Updated 23 October 2026
Ophthalmic device distributors in Switzerland: 41 licensed establishments
Switzerland has 41 licensed establishments in the Index and no independent distributor yet. EUDAMED does not list distributors, so the Index cannot see them here yet. The real number is higher than zero.
The Bastion Hale Distributor Index lists 41 establishments in Switzerland whose registry records include ophthalmic: 0 independent distributors (a channel role such as importer, distributor, wholesaler or authorised representative, and no manufacturing of their own), 0 manufacturers' own import or sales entities, 0 regulatory representatives, and 41 manufacturers or exporters, out of 682 medical device establishments in Switzerland overall. The records come from US FDA (openFDA), EUDAMED, MHRA UK and Health Canada, last seen on 23 October 2026.
Entry decision: ophthalmic (OPHT) in Switzerland
For a typical maker, from public data and the free Market Finder. Your own clearance, device class and current markets change the answer.
CE marked, shipping from the EU
Go now Rank 7 of 112 markets for this maker.
CE is accepted as is, registered through a local holder; foreign makers sell through distributors here; health spending of USD 105bn (2023, World Bank); distributor numbers not countable here because EUDAMED does not list distributors.
Medium confidence: EUDAMED does not list distributors, so a zero for OPHT means unknown, not none.
FDA cleared, shipping from the US
Build the case Rank 16 of 112 markets for this maker.
Held back: CE marking needed first; FDA clearance alone is not accepted here.
Medium confidence: EUDAMED does not list distributors, so a zero for OPHT means unknown, not none.
Registration route
With CE marking: CE is accepted as is, registered through a local holder. High confidence.
With FDA clearance: CE marking needed first; FDA clearance alone is not accepted here. High confidence.
A local holder or authorised representative must hold or file the registration. Who holds the registration
CE recognised unilaterally; Swiss authorised representative and importer required. FDA recognition decided in principle (Motion 20.3211) but not yet in the ordinance.
Timeline and fees are not shown: no official source we cite gives them for this market yet. Confirm with a regulatory specialist before you plan a launch date. Sources: Swiss Federal Office of Public Health.
Sales channel
Distributor-led: Foreign makers sell through distributors here. A Swiss authorised representative and importer are required; SMEs usually appoint a Swiss distributor, large firms have subsidiaries.
US Commercial Service country guide, published 12 August 2022.
Independent distributors in the Index: 0 for ophthalmic, 0 in Switzerland overall.
Makers registered here: 0 makers' own import or sales entities and 41 manufacturers.
Landed cost
Landed cost from the EU: about 8% collected at the border, under 1% real after credits (high confidence, from published tariff and tax rates). No duty, import VAT or GST about 8%.
Landed cost from the US: about 8% collected at the border, under 1% real after credits (high confidence, from published tariff and tax rates). No duty, import VAT or GST about 8%.
Tariff basket: ophthalmic. Cash is collected at clearance. Real cost is what stays after a registered distributor recovers VAT and charges. Sources: World Bank WITS TRAINS tariff API, reporter 756, MFN applied, HS6, Swiss FOCBS (BAZG): Abolition of industrial tariffs, 1 January 2024.
Market size
Health spending: USD 105bn in 2023, USD 11,784 per person (World Bank).
Ophthalmic (TAM): about USD 450m to 690m a year (estimate, medium confidence).
For one product line sold through distributors: SAM about USD 32m to 99m, SOM about USD 460k to 2.7m a year (estimate). The free Market Finder sizes your own product range.
Broad scope, as in MedTech Europe figures: devices, diagnostics and consumables at manufacturer prices. Narrower published figures are lower.
How we estimate. At manufacturer prices.
Next step
The finder ranks every market for your own device, clearance and current markets. The CSV lists 672 establishments; none is an independent distributor yet. Company records only. 10 rows are not in the CSV and stay on their profile pages, for example names of a person or records whose only source is the Health Canada licence list.
Need markets that already have partners? The report ranks the 10 markets where your device has the most licensed partners. Rank my next 10 markets, €490
See Israel: 663 independent distributors
Distributor in Switzerland? Add your company, free
Include manufacturers, their own sales entities and regulatory representatives (40)
Manufacturers, companies that are a manufacturer's own import or sales arm, and regulatory representatives (authorised representatives, sponsors or registration holders with no import or distribution role). They are registered here but are not independent distributors.
- 1Medos International SARLLe Locle0 lines169 registrationssize 78.8
- 2HAAG-STREIT, AGKöniz0 lines19 registrationssize 52.6
- 3Cendres+Métaux SABiel/Bienne, Bern0 lines18 registrationssize 60.0
- 4STAAR Surgical AGNidau, SZ0 lines7 registrationssize 37.6
- 5TEOXANE S.A.Geneva0 lines5 registrationssize 41.0
- 6Sensimed SAEtagnières0 lines2 registrationssize 32.8
- 7POLYDENTIA S.A.Mezzovico-Vira0 lines2 registrationssize 31.8
- 80 lines2 registrationssize 26.4
- 9machineMD AGBern0 lines2 registrationssize 24.2
- 10Medicel AGAltenrhein0 lines1 registrationsize 31.7
- 11PERIVISION S.A.Epalinges0 lines1 registrationsize 24.5
- 12This AGHeerbrugg0 lines1 registrationsize 24.5
- 13SURGICON AGSt.Gallen0 lines1 registrationsize 24.3
- 14Lang-Stereotest AGKüsnacht0 lines1 registrationsize 22.3
- 15Ryser Optik AGSt. Gallen0 lines1 registrationsize 22.3
- 160 lines2 registrationssize 35.7
- 17BIOPTRON AGWollerau0 lines2 registrationssize 27.5
- 18Medistri SADomdidier0 lines1 registrationsize 39.3
- 19Meridian AGThun0 lines1 registrationsize 23.4
- 20Götti Switzerland GmbHWaedenswil0 lines1 registrationsize 22.1
Ophthalmic covers intraocular lenses, diagnostic and surgical equipment, contact lenses and vision care. Buyers are eye hospitals, day surgery centres and optical retail, each with its own distributors. Intraocular lenses are a tender-driven, high-volume line in most public systems.
By role
| Role | Establishments | Share | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration holder | 8 | 20% | Holds device licences or registrations in its own name (Health Canada MDALL licence holder). |
| Manufacturer | 35 | 85% | Registered as a manufacturer with an address in this market, including foreign registrations. |
| Exporter | 12 | 29% | Registered with the US FDA as an exporter of devices made for export. |
An establishment can hold several roles, so the shares add to more than 100%.
Who holds the registration in Switzerland
In Switzerland a manufacturer based outside the country needs a Swiss authorised representative (CH-REP) and a Swiss importer, both named on the labelling. The CH-REP can be independent of the distributor.
This is the general rule, not legal advice. The registration clause in the first distributor contract decides who controls the market later. The Next 10 Markets report covers who holds the registration in each of your ten markets.
Questions about ophthalmic distributors in Switzerland
How many ophthalmic distributors are there in Switzerland?
The Index counts 41 establishments in Switzerland with ophthalmic in their registry record, of which 0 are independent distributors (a channel role and no manufacturing of their own). EUDAMED does not list distributors, so the Index cannot see them here yet. The real number is higher than zero. The number comes from US FDA (openFDA), EUDAMED, MHRA UK and Health Canada and was last refreshed on 23 October 2026.
Who can hold an ophthalmic device registration in Switzerland?
In Switzerland a manufacturer based outside the country needs a Swiss authorised representative (CH-REP) and a Swiss importer, both named on the labelling. The CH-REP can be independent of the distributor.
How do I find an ophthalmic distributor in Switzerland?
Open the top establishments on this page and check their roles, principals and registration counts. Then search the Index for your device and Switzerland to see the names, free, no sign-up. For a ranked shortlist for your device, see the Next 10 Markets report.
What does the Distributor Index count as an ophthalmic distributor in Switzerland?
A company that appears in a public regulatory registry with an address in Switzerland and whose linked device listings fall in the ophthalmic segment, in any of the roles importer, distributor, wholesaler, authorised representative, registration holder, manufacturer or exporter. Each company is counted once.
How are CE-marked and FDA-cleared ophthalmic devices registered in Switzerland?
With CE marking: CE is accepted as is, registered through a local holder. With FDA clearance: CE marking needed first; FDA clearance alone is not accepted here. A local holder or authorised representative must hold or file the registration. CE recognised unilaterally; Swiss authorised representative and importer required. FDA recognition decided in principle (Motion 20.3211) but not yet in the ordinance. Confirm with a regulatory specialist before you plan a launch date.
How big is the ophthalmic market in Switzerland?
Health spending in Switzerland was USD 105bn in 2023 (World Bank). Bastion Hale estimates the ophthalmic market at about USD 450m to 690m a year at manufacturer prices. This is a model estimate with medium confidence: health spending times the device share of health spending times the segment's share of world medical technology spending. The methodology page shows every input and source.
Other segments in Switzerland
Ophthalmic in other Other markets markets
Sources
- US FDA Establishment Registration and Device Listing, openFDA bulk download: 39 establishments, last seen 23 October 2026. US government work, public domain.
- EUDAMED economic operator registration, European Commission public API: 23 establishments, last seen 23 October 2026. CC BY 4.0. Data filtered and reformatted by Bastion Hale.
- UK MHRA Public Access Registration Database (PARD): 16 establishments, last seen 23 October 2026. Public register.
- Health Canada MDALL active licence listing and MDEL establishment licence listing: 8 establishments, last seen 23 October 2026. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence, Canada.
Index build 23 October 2026. Each establishment is counted once per country after resolving names across sources. Company records only, as the registries publish them.
Registry data. Bastion Hale does not vouch for any establishment.