The latest insights and analysis about the international eyewear market including market sizes, growth, drivers and trends on a country, regional and global level.
Latest Data & Analysis
ArticleFrench optical market driven by health care needs rather than fashion or promotions, new research stresses
A comprehensive survey of 3,000 French glasses wearers by the country’s main opticians’ association shows that the vast majority prioritise medical necessity over fashion when purchasing new eyewear, with 92% citing visual needs as their primary motivation for renewal.
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Myopia management lens market up approximately 20% in Europe
The market for myopia management lenses in four key European markets (France, Germany, Italy and Spain) rose by 18 percent in value to €48 million in the first half of 2024, according to a report by NIQ-GfK. The research company also found that the market for myopia management contact lenses ...
ArticleFrench consumers spent €8.3bn on eyeglasses and contact lenses last year
The value of the French optical market rose by 3.4 percent year on year to approximately €8.3 billion in 2024, according to the latest annual report by DREES, the national research and statistic office on the healthcare sector. This marks a slight deceleration from the previous year, when optical expenses ...
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Report highlights generational gap in contact lens perception
Younger generations seem to be more interested in technical advancements in contact lenses, according to a survey of 1,308 US and Canadian people with correction needs that was commissioned by the Contact Lens Institute (CLI), the US contact lens industry association.
ArticleEyewear stock prices up 11 percent in Q3
The share price of stock listed eyewear companies rose by 11 percent quarter on quarter and on a non-weighted average basis in Q2 2025, outperforming an average of five international stock exchange indexes (see table below). Their growth in Q3 was almost identical to the turbulent previous quarter (10 percent) ...
ArticleItalian H1 eyewear down 4% as Europe, China and others partially offset US collapse
The value of Italian eyewear exports in the first half of 2025 fell by 3.7 percent to €2,779 million, dragged down by the collapse of the US market in the wake of tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, data from eyewear trade association ANFAO showed.
VSP launches 3rd innovation challenge, scans the “patient of the future”
VSP Vision, in partnership with Topcon Healthcare and Silicon Foundry, a venture capital firm investing in early-stage technology companies, is launching its third Innovation Challenge, “a worldwide call for visionary solutions that elevate the eye care experience and empower optometrists.”
Spanish optical market up 3% in 2024 despite flattish lens sales
The value of the Spanish optical market rose to €2,165 million in 2024 from €2,104 million in 2023 (restated from €2,021 million as announced a year ago) according to the annual report of FEDAO, the country’s federation of optical associations. Last year’s 2.9 percent growth marks a deceleration from 2023 ...
As wearers base stagnates, sales mix and price hikes drive the European contact lens market
According to Euromcontact, the European federation of national associations and international contact lens manufacturers, the soft contact lenses grew by of 7.1 percent to €2,328 million last year compared to 2023 in the “EMEA zone” which includes 25 countries in Europe plus a few others (South Africa, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, ...
UK parents confused over children’s eye care, survey says
According to a survey by the British online parenting platform Mumsnet, parents worry more about children’s teeth than their eyes, the dental check-up outranking the eye test by about ten percentage points. These exams, Mumsnet specifies, are “very important” for 89 and 79 percent of parents, respectively.
How will US consumers react to higher eyewear price tags?
The announcement by US President Donald Trump of wide-ranging and higher-than-expected “reciprocal tariffs” last week has left the global economy reeling, particularly in Asia where post-COVID supply chain reroutings aimed at “derisking” China became much less relevant overnight.
Optometry on the decline in Spain
The country isn’t producing enough professionals, says FEDAO.
Sustained growth in the Polish eyewear market partly driven by e-commerce boom
Eyewear retail sales rose by 8 percent year on year to 3.6 billion Polish zloty (€870m) last year and are expected to keep growing significantly in 2025.
Eyewear consumers seek value for money, digital channel gains importance but stores resilient
Consumers are still facing a challenging economic situation in Europe and the US, with “value for money” now being the priority for many people purchasing eyewear, according to an analysis of consumer trends in the eyewear markets of the US, Italy, France and Germany carried out by NIQ GfK in ...