Essilor was formed in 1972 following the merger of the two dominant optical products companies in France at the time: Essel and Silor. Essilor focuses on lens manufacturing and lens finishing in prescription laboratories. The ophthalmic lens industry is divided into four separate professions, each corresponding to a specific product processing phase. Essilor will continue to develop and commercialise optical products and expand into the global market through strategic alliances and acquisitions.