Essilor bought Signet, Zeiss's suit against signet resulted in the Kodak unique being pulled and significant damages awarded to Zeiss. Zeiss turns around and gives E permission to use their patents to continue offering the Unique and other lens offerings in exchange for ARC technology. HOYA purchased Seiko Epson for the patents for freeform. Shamir was bought by E because shamir was using satis formulas for their AR stack in europe. Transitions got their hands slapped by the FTC for the way they stifle the photochromic business in the US, transitions is a joint partnership between E and PPG.

The list goes on and on and on. Use what's good for business and your patients and let the big conglomerates work out their own deals independent of your practices loyalty. Don't fall for the crap line "we are independent", its old, tired and has very little value.