Lapaire Africa
About Company
Eyecare in developing countries like Kenya is one of the underfunded health sectors, making it difficult and expensive to access treatment. However, private hospitals and clinics have stepped up to provide innovative solutions to meet the changing health demands and needs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the eyecare sector in Kenya saw an increase in business as people spent more time on screens while working from home. One of the companies revolutionizing eye care in Africa is the Panafrican Optician Lapaire Group. Its founder, Jerome Lapaire, a Swiss national and lawyer by profession, started the company in 2018 with a small team and an innovative concept of providing free vision tests, quality and affordable eyeglasses, and top-notch customer service. With the support of venture capital fund, Saviu Ventures, Lapaire Glasses has now grown to 40 optical shops across Africa with over 200 employees and has carried out over 150,000 vision tests.
The World Health Organization reports that nearly one billion people globally have a vision impairment that could have been prevented or addressed, and over 550 million people need glasses but only one percent wears them. In Kenya, the Ministry of Health estimates that 7.5 million people need interventions to prevent loss of vision. The most common eye defect in Kenya is myopia or short-sightedness. Jerome says that it is important for Kenyans to know the status of their eyes and that eyeglasses are the most accessible and affordable form of eye care equipment.
Lapaire Group has an ambitious plan to be the go-to eyewear brand in Africa and is planning to open more clinics in major cities and then in rural areas. The group is also planning to expand further in countries where they are already operating, including Kenya, Uganda, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Benin. Jerome says the group invests a significant amount of time in raising awareness about eyecare and constantly innovating to meet the dynamic needs of the world. The company’s growth plan includes opening new stores in Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Benin. The group is planning to open branches in multiple strategic locations within Nairobi, Kenya, and other cities in the country to make their services more accessible to people.
