Ocular Adhesives And Sealants Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (Synthetic, Natural), By Application (Tissue Engineering, Conjunctival Surgery), By End-use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030

Report Overview

The global ocular adhesives and sealants market size was valued at USD 136.7 million in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.28% from 2022 to 2030. The primary factor fueling the growth of the market is the rising demand for these products as an alternative to traditional suture procedures. The market is expanding as a result of rising ophthalmic surgical procedures and technological advancements. The demand for better surgical treatment is increasing, which is helping the market grow. The risk of viral illness transmission, however, is a significant barrier impeding the industry growth. The market for ocular sealants and glues is also being constrained by the high cost of developing and releasing new products.

Ocular sealants are an adhesive substance used in ophthalmology as an adjunct to surgical wound closure. Ocular sealants and glues are now used in all areas of ophthalmology, including corneal and conjunctiva surgery, cataract surgery, and refractive surgery, due to their numerous benefits. In ophthalmology, sutures must be placed carefully as they cause irritation and redness. The suture-related problems include postoperative wound infection and corneal graft rejection. Ophthalmic surgeons are preferring suture-less surgery to avoid these issues. Fibrin glue is used majorly as the optical adhesive and it shortens the length of the procedure. Contrary to traditional suturing, the use of adhesive has been demonstrated to reduce the likelihood of post-operative wound infection.

The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the demand for ocular adhesives and sealants. The spread of Covid-19 resulted in extreme hesitation in seeking elective healthcare such as refractive and cataract surgeries. Hence, the number of surgical procedures dropped historically. According to the NCBI, almost 97% lesser number of cataract surgeries were reported in the early phase of the pandemic than every year. Moreover, many patients avoided coming to the hospitals and clinics voluntarily as the fear of getting infected was high. Therefore, a 60-80% decrease in patient flow can be seen during the pandemic era. However, considering the urgency, cataract surgical procedures returned to almost pre-COVID levels in the later few weeks. According to a survey conducted by the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, the ophthalmology sector has registered a bigger reduction in patient volume than other specialties.

The increased prevalence of ophthalmic disorders is majorly driving the market. According to the World Health Organization, there are currently almost 2.2 billion vision impairments worldwide, of which at least 1 billion could have been avoided or have not yet been addressed. In the U.S., 12 million people aged 40 and older have vision impairment, of which 1 million are blind, 3 million have vision impairment after correction, and 8 million have it because of uncorrected refractive error. Approximately 2,000 American workers suffer work-related eye injuries each day, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). These injuries require medical attention. Approximately 1.3 million Americans over the age of 40 are totally blind, approximately 4.2 Americans over the age of 40 are visually impaired, and more than 150 million Americans require corrective lenses for refractive problems, according to statistics provided by the CDC and the AAO.

Due to their improved biocompatibility, increased binding forces, and quick sealing capabilities, more recent ocular sealants such as bio-dendrimers sealants and photo cross-linkable adhesives are in high demand. Ocular glues and sealants are becoming more widely accepted on a global scale as there are some issues with sutures, such as inflammation, discomfort, an increased risk of infection, and a longer healing time. Furthermore, ocular sealants have enhanced eye vision, decreased surgery time, and decreased the rate of enucleation. These ocular sealants are applied in wound reconstitution to enhance post-operative conditions while maintaining the integrity of the wound. Each form of ocular sealants and glues has unique benefits and drawbacks, and as a result, they are used in various indications.

Type Insights

The natural segment held the largest revenue share of over 55.0% in 2021. Natural or biological sealants and adhesives are further classified into fibrin, collagen-based, and gelatin-based. Among these, fibrin sealants held the largest revenue share in 2021 owing to their broad applications in medical practice. Fibrin sealants are among the most effective tissue adhesives, which are biocompatible and biodegradable.  The fibrin sealants consist of purified, human thrombin, virus-inactivated human fibrinogen, and at times added elements, such as bovine aprotinin and virus-inactivated human factor XIII. The use of fibrin sealants improves the time to hemostasis, lowers blood loss, and reduces complications, all of which have a positive impact on surgical results.

The synthetic segment is classified into urethane-based adhesives, polyethylene glycol adhesives, and cyanoacrylates. The urethane-based adhesives have captured the largest revenue share in 2021. Polyethylene glycol adhesives are expected to expand at a lucrative CAGR during the forecast period. However, factors such as intense inflammatory response when exposed to non-cutaneous surfaces, restricted usage in internal surgeries, higher cost, and the requirement for a skilled workforce are expected to hinder the market growth.

End-use Insights

The ophthalmic clinics segment led the market in 2021 with a revenue share of over 40.0%. This is attributed to the rising cases of ophthalmic surgeries including cataract surgery and refractive surgery in a specialized ophthalmic clinic. The ophthalmic clinics are fully equipped with advanced instruments and have skilled ophthalmologists to carry out an operation, hence people tend to prefer ophthalmic clinics more than hospitals.

The hospitals segment is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period owing to a large number of patient visits and the presence of skilled ophthalmologists. This is due to the increasing number of patients opting for ophthalmic surgeries in hospitals as compared to clinics and specialty eye institutes. The growing incidence of refractive disorders and increasing spending on healthcare infrastructure are factors expected to fuel the growth of the hospitals segment over the forecast period.

Application Insights

The tissue engineering segment held the largest revenue share of over 30.0% in 2021. The market growth is attributed to the rising geriatric population, increasing ophthalmic disorders, and rising inclination towards early disease diagnosis and treatment. Tissue engineering is used for the treatment of various ocular disorders and is mainly used for the anterior segment including the cornea and conjunctiva. Also, it is used in combination with cell therapies for the treatment of retina disorders. Hence, tissue engineering along with biomaterials and medicines is expected to drive the market in the near future.

Moreover, the rising need for surgical procedures to address ocular disorders is expected to fuel market growth. For instance, Lens opacification or cataracts are removed surgically by replacing the lens with artificial intraocular lenses (IOL). According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 20.5 million Americans aged 40 and older are believed to be affected by cataracts. This number is expected to increase, which, in turn, is increasing the need for cataract removal surgery, which will definitely lead to a higher demand for ophthalmic adhesives and tissues in the near future.

Moreover, rising prevalence of corneal vision loss is expected to fuel the segment growth. For instance, around 10 million people are thought to be affected by corneal vision loss worldwide, and 40,000 corneal transplants are carried out annually in the U.S. alone. This shows the growing demand for ocular adhesives and sealants in corneal surgeries. However, factors such as risk of infection, shortage of corneas, and graft rejection may hamper the growth of the market.

Regional Insights

North America accounted for the largest revenue share of over 35.0% in 2021 owing to factors such as rising prevalence of ocular disorders, presence of well-built infrastructure, availability of skilled ophthalmic surgeons, and presence of key market players. For instance, according to a report published by the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 2022, around 24.4 million Americans of age 40 and older have cataracts. About half of all Americans have cataracts by the age of 75. Over 2.7 million Americans aged 40 and older suffer from glaucoma. Legal blindness affects over 1.3 million Americans aged 40 and older. More than 34 million Americans, or 23.9% of those who are 40 and older, have myopia. 8.4% of Americans aged 40 and older, or close to 14.2 million people, have hyperopia. Injuries to the eyes are thought to occur 2.4 million times annually in the U.S.

Asia Pacific is expected to register the highest CAGR of 8.50% over the forecast period. This can be attributed to the increasing geriatric population and rising healthcare expenditure in this region. It is projected that the considerable shortfall between demand and supply for eye surgical services in nations like India, China, Japan, and other Southeast Asian nations will boost market expansion. Service providers are developing and planning new eye care facilities in these areas due to the significant unmet needs there. For instance, in December 2019, a leading chain of eye hospitals, Dr. Agarwal Eye Hospitals announced that 60 new eye hospitals would be constructed in India and other south Asian nations over the course of the following two to three years.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The market is fragmented due to the high competition at the global level. Key players focus on growth strategies, such as new product launches, collaborations, partnerships, operational expansion, mergers & acquisitions, and patient awareness campaigns. For instance, in October 2018, Stryker announced the acquisition of HyperBranch Medical Technology, Inc., a privately held company. The goal of HyperBranch is to create medical gadgets using its unique polymers and cross-linked hydrogels. One of only two dural sealants on the market with FDA approval is its Adherus AutoSpray Dural Sealant. Some prominent players in the global ocular adhesives and sealants market include:

• Ocular Therapeutix, Inc.

• Reliance Life-Sciences

• Baxter

• Medtronic PLC

• B. Braun Melsungen AG 

Ocular Adhesives And Sealants Market Report Scope

Global Ocular Adhesives And Sealants Market Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2017 to 2030. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global ocular adhesives and sealants market report on the basis of type, application, end-use, and region:

• Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Synthetic

    • Urethane-based Adhesives

    • Polyethylene Glycol Adhesives

    • Cyanoacrylates

  • Natural

    • Fibrin Adhesives

    • Collagen-based Adhesives

    • Gelatin-based Adhesives

    • Others

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Tissue Engineering

  • Conjunctival Surgery

  • Refractive Surgery

  • Vitreo-retinal Surgery

  • Corneal Surgery

• End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Hospitals

  • Ophthalmic Clinics

  • Ambulatory Surgical Centers

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • Japan

    • India

    • Australia

    • South Korea

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

    • Colombia

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE