The ophthalmology market in France

Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine and surgery that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. Ophthalmologists are authorized to prescribe drugs to treat eye diseases, implement laser therapy and perform surgery when necessary. They can also participate in academic research on the

The French contact lens market is worth around €560 million. The global contact lens market is expected to grow by a significant +15.% between 2020 and 2021. It is estimated at over 8 billion and represents around 8% of the optics market, which is worth around $100 billion. The French market saw a +47% increase in contact lens sales between 2017 and 2022. 3 out of 4 French people need corrective eyewear, and only 5% use contact lenses. Contact lenses account for only 6% of the medical optics market. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the inconvenience of glasses fogging up when wearing a mask prompted many French consumers to turn to contact lenses. Advances in new products such as connected lenses, zoom lenses and "nanodrops" could make the use of traditional visual aids unnecessary in the future. France's trade balance remains heavily in deficit, with imports of $202 million in 2022 and exports of $25 million. The main suppliers and customers of French contact lenses are in Germany, Irela

The French market for ocular prostheses is estimated at between €12 and €13 million. The global market for ocular implants, which includes ocular prostheses, was valued at $15.3 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.3% between 2022 and 2030. This growth is largely due to the increase in eye diseases, glaucoma and cataracts. The WHO reports 94 million cases of cataract and 7.7 million cases of glaucoma worldwide in 2019. Despite the expanding market for ocular implants, ocular prostheses only account for 14% of the market, far behind intraocular lenses (37%) and orbital implants (17%), and this is a niche segment. In France, there are an estimated 150,000 wearers of ocular prostheses. The COVID-19 pandemic had a considerable impact on the industry, causing ocularist practices to close, exacerbating high demand and prolonging waiting times. Innovation in the prosthetic eye sector, notably the advent of 3D-printed prosthetic eyes, indicates a move towards more efficient m