> The company that basically owns the entire eyewear industry top-to-bottom is Italian.

That is in the US (and maybe Europe). In India I got my glasses with all the regular filters from Titan for about 50$ including the frame.

Titan is a brand owned by the Indian conglomerate Tata. Not by Luxottica. So your example is still US-centric.

It might be an Italian/French company but that doesn’t mean they apply the same business tactics everywhere.

In the Netherlands, an eye measurement, a decent pair of glasses and a pair of sunglasses (both non reflective) will cost you ~ €250,- and that seems reasonable to me.

Serious question: how can one "own" the whole industry? What stops me from opening my own eye glass store and sell my own made-at-the-back of the store glasses ??

They own the distribution channels, top to bottom[1]. Lenscrafters, sunglass hut, target optical, etc. If you don't play ball, they'll kill your distro. They did this to oakley in a hostile takeover[2] – luxottica cut them off and took almost 40% off their stock price. Oakley was then bought by lux.

What's stopping you from selling mom and pop? Mostly nothing. Warby Parker – and to a lesser degree, coastal – are doing this. But it's a weird middle-market place to live. Similar to things like Daniel Wellington in the watch game – you're selling $5 chinese products for $100 because you have a marketing and brand engine that fashionable but unlearned people don't question. In reality, the same products can be had for far less. EyeBuyDirect is the best place for cheap glasses. First pairs are often free but for shipping, about $7, and later pairs are about #30.

[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxottica [2]https://www.thestreet.com/story/1509351/1/oakley-suffers-as-...

EyeBuyDirect is owned by Essilor. Coastal is owned by Clearly, which is owned by Essilor.

So Luxottica strikes again, and continues to build their monopoly. Even when you think you're voting with your wallet, they still profit.

Nothing, there are even a few startups that do that. Warby Parker for example. Plus there are cheap glasses available OTR at walmart/costco. This is mainly referring to the luxury market.

They also own the 2nd largest insurance providers for eyeglasses, EyeMed. Your customers will likely pay extra to buy from you.