IXI signs letter of intent with Atol and Vizio to explore future commercial pilots in France
Milan, 30 January 2026 – IXI, the company behind the world’s first autofocus glasses, has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Atol and Vizio, two leading optical groups representing a combined network of more than 3,000 stores in France, to explore potential future commercial pilots.
The letter of intent marks the start of a structured collaboration to shape the in-store model for autofocus eyewear, covering the customer journey, commercial model considerations, and how the experience would be delivered through optical retail environments.
For the past few years, we’ve consistently received strong interest from eyecare professionals and the wider optical industry, and the message has been clear: this will change the everyday experience of seeing. It’s always been important for us to build this together with opticians. Signing LOIs with major optical players like Atol and Vizio is an important milestone as we take the next steps toward launching IXI’s glasses to market.
We’re continuously evaluating innovations that have the potential to redefine vision correction, and we believe IXI has the potential to do precisely that. This is also about the optical experience and how these kinds of technologies can be introduced in-store in a way that truly serves customers. This collaboration allows us to work together toward what could become the biggest shift optical retail has seen in decades.
The collaboration starts with joint exploration, focusing on how autofocus eyewear could be introduced through optical retail and what the in-store experience should look like, with potential pilots to follow after regulatory milestones, including CE marking.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The media kit is linked here.
About IXI
Founded in 2021 in Espoo, Finland, IXI is developing autofocus eyewear designed to deliver optimal vision in every situation. Its adaptive eyewear features lenses that autofocus, powered by technology hidden within the frame that tracks eye movements and adjusts focus instantly — whether you’re looking near or far. The company is currently in the commercialization phase and has raised over $40 million in seed funding and is developing its first-generation product, with further details to be shared closer to launch. Join the waitlist for early access: ixieyewear.com
About Atol
Atol, a leader in visual health and creator of fashion and connected eyewear, has been relying on the professionalism of its network of opticians for 50 years, with a 100% cooperative structure. Looking to the future, the brand places innovation at the heart of its strategy and provides cutting-edge technology solutions to help people see and hear better. In 2018, Atol incubated the startup Abeye, which has been offering smart glasses for health and well-being since 2020. Atol is the exclusive distributor in France of Lexilens®, glasses that make reading easier for some people with dyslexia. In 2022, Atol launched Atol Audition to transform the constraint of hearing loss into an opportunity for a richer life. Since 2025, Atol has also partnered with Lunettes de Zac to address the reconditioned market.
About Vizio
VIZIO is a purchasing and services alliance created by Atol and Luz to strengthen the competitiveness of independent opticians in a highly concentrated market. Bringing together more than 3,000 points of sale in France, with or without a brand name, VIZIO enables opticians to benefit from optimal purchasing conditions and shared services, while preserving their autonomy, identity, and freedom of choice.
PR Contact
For press enquiries, please contact ixi@ragency.com.