Summary of our market study
The French optics market in 2020 was worth 6.3 billion euros.
The global optics market, which includes eyewear, sunglasses and contact lenses, was valued at around $140 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $197.2 billion in 2027, with an impressive average annual growth rate of 8.1% between 2020 and 2027.
This growth is being driven by an aging population, as well as by rising disposable incomes, which are fuelling demand for high-end eyewear products.
Despite a setback in 2020 due to COVID-19, which led to an 11% drop in sales on the French market, the industry has recovered.
The sunglasses segment seems particularly dynamic, with growth driven by fashion trends and increased awareness of the risks associated with sun exposure.
The French optical market has shown a preference for spectacles, with 67% of wearers of prescription glasses in 2020, and spending on optical products in 2020 amounting to 6.3 billion euros.
However, consumer out-of-pocket expenses remain high.
The production and retailing of optical products in France is divided between low-cost products manufactured abroad and high-end products manufactured locally, with 268 establishments involved in production.
Distribution is highly concentrated: independent opticians account for 47% of outlets, but only 26% of sales, while cooperative groups, branches and franchises account for a larger share of the market.
Trends in the fast-growing optics market
As the population ages and life expectancy increases, the need for corrective eyewear and contact lenses is on the rise. The market is also expanding as disposable income rises, driving up demand for high-end products, notably non-corrective lenses.
The health crisis led to store closures, but the market has picked up again, as optical products are essential for a large proportion of the population.
French manufacturers, renowned for their high-end offerings, are thriving in export markets, while there is intense competition among local retailers within the country.
In the domestic market, sales of optical products have seen a moderate but steady increase over the years.
Healthcare costs linked to medical optics have risen, representing around 3% of overall consumption of medical care and goods.
Some 67% of the French population opt for prescription eyewear, with a tendency to favor glasses over contact lenses as age increases.
Key players in the global optical market
- Esilor Luxottica: an eyewear giant
- Krys: key player in the French eyewear market, distributor and manufacturer
- Optic 2000: a well-established cooperative in the French market thanks to
- Alain Afflelou: well-known network in France
- Atol: another well-known cooperative group.
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Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Definition and presentation
The optics market includes items and accessories worn on the eyes. Optical equipment can be worn for a variety of reasons, but among the most common are use as an accessory, to correct visual disorders or to protect the eyes. The three largest categories in the eyewear industry are:
- Eyewear ;
- Sunglasses;
- Contact lenses.
The optical industry thus encompasses all the players and processes involved in the design, production and sale of the aforementioned items. On a global level, the market's growth prospects are very promising, with a growth rate of 8.5% between 2023 and 2030. The aging of the population and the evolution of life expectancy around the world mean that the number of people needing eyeglasses or contact lenses is set to rise. This upward trend is also reinforced by rising disposable incomes, which should continue to drive the premiumization of the eyewear industry in all segments, especially non-corrective lenses.
The market has been affected by the health crisis, with store closures and confinements. However, the optical market is a consolidated one, and despite sales declines in 2020 for many brands, there is little doubt that this vital market will recover.
While many high-end French manufacturers are performing well on the export market, many local retailers are in fierce competition with each other.
2023 was a record year for the optical sector in France (4.5% growth over 2022), and 2024 is full of challenges: rising costs, falling consumer purchasing power, the threat of the PLFSS, low wages for employees in the sector...
1.2 A fast-growing global market
Global market size
Optical market size World, ****-****, in billions of US$ CAGR (***): +*.* CAGR (***): +*.*% Source: ****
The global optical market, which includes eyewear, contact lenses, sunglasses and other eyewear products, was estimated to be worth around US$ ***.** billion in **** and is expected to reach a value of US$ ***.** billion by ****.
There are ...
1.3 A growing national market
The optics market comprises articles, accessories and services relating to eyes and vision, and is generated mainly by the sale of pairs of prescription and sunglasses (***), contact lenses, opticians and optical stores.
Optical market value France, ****-****, in millions of euros Source: ****
By ****, optical sales have been estimated at *.* billion euros, ...
1.4 Optical foreign trade
Here we consider the data provided by UN Comtrade for the following product categories:
**** **** **** And their sub-categories
These three codes include eyeglasses, contact lenses, sunglasses and frames.
Foreign trade in optics France, ****-****, in millions of US$ Source: ****
The chart above illustrates France's trade in eyewear. It shows that France ...
2 Demand analysis
2.1 Incompressible demand and rising healthcare costs
A large proportion of demand still unaddressed
Figures provided by Santé.gouv show that a significant proportion of the population suffers from uncorrected or poorly corrected vision disorders. This proportion increases with the age of the population: for example, it is estimated that almost **% of women between the ages of ** and ...
2.2 A French preference for glasses
A strong preference for glasses, and age has a major influence
The French and optical equipment France, ****, in percent Source: ****
In ****, **% of French people wear only prescription glasses, and this varies by age:
**% of those aged ** and over **% of **-** year-olds
[***]
What drives the use of prescription eyewear?
Occasions ...
2.3 Sunglasses
In ****, the global sunglasses market will reach ** billion, with ** pairs of sunglasses sold every second. This market is estimated to reach ** billion in ****. [***]
What type of sunglasses?
Do you wear corrected sunglasses for your eyesight? France, ****, in % Source: ****
In ****, nearly one in seven French people (***) wore corrected sunglasses for their eyesight, ...
2.4 Lenses, increasingly popular
French contact lens market to reach 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 ever-increasing share of that market : it represented *% of the market in ...
2.5 Where to buy, online sales: a new distribution channel with advantages and disadvantages
Here are the results of a **** survey about where to buy eyewear:
Eyewear purchase location France, ****, in % Source: ****
Traditional opticians were far behind, with **% of respondents buying their glasses at home, far ahead of low-cost chains (***). In ****, **% of lens wearers said they regularly bought online, and **% of those who didn't declared ...
3 Market structure
3.1 The care pathway and the various healthcare professionals involved
Here's a diagram showing the market structure:
Only an ophthalmologist (***). 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 valid for one year, and once renewed, lenses can be purchased for a further * years. ...
3.2 Optical equipment production in France
The eyewear and contact lens production process
The production sites of the optical market are diverse, from the big leaders established in France to the historic houses and the new brands and start-ups that are emerging. Depending on the range, spectacles and lenses are not all manufactured in the same ...
3.3 Distribution in the optical market
Overview of the optical retailing
Here, we consider the data provided by NAF code **.**A "Optical retailing", which includes the activities of opticians.
Number of establishments under code **.**A France, ****-****, in units Source : URSSAF Workforce under code **.**A France, ****-****, in units Source: ****
In contrast to thelens and eyewear manufacturing ...
3.4 Market players
Lens manufacturers
EssilorLuxottica (***), world leader with its subsidiaries BBGR and Shamir, Hoya (***) Carl Zeiss (***) Rodenstock (***) Seiko (***) Ophtalmic (***) Novacel (***)
This handful of players would account for over **% of the market for spectacle lenses sold in France in ****.
Opticians
Source: ****
A OpinionWay survey in February **** for MPF Conseil revealed the following ranking of ...
4 Offer analysis
4.1 Market products
General overview
Broadly speaking, the three main sectors of the eyewear industry include :
Eyewear (***) Sunglasses Contact lenses
The product range is broad, and is measured according to the different needs of the eye. Glasses with different types of lenses, contact lenses, sunglasses with polarized lenses or different colors for a specific ...
4.2 Eyeglass and contact lens prices
In the optical sector, price variations are significant and depend on various parameters such as lens type, quality, production location and production chain. The distribution channel also plays a role; glasses can be sold in pharmacies, opticians, supermarkets, etc.
Looking at the data provided by INSEE for the "medical optics" category, ...
4.3 New concepts and new products
New concepts
Relying on digital and "cross channel" devices , brands are developing new store concepts.
Atol, for example, introduced a point-of-sale concept in June **** that relies on digital applications from its Atol Pro to attract new franchisees and strengthen its network.
Atol stores are equipped with an "Atol Pro" digital solution ...
5 Regulations
5.1 The importance of the regulatory environment
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 Reimbursement amounts and coverage
The regulatory environment is of paramount importance in France, and new regulations can alter the structure of demand. The new **** regulations capping the reimbursement of glasses and limiting the renewal of glasses to once every two years are thus said to be responsible for the slower growth in the market since ...
5.3 A new stage in zero out-of-pocket expenses in 2020
From January *, ****, entry-level "no out-of-pocket expenses" offers (***) or CMU-c.
The ***% health care reform offers services and equipment in a specific basket comprising * care categories: optical, dental and audiology. The equipment and services contained in these baskets will be fully covered. The optical and dental baskets in the ***% offer will be available ...
6 Positioning the players
6.1 Optical market segmentation
- Polette
- Optique E.Leclerc
- Lunettes pour tous
- Otiko
- Mister Spex
- GrandVision
- Optic 2000
- MB production
- Optical Center
- Coffignon
- Marcolin (LVMH Groupe)
- Essilor Luxottica groupe
- Afflelou
- Krys Group
- Kering Eyewear
- Générale d'optique (GrandVision)
- Direct Optic (Acuitis Groupe)
- Easy Verres
- Easy Lunettes
- MyMonture
- L'Opticien qui bouge
- Optique Lafayette (Laf Santé Groupe)
- Optical Discount
- Lissac (Optic 2000)
- Thélios (LVMH Groupe)
- Fittingbox
List of charts presented in this market study
- Optical market size
- Proportion of the population wearing glasses and contact lenses
- Optical market value
- Medical optics consumption
- Structure of optical spending
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the optical market | France
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