of contact lens distribution becoming mainstream and even more powerful.'