Transitions Optical has been accused of monopolising the market for photochromic lenses in a lawsuit filed by US lens manufacturer Vision-Ease Lens.
Alleging that Transitions controls more than 85 per cent of the photochromic lens market, the company claimed that Transitions violated US anti-trust laws by adopting a policy not to deal with any lens maker that sold or promoted a competing photochromic lens.
Vision-Ease claimed that Transitions' actions have harmed the public by increasing lens prices, deterring competition, reducing innovation and reducing consumer choice according to US website Vision Monday. The Vision-Ease complaint also alleged that 'Transitions has maintained its monopoly power by engaging in a variety of actions which thwarted competition and foreclosed substantial portions of the retail and wholesale distribution channels.'
A Transitions spokesperson said: 'While we do not typically comment on pending litigation, we can say that the Vision-Ease case seems to us to be lacking in merit, and we expect to defend it vigorously.'
The Vision-Ease action follows a settlement between the US Federal Trade Commission and Transitions which banned Transitions from allegedly using anticompetitive practices to maintain its monopoly and push up prices on photochromic lenses (News 12.03.10). Since then a number of legal cases have been filed against Transitions for alleged antitrust violations (News 07.05.10).