by Joel Harrison
19. April 2011 11:21
The latest market report concerning the global contact lenses market states that its value will exceed $11.7 billion by 2015. According to the report, this will be caused by demographic changes (ageing populations in most countries, resulting in more presbyopia cases), growing preference for disposable lenses, the increasing number of individuals suffering from myopia (explained by the quickly increasing exposure of children and other age groups to computers) and the growth of less-developed markets.
The growth of the market has continued since the launch of disposable contact lenses, but it is now mostly driven by markets in developing countries. In addition, fashion trends are making cosmetic contact lenses more and more popular, while the rising awareness of the benefits of contact lenses makes them a great option for more patients.
In the US (the biggest contact lens market in the world), there is a very fast shift towards disposable contact lenses, which will lead to an increase in the number of contact lens wearers. At the moment, bi-weekly lenses are the most popular. In Asia, the trend to favour daily disposable lenses is also clearly visible, but this region is still characterised by low consumer awareness.
In most markets, continuous wear contact lenses (such as Air Optix Night & Day), thanks to the convenience they offer, are gaining popularity.
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