Optical giants face lawsuits

A US wholesale laboratory and two retailers have filed separate class action lawsuits against Transitions Optical, Essilor of America and Essilor Laboratories of America for alleged violations of federal state and antitrust laws.

VisionMonday reported that four suits had been filed following a settlement between the Federal Trade Commission and Transitions Optical (12.03.10), which barred the company from using allegedly anti-competitive practices to maintain its monopoly and increase prices on photochromic lenses. Essilor holds a 49 per cent stake in Transitions.

A New York retailer and a Connecticut retailer took direct purchaser class action antitrust suits last month, while Washington state lab Novueau Optical filed a class action lawsuit on March 30, alleging the companies had engaged in 'unfair methods of competition that foreclosed key distribution channels for existing rivals and impeded market entry by potential rivals into the market for photochromic treatments'.