Marc Fielmann calls laser eye surgery a luxury for the rich

Marc Fielmann Fielmann laser eye surgery luxury optical retail

Marc Fielmann, chief executive of the optical retailer Fielmann, told the German press that laser eye surgery is a luxury for wealthy customers. He said the procedures are not reimbursed by statutory health insurance in Germany and cost thousands of euros, and that many patients will still need reading glasses later because of age‑related farsightedness. Fielmann, which runs about 1,300 stores across Europe and the United States and ranks as the third‑largest optical chain worldwide, views laser surgery as a niche offering with negligible impact on its core business model. The German Ophthalmological Society estimates that between 150,000 and 200,000 refractive laser operations are performed in Germany each year.

Entities

Deutsche Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft · Fielmann AG · Germany · Marc Fielmann

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 4 SOURCES] Laser eye surgeries cost thousands of euros per procedure. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · bnn.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.onetz.de
[● 4 SOURCES] The German Ophthalmological Society estimates 150,000 to 200,000 refractive laser procedures are performed annually in Germany. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · bnn.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.onetz.de
[● 4 SOURCES] Fielmann operates about 1,300 stores in Europe and the United States. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · bnn.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.onetz.de
[● 4 SOURCES] Fielmann judges the impact of laser eye surgery on its core business model to be negligible. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · bnn.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.onetz.de
[● 4 SOURCES] Fielmann is the third‑largest optical retailer worldwide according to its own claim. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · bnn.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.onetz.de
[● 4 SOURCES] Marc Fielmann said laser eye surgery is a luxury for the rich. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · bnn.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.onetz.de
[● 4 SOURCES] Laser eye surgeries are not reimbursed by statutory health insurance in Germany. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · bnn.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.onetz.de
[● 4 SOURCES] Many patients will still need reading glasses later due to presbyopia even after laser surgery. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · bnn.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.onetz.de