Lacrimal Devices Market Size, Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Product Type (Lacrimal Cannula, Punctal Plugs, Lacrimal Stents, Lacrimal Dilator, and Others), By Material (Silicone, Stainless Steel, and Others), By Indication (Dry Eye, Epiphora, Glaucoma, and Others), By End-User (Hospitals, Specialty Clinics, and Others), and Regional Forecast till 2032

Lacrimal devices are the medical instruments or tools that are designed to treat and diagnose the medical conditions related to a lacrimal system. This includes the tear ducts and associated structures of the eye to be diagnosed and treat. Moreover, lacrimal devices act as an ophthalmic protective system and aid in keeping the eyes moist as well as free from dust particles. These devices are used for various purposes, such as relieving blocked tear ducts, facilitating tear drainage, and collecting the tears for diagnostic purposes.

Lacrimal devices can be used to treat drainage obstruction, which occurs when the tear ducts are blocked, and tears cannot drain properly. A lacrimal stent is used to intubate the tear drainage apparatus, particularly in cases of dacryocystorhinostomy. Increase in prevalence of nasolacrimal duct obstruction, especially among the infants boost the adoption of lacrimal devices, thereby driving the market growth.

• According to an article published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), in August 2023, the prevalence of nasolacrimal duct obstruction among infants was nearly 6% to 20%.

In addition, lacrimal devices have wide applications in conditions such as dry eye, glaucoma, lacrimal gland inflammation, epiphora (excessive tears), and others. Furthermore, the rise in the global prevalence of such conditions has increased the demand for the development of innovative lacrimal devices, which boosts the global market growth.

• According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the global glaucoma-affected population of will increase to 111.8 million by 2040.

Moreover, manufacturers in the market are increasingly investing in R&D activities to develop novel products. They are highly involved in strategic partnerships and collaborations to increase their market presence, thereby contributing to the growth of the global market. Moreover, prominent market players are investigating materials that are biocompatible and can be used in lacrimal devices to enhance their durability and safety.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Lacrimal Devices Market

The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the lacrimal devices market in 2020. During the pandemic, several elective or non-urgent procedures were canceled or postponed, which led to a backlog of cases as well as delayed treatment for many individuals. Furthermore, supply chain disruptions and the temporary closure of healthcare facilities affected the provision of services and reduced the access to care for individuals with lacrimal system disorders.

• For instance, according to the NCBI, in November 2020, approximately 87% surgeons agreed that lacrimal procedures possess high risk of COVID-19 transmission. Hence, according to the survey 151/259 (58.3%) of the surgeons stopped performing each lacrimal surgery because of COVID-19 pandemic and 71/259 (27.4%) were only performing emergency lacrimal surgeries.

However, the market regained its momentum due to increase in number of surgeries which were postponed during 2020. This increased the volume of surgeries in the next year, leading to the market growth. Moreover, the adoption of telehealth and virtual consultations increased post pandemic, which allowed healthcare professionals to assess patients remotely and advise them regarding lacrimal disorders. These solutions ensured the continued care for patients and thus mitigated the impact of restrictions.

Segmentation

Key Insights

The report will cover the following key insights:

• Prevalence of Key Diseases by Key Countries, 2022


• New Product Launches


• Key Industry Developments (Mergers, Acquisitions, Partnerships, etc.)


• Impact of COVID-19 on the market

Analysis by Product Type

Based on product type, the lacrimal stents segment accounted for the largest revenue share of the global lacrimal devices market. The segment growth is driven by the advantages of lacrimal stents, such as providing suitable circumferential force to facilitate post-DCR healing, maintaining patency of the lacrimal pathway between the surface of the eye and nasal passage, and maintaining the patency of the drainage system in obstruction and laceration of canaliculi.

• According to an article published by the NCBI, in February 2020, lacrimal stent intubation was one of the most commonly performed primary procedures in children, with a success rate of procedures ranging from 41.1% to 100%.

A rise in the number of procedures has resulted to an increased utilization of lacrimal stents, driving the segmental growth.

The punctal plug segment is projected to expand at a noteworthy CAGR over the forecast period. The growing demand for minimally invasive procedures fuels the adoption of punctal plug, propelling the market growth. Moreover, the efficiency of punctal plug in dry eye management and other related conditions, availability of flexible treatment plans, and minimal side effects, makes it a better treatment option, increasing its demand.

Regional Analysis

North America dominated the global lacrimal devices market with the highest revenue share and is expected to maintain its dominance over the forecast period. The growth is credited to the rising incidence of eye diseases and the availability of advanced products for treatment. Moreover, the industry expansion is propelled by high disposable income and increasing awareness regarding the treatment of eye diseases.

• In 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 4.1 million are affected by diabetic retinopathy and 899,000 Americans with vision-threatening retinopathy.

Asia Pacific is forecasted to grow at a rapid pace in the coming years. The growth can be attributed to research and development activities to develop more advanced treatments. In addition, the government initiatives for various eye ailments and the increasing incidence of diabetes and obesity have led to an increase in ophthalmic conditions, thereby driving the market growth.

Key Players Covered

The report includes the profiles of key players such as FCI, Kaneka Medical America LLC., Lacremedics (INNOVIA MEDICAL), BVI, RUMEX International Co, Walsh Medical Devices Inc., Aurolab, Gunther Weiss Scientific, Surtex Instruments Limited., OASIS Medical, and others.

Key Industry Developments

• In January 2022, Kaneka Medical America LLC., a manufacturer of lacrimal devices, announced plans to construct a new medical device manufacturing facility, including lacrimal devices in Hokkaido’s Tomakomai Tohbu Industrial Area in northern Japan. This operation has been scheduled to begin in May 2024.


• In July 2021, FCI Ophthalmics, Inc. announced the launch of LacriJet in the U.S. It was the first nasolacrimal intubation preloaded on an injector.


• In March 2021, INNOVIA MEDICAL acquired Lacremedics, a manufacturer and distributor of occlusion therapy devices for the treatment of dry eye disease. Through this acquisition INNOVIA MEDICAL expanded its existing ophthalmic product line.