Fielmann CEO: Laser eye surgery is a luxury for the rich

Marc Fielmann, CEO of the optician chain Fielmann, has characterized laser eye surgery as a "luxury for the rich." He believes the procedure has a negligible impact on his company's business model, as Fielmann does not offer such interventions.

Fielmann pointed out that statutory health insurance in Germany does not cover laser eye surgeries. "The operations cost thousands of euros, enough to buy many pairs of glasses at Fielmann," he told the German Press Agency. He also highlighted that many individuals still require reading glasses for age-related farsightedness even after surgery.

Despite these reservations, Fielmann acknowledged that laser eye surgery can be beneficial in specific cases, particularly for severe nearsightedness. "If you wake up with minus eight diopters and have to search for your glasses, then laser surgery can offer a gain in quality of life," he said. Fielmann, whose company operates around 1,300 stores in Europe and the USA, has led the family business since 2019.