All Eye Care P.A. history

1862 – Dutch ophthalmologist Hermann Snellen designs and produces the first eye chart.

1887 – Scientists A.E. Ficke and F.A. Mueller experiment with the first contact lenses, made from blown glass.

1888 – The first useable pair of contact lenses is developed.

1910 – Columbia University begins teaching the first-ever college courses on optometry.

1911 – Andrew J. Cross publishes the first book to introduce the theory of retinoscopy, a revolutionary technique that allows examiners to get an objective measurement of a patient’s visual abilities.

1938 – Theo Obrig and John Mullen create the first-known functional pair of plastic contact lenses.

In 1961, Doctor Stanley Pearle transformed the eye care industry. when he opened the first Pearle Vision in Savannah, Georgia.

1974 – Bausch & Lomb introduces the first soft contact lenses to the consumer market.

In 1981, Pearle Vision began offering franchises to optometrists, opticians and investors who were interested in using Pearle Vision’s business model, brand and marketing muscle to build their own businesses.

Growing to National Proportions: 1984-88

By 1986, Eye Care Centers of America operated 13 optical department stores in Texas and Louisiana under the name EYE PRO Express, Jack V. Gunion serving as president and chief executive officer.

Then, in a turn of events, Eye Care Centers was itself purchased by Chicago-based Sears, Roebuck & Co. in late 1987 as part of the larger company's strategy of shoring up its mature merchandising operations by buying fast-growing specialty stores.

By 1988, Eye Care Centers, along with LensCrafters and Pearle Vision, had become one of the largest optical superchains in the nation.

In 1993, Sears sold Eye Care Centers to Desai Capital Management and a group of the company's executives.

1996: The company acquires Visionworks.

1997: The company acquires Hour Eyes.

1998 – Oklahoma enacts the first law allowing optometrists and ophthalmologists to use lasers for certain treatments, paving the way for LASIK surgery’s current popularity and impact.

2001: 500th member joins; Vision Source Representatives program launched

2002: Proprietary line of contact lenses introduced

In 2004, it was approaching $400 million.

2005: National coverage achieved with offices in all 50 states and the District of Columbia

2006: Smile Source founded; Vision Source expands to Canada

2007: Proprietary spectacle lenses introduced; First national TV exposure with CIBA Vision Night & Day

2012: 2,652nd member joined Vision Source 1,100 branded member practices are externally branded as Vision Source

2013: IPA formed to contract with Accountable Care Organizations 100th Smile Source office joins 2013 Exchange achieves record attendance of 3,192

2014 100th Smile Source office joins 2014 Vision Source Exchange held in Boston Smile Source joined with ACE, doubling its size 3,000th member joined, Doctor Ben Gaddie

On May 18, 2015, Vision Monday announced that Vision Source was named the 2nd largest optical retailer in the United States

On May 16, 2016, Vision Monday announced that Vision Source was named the 2nd largest optical retailer in the United States

On May 15, 2017, Vision Monday announced that Vision Source was the number one optical retailer in the United States