Aier Eye Hospital
A private Chinese ophthalmology healthcare group operating a large specialist eye-hospital network in China and selected overseas markets.
Last updated October 9, 2026
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Overview
Aier Eye Hospital, also known as Aier or Aier Eye Care, is a private ophthalmology healthcare group headquartered in Changsha, Hunan. Founded in 2003 by Chen Bang, the group opened its first hospital in Changsha and developed a chain-based model focused on specialist eye care. Its services span diagnosis, surgery, treatment and follow-up for conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma, together with refractive and myopia-related procedures and other vision-correction services. Aier’s expansion was supported in part by institutional financing. In 2006, the International Finance Corporation provided a CNY 64 million loan intended to support expansion and improve access to eye care. In 2009, the related operating company completed an initial public offering on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange under ticker 300015.SZ. The listing was described in the reference material as the first public listing by a medical institution in China, giving Aier access to capital for continued network development. The group has also invested in medical education and professional training. In 2013 it established the Aier School of Ophthalmology at Central South University, described as China’s first specialized ophthalmic college, and established a College of Optometry with Hubei University of Science and Technology. These institutions support the group’s wider emphasis on clinical expertise, optometry and the development of ophthalmology personnel. Aier has used acquisitions and investments to extend beyond mainland China. It acquired Hong Kong Asia Medical Group in 2015, entered Spain through the 2017 acquisition of Clinica Baviera, and also acquired an eye clinic in the United States during 2017. In Singapore, it acquired an initial 35% interest in SEC Healthcare in 2019 and subsequently became the majority shareholder, with ownership reported at 56.63% in the reference material. This international activity made Aier more than a domestic hospital chain, although China remains its principal operating market. Operationally, Aier uses a multi-tier hospital structure designed to connect different levels of specialist capacity. The model includes Tier IV facilities at the lowest level and Tier I facilities at the highest level, with higher-tier hospitals serving as referral, training and complex-care centers. The group’s flagship hospital is located in Shanghai. Its business scope is therefore broader than a single hospital brand: it combines local patient-facing hospitals, higher-level specialist institutions, professional education, optometry and overseas healthcare assets. Aier has also attracted public scrutiny over patient-safety and clinical-conduct incidents. A 2021 dispute involving physician and public-health figure Ai Fen concerned cataract surgery performed in 2020 and a later retinal-detachment complaint. In 2023, video footage from a Guigang hospital showing a surgeon handling an elderly patient roughly during surgery led to a public response from Aier. The group apologized, said the incident had not been reported promptly to headquarters, dismissed the hospital’s chief executive and suspended the surgeon. These events are part of the brand’s public record and underscore the governance and quality-control challenges associated with operating a large, decentralized healthcare network.
History
Aier Eye Hospital was founded in 2003 by Chen Bang, who had previously established businesses in the medical sector. The first Aier hospital opened in Changsha, Hunan, where the group remains headquartered. From the beginning, the organization pursued a specialist rather than general-hospital model, concentrating on ophthalmology and building a repeatable chain format. A significant early financing event occurred in 2006, when the International Finance Corporation provided a CNY 64 million loan. The financing supported expansion and was intended to help increase access to higher-quality eye care. In 2009, the company associated with the Aier hospital network completed an initial public offering on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange under ticker 300015.SZ. The listing provided a public-market funding base and was described as the first listing of a medical institution in China. The group subsequently developed an education and training platform. In 2013, it established the Aier School of Ophthalmology at Central South University and a College of Optometry with Hubei University of Science and Technology. The initiatives connected the hospital network with formal ophthalmic and optometric education and helped broaden the group’s professional infrastructure. Aier’s geographic growth included both acquisitions and minority investments. In 2015, it acquired Hong Kong Asia Medical Group, marking expansion into Hong Kong. In 2017, it acquired Clinica Baviera, a Spanish eye-clinic company described in the reference material as Europe’s largest, and acquired an eye clinic in the United States. In December 2019, Aier acquired a 35% stake in Singaporean company SEC Healthcare and later increased its ownership to 56.63%, making it the majority shareholder. The group’s hospital system is organized through multiple tiers, with Tier IV at the lowest level and Tier I at the highest. This structure is intended to distribute routine services across local hospitals while directing more complex cases, specialist expertise and training toward higher-level institutions. Aier’s flagship hospital is in Shanghai. The overall model combines clinical services, referral relationships, optometry, education and overseas operations. Capital raising remained part of the group’s development strategy. In September 2022, Aier secured CNY 3.5 billion in a private placement led by ICBC Credit Suisse Asset Management. The stated purposes were to increase patient capacity and provide working capital. No current financial performance figures are included here because the available reference material does not provide a sufficiently specific reporting period and source citation. Aier has faced controversies concerning clinical outcomes and patient treatment. In 2021, Ai Fen disputed the outcome of cataract surgery performed at Aier in May 2020, reporting that her retina later detached and that she was nearly blind in one eye. In December 2023, a video posted on Chinese social media showed a surgeon at the Guigang hospital apparently striking or roughly handling an elderly patient during surgery. Aier said local anesthesia had caused patient intolerance and that a language barrier complicated communication, but apologized for the conduct. The patient reportedly suffered forehead bruising; her son also said she later became blind in the left eye, although the available material does not establish that the blindness resulted from the incident. Aier said the event had occurred in December 2019 and had not been escalated to headquarters. It dismissed the hospital’s chief executive and suspended the surgeon. These episodes illustrate the quality-control, reporting and governance issues that can accompany a large multi-site healthcare network.
- 2022
CNY 3.5 billion private placement
[1]Aier raised CNY 3.5 billion in a private placement intended to increase patient capacity and supplement working capital.
- 2019
Majority investment in SEC Healthcare
[1]Aier acquired an initial 35% stake in Singapore’s SEC Healthcare and later increased its ownership to 56.63%.
- 2017
Expansion into Spain and the United States
[1]Aier acquired Clinica Baviera in Spain and an eye clinic in the United States.
- 2015
Hong Kong expansion
[1]Aier acquired Hong Kong Asia Medical Group.
- 2013
Ophthalmology and optometry schools established
[1]Aier established the Aier School of Ophthalmology at Central South University and a College of Optometry with Hubei University of Science and Technology.
- 2009
Public listing in Shenzhen
[1]The related company completed an IPO and began trading on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange under ticker 300015.SZ.
- 2006
International Finance Corporation provides expansion financing
[1]The IFC provided a CNY 64 million loan to support expansion and access to eye care.
- 2003
Aier is founded and opens its first hospital
[1]Chen Bang founded Aier and opened the first Aier hospital in Changsha, Hunan.
Products and positioning
A chain-based, specialist ophthalmology healthcare provider combining local hospitals, referral centers, professional education and international eye-care assets.
Medical services · 2003
Ophthalmology specialist healthcare services
The core offering is delivered through specialist eye hospitals and a multi-tier network. Services include examinations, diagnosis, medical treatment, surgery, postoperative care and follow-up for a broad range of ophthalmic conditions. The exact service mix varies by hospital tier, location and clinical capability.
Ophthalmology services
Cataract care
Cataract services include assessment, diagnosis, surgical treatment and postoperative management. They are a major component of Aier’s clinical activity and are provided through its hospital network, subject to patient assessment and the capabilities of the individual facility.
Ophthalmology services
Glaucoma care
Glaucoma care covers examination, diagnosis, treatment and continuing clinical monitoring. Treatment pathways depend on the patient’s condition and may differ between local hospitals and higher-tier referral institutions.
Vision correction
Myopia and refractive surgery
Aier provides myopia-related procedures and refractive vision-correction services for appropriately assessed patients. The available technique and suitability are determined through professional ophthalmic examination rather than by the brand alone.
Optometry · 2013
Optometry and vision-care services
The group’s broader eye-care offering includes optometry-related services and vision assessment. Its education investments in optometry support this part of the operating model, while individual clinical services vary across markets and facilities.
Controversies
2023
Video surfaces of Guigang doctor striking patient during surgery; doctor suspended
In December 2023, video surfaced of a doctor at Guigang Aier Eye Hospital striking a patient during surgery, triggering controversy over medical ethics and patient safety. Aier announced that the doctor involved was suspended and an investigation was launched. Media also focused on the patient's postoperative vision problems, but the cited reports did not provide a final medical or judicial determination of causation between the striking and the vision outcome.
2021
Ai Fen cataract-surgery dispute
Ai Fen publicly disputed the outcome of cataract surgery performed by Aier in May 2020. Five months after the procedure, she reported near blindness in one eye and retinal detachment, resulting in a malpractice-related dispute.
Brand decisions
2022
Raise capital for capacity and working capitalOtherBackground
Aier pursued additional funding to support patient-capacity expansion and operating needs.
Action taken
The company completed a CNY 3.5 billion private placement led by ICBC Credit Suisse Asset Management.
Aftermath
The proceeds were designated for increasing patient capacity and supplementing working capital. The reference material reported a 3% share-price increase following the financing.
Private-placement proceeds. CNY 3.5 billion (September 2022)
2019
Increase investment in SEC HealthcareM&ABackground
Aier sought to expand its international ophthalmology platform through Singapore-based SEC Healthcare.
Action taken
After acquiring an initial 35% stake, Aier increased ownership to 56.63%, becoming the majority shareholder.
Aftermath
The investment expanded Aier’s presence in Singapore and added an overseas healthcare asset to its network.
Recent events
Aier Eye Hospital wins three investor relations awards[5]
Reported:
Aier Eye Hospital won the Outstanding Board Secretary, Excellent IR Team and Small and Medium Investor Relations Interaction awards in the Panorama Investor Relations Awards (2019), whose results were announced on May 15.
Aier launches free eye screening campaign for people with high myopia[6]
Dongguan Aier Eye Hospital launched its sixth public-welfare screening campaign, offering free fundus examinations to people with myopia of 600 degrees or more through June 30.
Lisichen, Bank of China and Aier Eye jointly produce an online public course[7]
Reported:
Lisichen, Bank of China and Aier Eye jointly produced the “Home Learning Knowledge Lecture Hall” spring return-to-school course, combining Chinese writing lessons with eye-care lessons; it first aired on March 1.
Shenzhen Stock Exchange questions Aier Eye Hospital’s acquisitions[8]
Reported:
The Shenzhen Stock Exchange issued a restructuring inquiry letter to Aier Eye Hospital Group, raising 26 questions about its acquisition of equity in five companies.
Aier Eye Hospital announces planned acquisition of 30 hospitals[9]
Reported:
Aier Eye Hospital announced plans to acquire interests in 30 hospitals for a total stated transaction price of 1.87 billion yuan. The source describes the purchases as proposed, not completed.
Five companies receive 2019 GEM Brand Star awards[10]
Hongxin Electronics, Aier Eye Hospital, Wanji Technology, Yaoshi Technology, and Luyitong received the 2019 Brand Star award in the GEM category of the 17th China Finance Billboard listed-company awards.
Aier Eye proposes acquisitions of hospital and eye-care businesses[11]
Reported:
Aier Eye published a draft report proposing to acquire equity stakes in several eye-care businesses and hospitals through share issuance and, for some assets, cash consideration. The source describes a proposal, not a completed acquisition.
Aier Eye Hospital discloses 2019 first-three-quarter results[12]
Reported:
Aier Eye Hospital disclosed its report for the first three quarters of 2019, reporting revenue of 7.732 billion yuan and net profit attributable to the parent company of 1.231 billion yuan.
Sources14 sources
- 1Aier Eye Hospitalen.wikipedia.org
- 2Aier Eye Hospital official websiteaierchina.com
- 3official_website_pageaierchina.com
- 4Video surfaces of Guigang doctor striking patient during surgery; doctor suspendedm.yicai.com
- 5爱尔眼科荣获三项投资者关系奖项finance.sina.com.cn
- 6爱尔启动高度近视眼底公益普查news.timedg.com
- 7立思辰、中国银行与爱尔眼科联合推出线上公开课prnasia.com
- 8深交所问询爱尔眼科收购事项finance.sina.com.cn
- 9爱尔眼科公告拟收购30家医院finance.sina.com.cn
- 10五家公司获2019年度创业板品牌之星sc.stock.cnfol.com
- 11爱尔眼科拟收购多家医院及眼科业务finance.sina.com.cn
- 12爱尔眼科披露2019年前三季度业绩finance.sina.com.cn
- 13爱尔眼科进入“百亿营收”时代 拟10送3派1.5元_经济.民生_湖南频道hn.rednet.cn
- 14爱尔眼科荣膺第十一届民政部“中华慈善奖”voc.com.cn
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