Optegra Eye Health Care has launched its third group-wide Sustainability Report, marking a new chapter for the ophthalmic provider, defined by changing patient needs, growing health system pressures and a corporate transformation.
The report reflects on the achievements of the past year, highlighting Optegra’s commitment to its environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles, while demonstrating its ambition to deliver world-class ophthalmic care that is sustainable, equitable and designed for the future.
Dr. Ola Spencer, Group Chief Operating Officer at Optegra, said: “Sustainability is not distinct from our corporate strategy, it is embedded in who we are and how we operate.
“For me, sustainable healthcare means building services that are clinically excellent, easier to access, simpler to deliver and more efficient for healthcare systems – while simultaneously lessening our environmental impact.
“Our priorities are clear: to embed innovation, pathway standardisation and operational excellence into daily practice, while widening access to high-quality care for both public and private patients.
“Protecting our environment is equally important. Every unnecessary appointment, form or paper process is a cost – for people, healthcare systems and the planet.
“And a positive change is our drop-free cataract pathway which has greatly reduced the use of post-operative bottles. By replacing daily drops with a single injection, we have eliminated an estimated 480,000 bottles and associated paper packaging.”
The reduction in single-use plastics directly supports Optegra’s sustainability goals and aligns with broader NHS ambitions to cut clinical waste. Further initiatives such as reusable intraocular lens introducers (led to 4.2x less waste) and electronic medical records, further reducing the environmental footprint of eye care.
Standardised pathways and advanced digital platforms have been key in driving greater results and patient experiences. Iris, Optegra’s AI-powered virtual assistant, has become an increasingly central part of the patient journey, completing:
- Over 151,000 patient engagements during the year
- 32,349 pre-operative assessments
- 30,745 post-op assessments
The year’s most significant corporate milestone was Optegra joining the EssilorLuxottica group, becoming part of a fast-evolving vision care and med-tech landscape.
This partnership brings together Optegra’s clinical expertise and operational footprint with EssilorLuxottica’s global leadership in vision care, diagnostics, digital innovation and artificial intelligence.
Optegra’s commitment to mitigating environmental impact can be best demonstrated by two landmark achievements during 2025:
- Formally aligning its decarbonisation targets with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C ambition, and a commitment to continue to report transparently on progress towards these goals
- Growing revenue whilst cutting emissions by 25%, proving that businesses can be commercially successful, and treat more patients, while simultaneously reducing impact on the planet
Dr Spencer continues: “Healthcare is one of the most carbon-intensive industries in the world and as an ophthalmology specialist, we know we have a responsibility, and an opportunity, to address this.
“For Optegra, lowering environmental impact is not a separate programme bolted on to the business – it is a direct impact of how we design care.“Looking ahead, there is a huge opportunity for Optegra to redefine ophthalmology care – delivering more connected, personalised, accessible and sustainable experiences across Europe.”
The full report can be viewed here: Optegra Sustainability Report.
