Turkey’s competition authority has formally opened an investigation into EssilorLuxottica following concerns that the global eyewear group may have breached national competition rules through practices that restrict market access.
The decision to launch a full investigation was taken by the Competition Board after a preliminary review completed in late 2025. That initial inquiry examined whether EssilorLuxottica may have infringed Articles 4 and 6 of Turkey’s Act No. 4054 on the Protection of Competition, which prohibit anticompetitive agreements and the abuse of a dominant position. The Board concluded that the available information warranted a deeper examination of the company’s conduct.
The investigation will focus on allegations that EssilorLuxottica has established forms of de facto exclusivity across several segments of the optical sector. These include the wholesale supply of ophthalmic lenses and contact lenses, as well as the production and distribution of machinery and consumables used in ophthalmic services. According to the authority, a range of commercial practices may have had the effect of limiting customers’ ability to source competing products or suppliers.
The Turkish probe adds to a growing body of competition scrutiny faced by EssilorLuxottica in recent years. In France, the national competition authority imposed fines exceeding €80 million in 2022 on Essilor International and its parent company for discriminatory practices designed to restrict the development of online sales channels for corrective lenses. At the European level, the group has also been the subject of merger control review, most notably in connection with its acquisition of optical retailer GrandVision. That transaction was cleared by the European Commission in 2020 following an in-depth investigation.
While the opening of the Turkish investigation does not prejudge the outcome, it underscores the continued attention of competition authorities to EssilorLuxottica’s commercial strategies across multiple jurisdictions. The case is likely to be closely watched by market participants, given the group’s prominent position in the global optical industry and the potential implications for distribution practices in the sector.