UITHOORN, The Netherlands—Hoya Corporation’s Vision Care Division, based here, has acquired Dioptra CZ a.s., a leading distributor of ophthalmic lenses in the Czech Republic.

Dioptra is a long-established firm with origins dating to 1896. Hoya and Dioptra have worked together under an exclusive arrangement since the year 2000. Dioptra CZ employs 32 people in Turnov, near Prague, and generated over €4 million sales in 2007, according to Hoya.

Hoya will acquire 100 percent of the shares in Dioptra CZ. While the existing management team will remain in place, Rainer Burkard, director of global business development for Hoya Vision Care, will serve as acting managing director thru 2008.

In early 2009, Hoya will appoint Ivana Nechanicka to serve as managing director of Dioptra CZ. Nechanicka is currently the Southwest regional sales manager for Hoya Vision Care North America.

According to Hoya, the agreement with Dioptra CZ will allow it to increase sales of high-end premium products in the fast-growing Czech market, which it believes is growing in excess of 10 percent per year, driven by an accelerated conversion of mineral to organic lenses, and bifocal to progressive designs.

“We are excited about the future of Hoya in the Czech market, and expect to see higher sales of progressive lenses due to rising disposable incomes, a highly educated class of eyecare professionals and favorable demographic trends,” remarked Gerald W. Bottero, president and CEO of Hoya Vision Care.