The contact lens market - France

Since 2020, the global contact lens market experienced a significant growth of +15.2% between 2020 and 2021, largely driven by a resurgence in demand following the pandemic. However, in 2022, the market saw a downturn due to global inflation, which impacted consumer purchasing behavior. Despite this setback, forecasts suggest a return to growth from 2023 onwards, with an expectation that the market will reach approximately US$12.6 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of +5.5%. This growth is part of a broader optics market context that was valued at nearly 100 billion euros in 2022, with contact lenses representing a relatively small share (around 8%).

The French market mirrors these trends with a robust increase of +47% in contact lens sales from 2017 to 2022, reaching a market size of roughly 557 million euros in 2022. Post-pandemic recovery contributed significantly to this uptick, as consumers resumed previous habits. However, the market is also grappling with challenges such as environmental concerns with lens pollution, advancement of new products like connected and zoom lenses, and the potential of "Nanodrops" that may negate the need for traditional visual aids in the future.

Consumer demand remains promising, with 3 out of 4 French individuals requiring corrective eyewear in 2022, and a notable preference for glasses over contact lenses. Online sales have expanded significantly since their legalization in 2009, further impacted by the 2014 Hamon law and subsequent regulatory changes. The French contact lens market, while seeing more people addressing fogging issues due to mask-wearing by turning to contact lenses, still has vast untapped potential as only 5.1% of the population currently uses them. This is particularly pertinent as visual disorders are expected to rise, with projections suggesting that 50% of the world's population will be myopic by 2050.

France's trade balance remains heavily in deficit concerning contact lenses, with 2022 imports at $202.1 million against exports of $25.1 million. Coverage rates have slightly improved from 8.2% in 2021 to 12.4% in 2022. The primary suppliers and customers for French contact lenses are within Europe, with Germany, Ireland, and Belgium being the lead supplier countries.

Contact Lens Market Trends in France: A Demand Perspective

The demand for contact lenses within the French market shows a distinctively eclectic yet robust potential for growth, with current preferences and consumer behaviors indicating a steady, albeit slow, adoption rate. While corrective eyewear continues to be the standard choice among the French, with around three-quarters of the population opting for prescription glasses in 2022, there has been a marked interest in contact lenses, particularly following the disruptive phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. The inconveniences caused by glasses fogging up due to mask-wearing have nudged an increasing number of French consumers towards considering contact lenses as a viable alternative.

Comparatively, France lags behind its European counterparts in contact lens adoption rates, standing at an estimated 5.1% of the French population donning contact lenses versus the higher percentages observed in the Nordic regions. This gap elucidates the substantial untapped potential in the French market, with only a small fraction of the populace partaking in contact lens use, despite the prevalence of visual disorders aligning with the European average.

The post-pandemic period has been a turning point with growing care volumes leading to a spike in demand for medical optics, seeing a notable increase of around 16%. Despite the increase, the French market still demonstrates a conservative outlook, preferring glasses over contact lenses, as evidenced by the statistics indicating that only between five and ten percent of the French population with corrective systems use contact lenses.

Healthcare expenditure in France has also been on an upward trajectory, with consumption of medical care and goods including contact lenses hitting between 230 and 240 billion euros in 2022, representing nearly 9% of the nation's GDP. In the grand schema of French healthcare spending, optical expenses have captured a modest percentage, still leaving significant room for expansion, particularly for contact lenses which currently represent a sliver of the medical optical market at approximately 6.1%.

In conclusion, there exists a latent potential within the French contact lens market which remains relatively marginal today. However, demographic trends, socio-economic factors, and changing consumer preferences, particularly in response to the effects of the pandemic, suggest a fertile ground for burgeoning demand, offering expansive opportunities for market players to nurture and capitalize upon in the days to come.

Key Players in the French Contact Lens Market: A Synopsis

As the French contact lens market continues to evolve, several key players dominate the landscape. These entities range from international giants to specialist French laboratories and well-established optical retail chains. Their influence stretches from manufacturing to retail, shaping the dynamics of the market. Here’s a closer look at the main players that hold sway over the French contact lens sector.

International Laboratories and Manufacturers 

• Johnson & Johnson: A powerhouse in the contact lens industry, Johnson & Johnson is known for its innovative vision care products and global reach. Their ACUVUE® brand covers a wide range of contact lens types designed for various vision correction needs. -
• Bausch & Lomb: With a rich history in eye health, Bausch & Lomb offers a diverse portfolio that includes a variety of contact lenses, eye care products, and pharmaceuticals. They are renowned for their R&D and commitment to quality. -
• CooperVision: Specializing in contact lenses, CooperVision has made a name for itself by focusing on niche markets such as lenses for astigmatism and presbyopia. They are known for utilizing cutting-edge materials and technologies.

French Laboratories

• LCS: A French boutique laboratory, LCS has carved out a niche market with its premium custom-made lenses, including their patented EyeBrid® hybrid lens, which features a combination of flexible and rigid materials for optimal comfort and vision correction.

Optician Chains

• Afflelou: As a leading optical retail chain in France, Afflelou offers a wide array of eyewear options, including contact lenses. Their stores are widespread, providing accessible optical services to customers nationwide.
• Krys: Distinguished for its extensive network of stores across France, Krys is a go-to destination for optical services. Their product offerings encompass contact lenses alongside their core business of spectacles and frames.
• Optic 2000: Known for its cooperative business model, Optic 2000 is a significant player in the French optical retail market. They offer a comprehensive range of optical services and products, including contact lenses.

Pure Player 

• DirectVision: As a specialized online retailer (or "pure player") in the optical industry, DirectVision has streamlined the buying process for contact lenses, offering the convenience of purchasing lenses from the comforts of home. These main players in the market demonstrate a diverse approach to serving the contact lens user base in France.

Inforamtion

• Number of pages : 30 pages
• Format : Digital and PDF versions
• Last update : 20/03/2024

Summary and extracts

List of charts

• World market for contact lenses
• Number of establishments under code 32.50B
• Workforce under code 32.50B
• Consumption of medical optics and contact lenses
• Main customer countries
• Balance of trade in contact lenses
• Main supplier countries
• Contact lens users
• Lens wear in the wake of the health crisis
• Answer to the question "Does wearing a mask lead to more spontaneous requests for contact lenses?"
• Consumption of medical care and goods
• Number of establishments under code 47.78A
• Employees under code 47.78A
• Margin rates by segment
• Consumer price index for medical optics
• Reasons for wearing contact lenses