Summary

The global contact lens market, as of the latest data leading up to 2020, exhibited steady growth with an expected CAGR of 4.3%. Despite this growth, contact lenses represented a relatively small portion of the overall optical market at roughly 7%. The sector experienced continued technological innovation with developments in connected lenses and potentially revolutionary "Nanodrops" for correcting visual impairments. 

In France, despite a preference for glasses, the contact lens market showed a modest increase of 5.4%. However, France's trade balance in contact lenses remained significantly import-heavy. Overall healthcare spending in France on medical goods continued to rise, reaching €203.5 billion, signaling a potential for growing demand in the contact lens sector as well. The "100% Health Reform" introduced in France may impact the market, although contact lenses are not included in the initiative's zero out-of-pocket cost basket.

Trends and Insights into the Contact Lens Market in France

The contact lens market in France has demonstrated significant potential for expansion. Corrective lenses largely dominate this sector, and a series of legislative changes beginning have spurred market liberalization, particularly by allowing online sales of contact lenses, leading to structural changes in market dynamics. Globally, the contact lens market is valued at around €6.87 billion and has been growing steadily, with a prediction to reach upwards of €9 billion in the coming years. In comparison to the vast optical market, contact lenses only represent a small fraction; however, it is an area with substantial growth prospects.

In France, the market has been buoyed by relaxed legislative frameworks, which have in turn encouraged market penetration. The French market for contact lenses is valued at nearly €351 million, showcasing a steady growth rate, albeit lower than other regions, with a CAGR of about 1.3% over a five-year period. Shifting our focus to the consumption behavior in France, it is clear that the French population has been somewhat hesitant to adopt contact lenses compared to their European counterparts, with only a small percentage of the population utilizing them. Despite a significant number of individuals with vision problems, the penetration of contact lens use is relatively low, presenting a ripe opportunity for market growth.

Healthcare expenditure in France, including for medical optics, has been increasing, reaching over €200 billion in recent years, with per capita expenditure amounting to over €3000. Optical expenses, in particular, stand strong with a notable increase, mainly due to higher reimbursements from complementary insurance schemes. In terms of distribution, the sector shows a positive trend with an increasing number of optical retailers and employees, indicating a strengthening market presence. Concerning product types, contact lenses span from soft to rigid, with varying lifespans and functionalities, catering to different user needs, including corrective, cosmetic, or therapeutic applications. As for pricing trends, there has been an upward trajectory, with the Consumer Price Index for medical optics rising since 2007, and lens wearers generally incurring higher annual costs compared to those who opt for glasses.

Regulatory aspects also play a crucial role in determining market behavior. The French government's coverage of lenses is limited to specific conditions, and while a new healthcare reform aims to offer zero-charge options for some health goods, contact lenses fall outside this benefit. With legislative changes, growing health expenditures, and underpenetrated demand coupled with.

Key Players Shaping the Contact Lens Market Landscape

The contact lens market, a crucial segment of the global optical industry, is steered by a mix of international giants and niche local players, each contributing their expertise and innovation to cater to a diverse consumer base. Here's a glimpse into some of the prominent companies that lead the market dynamics:

  • International Laboratories and Manufacturers :

    • Johnson & Johnson: A household name across various sectors, Johnson & Johnson also holds a formidable presence in the contact lens market. As a global healthcare juggernaut, the company delivers a wide range of vision care products through its well-established brand, ACUVUE®.

    • Bausch + Lomb: Another titan in the field, Bausch + Lomb brings a historic legacy of innovation to the contact lens industry. They are renowned for offering an extensive portfolio of eye health products, including contact lenses that cater to a variety of needs, from vision correction to treatment of specific eye conditions.

    • CooperVision: Specializing in contact lenses, CooperVision has made a mark with its high-quality products tailored for different refractive errors, lifestyles, and wearing schedules. Their commitment to blending science and design has spurred numerous advancements in the contact lens industry.

  • French Laboratory

    • LCS (Laboratoire de Contactologie Spécialisée): LCS stands out in the French market with its specialty in custom-made contact lenses. The company is particularly noted for their patented EyeBrid® technology, a hybrid lens design that offers the comfort of a soft lens with the visual clarity of a rigid center.

  • Optician Chains:

    • Alain Afflelou: As one of the leading chains in France, Alain Afflelou is recognized for their broad assortment of optical products, including a substantial collection of contact lenses, expert advice, and personalized services.

    • Krys Group: Operating with a cooperative business model, Krys Group prides itself on high-quality optical services and products. Their comprehensive range spans across various types of contact lenses, making vision correction accessible and convenient for consumers.

    • Optic 2000: With a strong network of stores, Optic 2000 offers a diverse array of vision correction solutions. The chain is a vital player providing a blend of product variety and professional optometric services, including contact lens fitting and consultations.

  • Pure Player:

    • DirectVision: As an online platform specializing in the distribution of contact lenses, DirectVision has quickly adapted to consumer preferences.
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  • Number of pages : 30 pages
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  • Last update : 20/03/2024
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Summary and extracts

1 Market overview

1.1 Definition and scope of study

Contact lenses are a type of optical equipment consisting of a thin lens placed on the eye to correct a visual problem, treat an eye defect or improve appearance. Together with corrective eyewear and sunglasses , they form part of the category of optical equipment. This study will consider the entire contact lens value chain, from manufacture to distribution and consumption by the end customer. However, particular attention will be paid to corrective lenses rather than therapeutic or cosmetic lenses, as corrective lenses account for a very large share of the contact lens market in France.

Growing slowly at the turn of the century, the contact lens market in France has been reinvigorated since 2014 by a series of laws and new lein particular, the formalization of online sales has profoundly altered the structure of the market. The market experienced very strong growth after the pandemic (+15.2% between 2020 and 2021), due to changes in behavior or the resumption of habits following the recovery. Despite a dip in 2022 due to global inflation, the market is expected to resume growth from 2023 onwards.

While the contact lens manufacturing market is rather condensed, the distribution market is much more fragmented, with the number of optician outlets steadily increasing since 2007. The French contact lens market is growing , and its share of the optical market is also increasing: by 2022, it will account for 7.7% of the medical optical market . Nevertheless, it faces new challenges: connected lenses, less polluting lenses, changes in behavior with the democratization of surgical masks...

1.2 Global market growth

Within a global optics market valued at nearly *** billion euros in ****, the global contact lens market weighed in at around *.* billion dollars in the same year. The contact lens market grew by +**.*% between **** and ****, before dropping by *% in ****, notably due to global inflation, discouraging consumers and prompting them to forego purchases ...

1.3 The booming domestic market

The French contact lens market reached around *** million euros in ****[***]. The French contact lens market grew by +**% between **** and ****, representing very intense growth over the period. What's more, it has grown faster than the French optical market, accounting for an increasingly significant share of that market: it represented *% of the market ...

1.4 Foreign trade

France's trade balance for contact lenses is heavily in deficit, with imports in **** amounting to $***.* million, compared with exports of just $**.* million. Imports, on the other hand, grew by +**.*% between **** and ****, a sign of a very strong recovery in world trade following the restrictions imposed by the health crisis. In ****, France's ...

2 Demand analysis

2.1 Demand still marginal but with potential

The French still wear few contact lenses, both in comparison with other European countries and in relation to the number of spectacle wearers.

The French prefer glasses

In ****, around * out of * French people will have corrective eyewear. Poor visual health tends to increase with age. Indeed, while **% of **-** year-olds need ...

2.2 Healthcare spending on the rise in France

Consumption of medical care and goods, including contact lenses, has been rising steadily for several years. This expenditure represented ***.* billion euros in ****, and reached ***.* billion euros in ****, or *.*% of French GDP. Over the period, consumption has therefore risen by **.*%. It is estimated that in ****, annual consumption of medical care and goods ...

2.3 French preferences

Reasons for choosing lenses

While discomfort is the main reason why contact lenses are abandoned(***), contact lens wearers point to numerous advantages over glasses.

Reasons for wearing contact lenses France, ****, in Source: ****

France's favorite opticians

In ****, France's favorite optical brand is Optic ****. This top ranking is primarily due to the richness ...

3 Market structure

3.1 Value chain

The care pathway and the different healthcare professionals involved

Only an ophthalmologist can issue a prescription for contact lenses, but not all ophthalmologists practice contactology. During the appointment, the specialist examines the eyes through various tests, then draws up the prescription according to the person's specific needs. The first prescription is ...

3.2 Contact lens manufacturing

The contact lens manufacturing sector is highly concentrated, dominated by a handful of laboratory manufacturers, including Bausch & Lomb, Ciba Vision, Cooper Vision, Johnson & Johsnon, Menicon... These laboratories are major international groups.

Among the French laboratories manufacturing contact lenses is LCS, specialized in premium made-to-measure lenses. The company holds a patent for ...

3.3 Distribution and profitability

Contact lens distribution

Here we consider the data provided by NAF code **.**A "Optical retailing", which includes the activities of opticians. Note, however, that this code does not include all types of lens distributors. In contrast to the lens and eyewear manufacturing activity, the number of establishments and employees increased between ...

3.4 The boom in online sales since they became official

Online contact lens sales accelerated sharply with the formalization of Internet lens sales in **** (***). In ****, while only *% of French people believe they will favor online purchases for their optical expenses, this figure rises to **% for contact lens purchases[***]. The digitalization of the sector is therefore booming.

This liberalization has also altered ...

4 Offer analysis

4.1 The different types of contact lenses

By type and lifespan

Depending on how they're made, lenses can be soft or rigid, and they don't all require the same frequency of renewal. The choice among all these parameters is made by the ophthalmologist when prescribing lenses.

Soft lenses

Soft lenses can be daily, bi-monthly or monthly. The most ...

4.2 An upward trend in lentil prices

If we consider the data provided by INSEE for the "medical optics" category, we observe that the consumer price index for medical optics items has been on the rise since ****, gaining +*.*% over ****-****[***].

Consumer price index for medical optics France, ****-****, base *** in **** Source: ****

Annual budget of a contact lens wearer ...

4.3 Supply trends

Lenses and the environment

The contact lens market is particularly polluting, especially as many consumers use daily lenses. According to an American study published in the NY Times, around **% of contact lens users flush their lenses down the toilet or sink. This waste then inevitably finds its way into the oceans, ...

5 Regulations

5.1 Regulations governing the sale of contact lenses

Prior to ****, internet sales of healthcare products (***) were prohibited in France. The European Commission then obliged France to open up the market to online opticians, but the market remained without a legislative framework for several years following this decision. The online sale of optical products was then gradually regulated by a ...

5.2 Social Security reimbursement

Assurance Maladie covers only a very small proportion of contact lenses, and mainly those prescribed for reasons other than the correction of a visual problem. The lenses covered are those prescribed for the following reasons:

Irregular astigmatism Accommodative squint Myopia greater than or equal to * dioptres Aphakia Anisometropia up to * diopters ...

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
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Latest news

Atol les opticiens successfully bets on relocation - 16/12/2022
  • French productions will account for 65% of sales in 2021, up from 12% in 2012
Atol les Opticiens: sales growth of 3.4% by 2022 - 28/02/2023
  • The optical chain has also expanded its store count: it currently has some 780 outlets, with 63 to be opened by 2022
Atol calls for full reimbursement of "Made in France" eyewear - 27/06/2023
  • Atol les Opticiens: cooperative group with 800 outlets
  • Relocation of production since 2005
  • Atol founded in 1970 Over one million orders and more than 3.2 million products processed and delivered by 2022
  • Around 1,000 employees
  • Sales of €428 million in 2021, up 3.4% year-on-year
  • Atol les Opticiens plans to open 40 new points of sale in 2023.

Companies quoted in this study

This study contains a complete overview of the companies in the market, with the latest figures and news for each company. :

Bausch & Lomb
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care
Cooper Vision
Laboratoires Alcon - CIBA VISION
Atol Les Opticiens
Afflelou
Krys Group
Malentille.com
Direct Optic (Acuitis Groupe)
Sensee

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