Alongside online sales, subscription services are driving growth in the global contact lens market, according to Research & Markets’ Contact Lens 2022 Global Market Report.

This paradigm shift in consumer purchasing habits is powered by a boom in e-commerce, coupled with the ongoing shift towards disposable lenses. Disposables have a planned replacement regime, ranging from daily to quarterly to annually, authors noted. “This factor has played an important role in expanding the market for mail-order and online stores as these providers offer a quick and easy way to order and purchase lenses. Though contact lenses are treated as medical devices, consumers often forego ocular health exams while obtaining replacement lenses from online retailers.” 

While the Internet represents the fastest growing retail channel in the total prescription contact lens market, wearers are increasingly attracted to the subscription model, the report said. Combining the convenience of delivery and payments, it mails contacts directly to the patient’s home at regular intervals for a monthly subscription price, which can be combined with services such as vision insurance.  

Overall, the report found growth in the global market is sustained by growing awareness of the use of contact lenses to correct vision disorders, growing incidence of ophthalmic or vision-related disorders, convenience, favourable demographics and rapid penetration of high-value products. Awareness programmes conducted in various developing countries are expected to continue to boost demand for vision-care devices, including contact lenses, authors concluded.  

Amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, the global market for contact lenses (estimated at US$13 billion in 2022) is projected to reach a revised size of US$15.8 billion by 2026, growing by 5.5% annually during the period analysed.