Spherical Contact Lenses Market Size, Share, and Industry Analysis, By Material (Silicone Hydrogel, Hydrogel, and Others), By Usage (Disposable and Reusable), By Application (Myopia, Hyperopia Presbyopia, and Others), By Distribution Channel (Hospitals & Clinics, Retail Stores, and Online Stores), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

Spherical contact lenses are a type of ocular prosthetic device, which is used for the correction of vision. These lenses are thin and placed directly on the surface of the eyes to address several visual impairment conditions. They are often used at the early stage of keratoconus, a condition with an irregular corneal surface. The lenses further consist of soft spherical lenses, spherical gas permeable lenses, and hybrid spherical lenses. These types of lenses are chosen depending on the condition's stage. Soft lenses are preferred for mild cases of astigmatism, spherical gas permeable lenses are used for more extreme cases of astigmatism, and hybrid spherical lenses are used for more severe cases.

The growth of the spherical contact lenses market is attributed to the increasing demand for applications, such as correcting vision issues, including myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, and astigmatism, across the globe. The high efficacy of these lenses in correcting these conditions is expected to fuel their adoption among several patients, driving the market growth in the forthcoming years.

Furthermore, this adoption is expected to be propelled by the rising incidence of such conditions. The high burden of such conditions increases the recommendation of spherical contact lenses by ophthalmologists globally. As a result, a large number of patients opt for spherical contact lenses, which is expected to boost their demand, thereby propelling the market growth in the coming years.

• For instance, in December 2021, according to Eyes On Eyecare, myopia affected around 20.0% of the global population.

Moreover, key players in the market are focusing on advancing their manufacturing process, which enables the production of customized spherical contact lenses. This provides superior comfort and vision correction for patients with different visual conditions, thereby increasing the popularity of these lenses.

Additionally, advancements in designs, such as soft lenses, rigid gas-permeable lenses, and hybrid lenses combining gas-permeable and soft materials, further enhance comfort and visual sharpness. This is expected to surge the availability and demand for spherical contact lenses during the forecast period.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the decreased demand for spherical contact lenses in 2020. This decreased demand was attributed to the decline in the number of patient visits to ophthalmology hospitals, resulting in less detection of visual impairment conditions. Additionally, several patients shifted toward eyeglasses, ultimately decreasing the sales of contact lenses, including spherical contact lenses.

• For instance, in December 2021, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), the field of ophthalmology experienced a decline of 81.0% in patient volume in March and April of 2020. This decline, leading to less detection of visual impairment conditions, impacted the sale of contact lenses, including spherical contact lenses. Therefore, the market growth declined during the pandemic.

Segmentation

Key Insights

The report covers the following key insights:

• Prevalence of Key Eye Diseases, by Key Countries/Sub-region, 2023


• New Product Launches by Key Players


• Key Industry Developments (Mergers, Acquisitions, and Partnerships)


• Impact of COVID-19 on the Market

Analysis by Material

Based on material, the market is segmented into silicone hydrogel, hydrogel, and others. The silicone hydrogel segment is expected to hold a significant share of the global spherical contact lenses market during the forecast period. Silicone hydrogel lenses offer high oxygen permeability and transmissibility, which makes them more comfortable for long-term use. They are also suitable for patients with eye allergies or lens-related issues. This durability and benefits in several complications is increasing the use of silicone hydrogel in the spherical contact lenses, which is expected to boost the segment growth during the forecast period.

• For instance, as of 2024, according to CooperVision, silicone hydrogels are the most recent in a line of developments meant to increase the oxygen permeability in contact lenses.


• For instance, in February 2021, according to Lenstore.co.uk., silicone hydrogels allowed up to five times more oxygen than regular hydrogel lenses to reach the cornea.

On the other hand, the hydrogel segment is expected to grow at a substantial CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to the benefits of hydrogel over silicone hydrogel in spherical contact lenses. These benefits include improved comfort and flexibility due to their thin and conforming nature to the eye's surface. Hydrogel lenses, being water-based gel-like plastics, are popular for their comfortable fit and minimal adjustment time. This significant amount of water content makes them more hydrating for the eyes. These advantages of hydrogel materials over silicone hydrogel are expected to boost their utilization, thereby spurring the segment growth during the forecast period.

Regional Analysis

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The global market is geographically segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America is anticipated to hold a significant share of the spherical contact lenses market during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to the increasing geriatric population in the region. The aged individuals are at high risk of visual impairment due to presbyopia, for which spherical contact lenses are being highly prescribed in the region. Moreover, the presence of key players in the region ensures the availability of such lenses to meet the rising demand. This is expected to boost the regional market growth during the forecast period.

• For instance, in August 2023, according to the American Optometric Association, presbyopia affected an estimated 128.0 million or 90.0% of individuals over the age of 45 in the U.S.

Asia Pacific is projected to expand at a substantial CAGR in the forthcoming years. The surge in the online purchase of contact lenses, including spherical contact lenses in the region, is anticipated to fuel the Asia Pacific market growth during the forecast period. Online stores, such as Lenskart, have increased accessibility by providing a convenient and efficient way for consumers to purchase spherical contact lenses from the comfort of their homes. This is further expected to enhance the sales of these lenses, which will boost the regional market growth during the forecast timeframe.

Key Players Covered

The report includes the profiles of key players, such as Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., Alcon, Bausch + Lomb, CooperVision, Menicon Co., Ltd., SEED Co., Ltd., Essilor Ltd, MIACARE, and St. Shine Optical Co., Ltd.

Key Industry Developments

• In March 2023, CooperVision introduced MyDay Energys contact lenses to its existing MyDay family, which includes the MyDay sphere in the U.S. This launch addressed the symptoms of pervasive digital eye strain.


• In June 2022, Bausch + Lomb announced the U.S. launch of Revive custom soft contact lenses. This was available in toric, spherical multifocal, and multifocal toric options.


• In April 2021, Menicon Co., Ltd. collaborated with Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. to bring forward therapeutic contact lenses, including spherical contact lenses, to manage myopia in children.