Walgreens: Buys Vision Direct

The acquisition allowed Walgreens to offer competitive pricing and "ship-to-store" options for contact lenses, which remain a core part of its online "aisle" today.

In a major corporate shift, was acquired by private equity firm Sycamore Partners for approximately $10 billion in August 2025. walgreens buys vision direct

VisionDirect.com, drugstore.com, Beauty.com, and SkinStore.com. Under new private ownership, Walgreens is refocusing on

Under new private ownership, Walgreens is refocusing on its core pharmacy platform and digital omnichannel offerings to improve customer experience. Best Places To Buy Contacts Online 2026 - Forbes Vetted This move was intended to rapidly expand Walgreens'

Walgreens acquired as part of its $429 million purchase of drugstore.com, inc. in 2011 . This move was intended to rapidly expand Walgreens' online footprint in health, beauty, and vision categories. While it successfully integrated these digital assets for years, the acquisition also led to significant legal scrutiny regarding antitrust practices in the online contact lens market. Key Acquisition Details Acquisition Date: March 31, 2011.

You can still purchase a wide range of contact lenses through the Walgreens Vision Center using HSA/FSA funds. Corporate Context (2025-2026)

In 2019, Walgreens and Vision Direct reached a $12 million settlement to resolve antitrust class action claims. Plaintiffs alleged the companies conspired with 1-800 Contacts to suppress competition and fix online prices for contact lenses.