Ray-Ban

Historic American sunglass brand, now an EssilorLuxottica property.

Avoid

Founded: 1936
HQ: Italy
Ownership type: Conglomerate subsidiary
Parent: EssilorLuxottica
Acquired: 1999 (by Luxottica)

Ownership

Acquired from Bausch & Lomb by Luxottica in 1999. Luxottica merged with Essilor in 2018 to form EssilorLuxottica (EPA: EL).

Why Avoid

Core Luxottica brand. Priced as luxury, produced to commodity standards. See Luxottica essay.

Sister brands under EssilorLuxottica

Eyewear · Sunglasses
Oakley
Status: Avoid
Eyewear · Sunglasses
Persol
Status: Avoid
Eyewear · Prescription Frames
Oliver Peoples
Status: Avoid

See all 11 sister brands

Eyewear · Sunglasses
Costa Del Mar
Status: Avoid
Eyewear · Brick & Mortar
Sunglass Hut
Status: Avoid
Eyewear · Brick & Mortar
LensCrafters
Status: Avoid
Eyewear · Brick & Mortar
Target Optical
Status: Avoid
Eyewear · Brick & Mortar
Pearle Vision
Status: Avoid
Eyewear · Online Retailer
EyeBuyDirect
Status: Avoid
Eyewear · Sunglasses
Vogue Eyewear
Status: Avoid
Eyewear · Online Retailer
Glasses.com
Status: Avoid

Read the full investigation

Investigation · April 9, 2026

Your Glasses Got Worse On Purpose

EssilorLuxottica makes your Ray-Bans, sells them through LensCrafters, insures them through EyeMed. Also owns the "independent" brands you thought were alternatives. How one Italian company built a vertical monopoly on your vision.

Read the full investigation

Ownership

Why Avoid

Sister brands under EssilorLuxottica

Oakley

Persol

Oliver Peoples

Costa Del Mar

Sunglass Hut

LensCrafters

Target Optical

Pearle Vision

EyeBuyDirect

Vogue Eyewear

Glasses.com

Read the full investigation

Your Glasses Got Worse On Purpose