§1What this business is
Rough ophthalmic glass blanks are ground and polished into spherical, cylindrical and fused bifocal lenses, then edged to fit frames. Opticians and spectacle shops are the buyers. The KVIC profile runs from a rented shed with three grinding and edging machines.
Capacity: 18,000 lenses a year at ₹53 each (₹9.54 lakh); the profile's unit column says 'quintals', but the rate is per lens.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
An optical technician who already works with an optician.
Who it is not for
Someone without lens-grinding training.
Advantages
- Very small investment
- Good surplus for the size in the profile
- Steady need for spectacles
- Runs from a small rented shed
Drawbacks
- Most opticians now buy factory-made plastic lenses
- Needs precise skill to hit the power
- Small local market
- Glass blanks must be bought from a few suppliers
Skills you need
- Lens grinding and polishing
- Reading prescriptions and power checks
- Edging to frame shapes
- Dealing with opticians
Why difficulty 3/5: Cheap to start but needs a trained hand and a market that still buys glass lenses.
§3Market
Who buys
- Opticians and spectacle shops
- Eye clinics
How it sells
- Direct supply to opticians
- Optical wholesalers
Good to know
- The profile covers spherical, cylindrical and fused bifocal lenses, and sunglasses.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Two-spindle semi-automatic cylindrical lens grinding and polishing machine with motor | 1 | — |
| Single-spindle spherical lens grinding and polishing machine with motor | 1 | — |
| Hand edging machine with green silicon carbide wheel and motor | 1 | — |
| Testing equipment | 1 set | — |
| All equipment together (KVIC total) | 1 lot | ₹1,00,000 |
From: KVIC Project Profile — Ophthalmic Lens Grinding (PMEGP)
- Ophthalmic rough glass blanksraw material ₹6.00 lakh a year in the profile
- Labels and packing material₹25,000 a year
From: KVIC Project Profile — Ophthalmic Lens Grinding (PMEGP)
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- GST registration
- Trade licence from the local body
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- CM YUVAUPActiveUp to ₹5 lakh, interest-free
PMEGP (the profile was made for it), MUDRA Shishu or Kishor, and CM-YUVA in UP as the project is under ₹5 lakh.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: KVIC profile: equipment ₹1.00 L (two-spindle semi-automatic cylindrical lens grinding and polishing machine, single-spindle spherical lens machine, hand edging machine, testing equipment) + working capital ₹1.60 L = ₹2.60 L. Work shed rented.
Working capital: Working capital ₹1.60 lakh; raw material ₹6.00 lakh a year.
Year not printed on the KVIC profile — check current machinery prices.
§8Export potential
Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export
Export council / board: FIEO (Federation of Indian Export Organisations)
- HS heading from the ITC(HS) 2022 schedule; confirm the 8-digit line with DGFT or your customs broker.
- You need an Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT before the first shipment.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Shift to plastic and coated lenses
- Rejects from wrong power
- Few buyers in a small town
- Glass breakage
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working ophthalmic lens grinding unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam registration, GST registration), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Ophthalmic Lens Grinding?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.