Refac

Refac Optical Group, primarily known through its subsidiary U.S. Vision, was a major provider of optical products and services in the United States. Historically, the company operated as Refac International, a prominent technology transfer and licensing firm that played a pivotal role in the commercialization of the Palmaz-Schatz balloon-expandable stent, a landmark medical device in interventional cardiology. Following a strategic shift in the early 2000s, the company focused on the retail optical market, operating vision centers within major department stores and host retailers. While the parent entity was acquired and restructured, its legacy remains tied to both significant medical device licensing and large-scale healthcare retail operations.