Eyewear Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Contact Lenses, Spectacles, Sunglasses), By Distribution Channel, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030

Report Overview

The global eyewear market size was valued at USD 157.9 billion in 2021. It is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4% from 2022 to 2030. The changing lifestyle patterns and increasing adoption of luxurious accessories among millennials strongly favor market growth. Encouraged by the burgeoning product demand, the eyewear makers focus on developing attractive and affordable eyewear. They are introducing new designs and patterns to quickly respond to the ongoing fashion trends and attract fashion enthusiasts. The continuous efforts of the leading market players to acquire new customers and retain the existing ones are positively influencing the market statistics.

The companies are inclined to enhance the consumer experience by offering new facilities and innovative products. For instance, in July 2021, Essilor introduced the My Vision Check app to let users conduct screening at home before booking an appointment for a complete eye examination with their local practice. In the same period, Warby Parker also revamped its virtual prescription-renewal service with the launch of its new app dubbed Virtual Vision Test, which offers an at-home vision test similar to what eye specialists provide. It provides a renewed prescription that the consumers can purchase glasses or contact lenses.

The increased distribution further propels the market growth through e-commerce websites and the proliferation of social media. The eyewear companies are widely advertising on popular social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, which offer them an opportunity to analyze audience preferences, thereby offering specially curated products. These platforms help companies incorporate innovative marketing strategies such as influencer and affiliate marketing to make their business more profitable.

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has also positively impacted the market. As a result of the implementation of remote working models and online learning due to the lockdown restrictions, people spent more time on smartphones, laptops, and desktops. The longer screen times urged consumers to spend on anti-fatigue and vision correction glasses, allowing the eyewear companies to increase the sales of blue light canceling and anti-fatigue lenses.

Product Insights

The spectacles segment accounted for more than 55% in 2021, which can be credited to the increased product demand fueled by the rising prevalence of computer vision syndrome (CVS). This is majorly due to the increasing usage of mobile phones and digital screens among the global population. The growing trend of online learning, especially during the pandemic, has increased the cases of CVS among children, stimulating the adoption of anti-glare and anti-fatigue glasses. Moreover, the growing popularity of clear eyeglasses and bright translucent glasses has also augmented the demand for spectacles.

The contact lenses segment captured a substantial revenue share of around 33% in 2021. It is expected to grow significantly over the upcoming years with light-adaptive lenses and multifocal toric lenses. These modern lenses quickly and smoothly change according to different lighting conditions, which reduces irritation and dryness often caused by the contact lenses. The ongoing research and development of contact lenses with improved aesthetics and quality will further support the segment growth.

Distribution Channel Insights

The brick-and-mortar segment had dominated the market by capturing a notable revenue share of more than 79% in 2021. This can be attributed to people’s increasing awareness regarding regular eye-checks up and usage of eyeglasses, instigating the sale of eyeglasses from brick and mortar stores. Several companies are focusing on expanding their stores to gain a competitive edge in the market. For instance, in January 2022, Lenskart opened 73 stores across 19 Indian states and announced its plans to open 400 more stores. The segment had witnessed a slight decline in revenue share during the pandemic due to the lockdowns restrictions in several countries. However, lifting restrictions and higher consumer preference for physical stores will favor the segment growth in the coming years. 

The e-commerce segment is expected to witness a growth rate of over 9.0% through 2030. Online services gained massive traction during the pandemic as people were forced to practice social isolation. In addition, heightened adoption of smart devices, lucrative discounts offered by the online platforms, and the ability to compare prices and features offered are positively influencing the growth of the e-commerce segment. Besides, the e-commerce websites also allow users to provide reviews about products, which improves the user experience and helps companies understand consumer preferences which, in turn, stimulates the segment expansion.

Regional Insights

Europe dominated the market in 2021 by accounting for a revenue share of over 27%, owing to increasing demand for eyewear such as sunglasses, colored contact lenses, and frames as fashion accessories. The region is a hub for various major fashion brands, such as Guccio Gucci S.p.A., Prada S.p.A., TOM FORD, and Christian Dior, which offers a lucrative space for the market. Moreover, the market is highly regulated, as sunglasses and eyewear products are considered personal protective equipment (PPE) in EU countries, mandating the suppliers to adhere to the directives.

North America held a significant revenue share of over 32.0% in 2021, owing to a well-established e-commerce delivery system in the region, which improves the user experience regarding eye power consultation and selection of spectacles. For eye clinics and doctors to provide scheduled appointments and telemedicine visits, the American Academy of Ophthalmology has developed guidelines. The availability of these services coupled with increased local production in the region creates positive growth prospects for the market.  

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The major players operating in the market mainly focus on increasing R&D activities and developing products with high-end functionalities, e.g., smart glasses. They are also engaging in strategic alliances to strengthen their foothold in the market. For instance, in September 2021, Meta (former Facebook) and Ray-Ban launched Stories, smart glasses equipped with dual 5-megapixel cameras that capture images and 30-second long videos. The glasses come with external-facing LED lights to indicate that the cameras are working. Moreover, its temples serve as earphones and have touch-activated controls for calls, volume, and music playback.

The companies also emphasize the development of products that can help address climate changes and facilitate sustainability. They are coming up with recycled eyewear using plastic waste from the sea, recycled wood, and recycled metal. To illustrate, in August 2021, JINS Eyewear US, Inc. launched a new range of biodegradable sunglasses under its popular JINS&SUN brand.

Some of the eminent players operating in the global eyewear market are:

• Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.

• ESSILORLUXOTTICA

• CooperVision

• Carl Zeiss AG.

• Bausch & Lomb Inc.

• Safilo Group S.p.A.

• Charmant Group

• Chemilens (CHEMIGLAS Corp.)

• CIBA VISION

• De Rigo Vision S.p.A

• Fielmann AG

• HOYA Corporation

• JINS, Inc.

• Marchon Eyewear, Inc.

• Marcolin S.p.A

• QSpex

• Rodenstock GmbH

• Seiko Optical Products Co., Ltd.

• Shamir Optical Industry Ltd.

• Silhouette International Schmied AG

• Warby Parker

• Zenni Optical, Inc.

Eyewear Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and analyzes the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global eyewear market report based on product, distribution channel, and region:

• Product Outlook (Volume, Million Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Contact Lenses

    • Premium Contact Lenses

    • Mass Contact Lenses

  • Spectacles

    • Spectacle Frames

      • Type

        • Premium Spectacle Frames

        • Mass Spectacle Frames

      • Style

        • Round

        • Square

        • Rectangle

        • Oval

        • Others

    • Spectacle Lenses

  • Sunglasses

    • Lens Type

      • Polarized Sunglasses

      • Non-Polarized Sunglasses

    • Lens Material

      • CR-39

      • Polycarbonate

      • Polyurethane

      • Others

• Distribution Channel Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • E-Commerce

  • Brick & Mortar

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Million Units; Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

    • Vietnam

  • South America

    • Brazil

  • MEA