The optical market - France

The optical market encompasses all vision-related products and services, including eyewear (corrective lenses and frames), sunglasses and contact lenses. It is based on an eco-system structured around several players: lens and frame manufacturers, independent opticians and chain stores, as well as online sales platforms. Opticians play a central role, combining trade and health expertise, helping customers choose and adjust their equipment. This market is highly regulated, notably with the 100% Health reform, which has changed the reimbursement terms for optical equipment. in 2023, 21.8% of corrective eyewear delivered was fully reimbursed, compared with just 9.2% in 2018 (Octika). This trend reflects strong consumer expectations for easier access to vision care, despite the dominance of corrective lenses in optical spending (65% in 2023), far ahead of frames (25%) and contact lenses (10%) (Santé.gouv). The financing of optical care relies mainly on complementary organizations (mutual insurance companies and insurance companies), which will cover 66.1% of optical expenditure in 2023, compared with 30.3% borne by households and only 3.5% covered by Social Security (Drees). Moreover, the aging of the population is fuelling demand for optical equipment: the proportion of the population aged 65 and over has risen from 12.7% in 1970 to 21.3% in 2023 (INSEE). Among this age group, 60.8% of men and 58.2% of women claim to have a well-corrected visual problem, compared with just 24% of men and 33.1% of women aged 15-24. However, despite growing demand, medical follow-up remains uneven: in March 2024, 58% of French people consulted an ophthalmologist at least once a year, while 9% never or very rarely consulted one(IFOP). What's more, the French market is still dominated by chain stores, which, despite accounting for 49% of sales outlets, capture 75% of sales, while independents (51% of stores) generate only 25% of the market (Extencia). This concentration is reinforced by the stranglehold of the major players: optic 2000, Krys, Afflelou and Atol hold 60% of the market, while Générale d'Optique, GrandVision and Optical Center capture a further 15%, leaving only 25% for other players (Extencia). Despite the rise of digital technology, e-commerce is struggling to establish itself in the optical sector: by 2023, it will account for just 7% of the French optical products market (Extencia), and for contact lenses, 90% of sales still go through physical stores (Octika). This trend is explained by the need for personalized follow-up and precise adjustment, which only an optician can provide. At the same time, the contact lens segment is going through a crisis in France. Whereas in other European countries, such as Belgium (+19%) and Sweden (+8.55%), the adoption of contact lenses is on the rise, in France their use dropped by -6.6% in 2023, with only 4.8% of French people wearing lenses (Octika). Recently, the optical market has undergone a major technological transformation with the rise of 3D printing and artificial intelligence:

3D printing is revolutionizing eyewear, enabling greater personalization and optimized production. in March 2025, Thélios (LVMH) unveiled Dior3D, a collection of glasses 3D printed with selective laser sintering (SLS) technology, offering lightness, robustness and innovative design (MIDO 2025).