Middle East & Africa Contact Lenses Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Material, By Design, By Usage, By Distribution Channel, By Type, By Application, By Country, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030

Report Overview

The Middle East & Africa contact lenses market size was estimated at USD 415.5 million in 2022 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of around 6.6% from 2023 to 2030. The demand for contact lenses is having a steady growth rate which is supported by the factors such as the growing tendency of youngsters to enhance their aesthetic appearance and manufacturer using innovative materials for manufacturing contact lenses. Soft lenses are introduced in the market long ago and are made up of a hydrogel known as Polymacon or Softlens. This is a polymer made of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) bonded with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. This kind of soft lens contains 38% water, but in modern times plastic polymers that have hydrophilic qualities are used such as Poly Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate (pHEMA) which contains 70% water and allows oxygen permeation.

Hard lenses are made of stiffer polymers like Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA). PMMA and pHEMA are malleable and sturdy plastic polymers, along with this property PMMA and pHEMA combined are used for creating an artificial cornea which helps in the reduction of treatment failure.

Manufacturers follow various sets of regulations while manufacturing lenses which are set by IAMRA, FDA, and EU Commission as the material must be biocompatible, and the manufacturing facility should be carried out in a hygienic environment. Manufacturers have to accompany the packaging with adequate information which includes the process adopted for sterilization and the process used for disinfection. In line with PMMA and pHEMA, manufacturer’s also getting regulatory approval for fluorosilicone hydrogel type of lens manufacturing.

New technological and clinical improvements such as the designing of contact lenses that deliver medication to the eyes known as drug-eluting lenses and overcome the drawback of eye drops. The drug-eluting lens contains antihistamines for people with allergic and itchy eyes. This type of lens prevents eyes from ocular itch which is caused by allergic conjunctivitis while also correcting the refractive error in both patients with or without lens implants.

Design Insights

Spherical lenses, often referred to as singlet, are gaining market traction by having a significant revenue share of more than 67% in 2022. These lenses are available for correcting myopia and farsightedness as they imitate the spherical surface of the eyes. Spherical lenses are worn more frequently than any of their counterparts, and as a result, they offer outstanding imaging capabilities. These lenses are gaining popularity owing to its exclusive design which offers better peripheral vision compared to other types of lenses such as bifocal or multifocal spherical soft contact lenses.

The multifocal lens design segment is attributed to expanding at the fastest growth rate having a CAGR of more than 8.0% during 2023-2030. These lenses provide patients with a both distant and close-up vision since they have built-in rings for several refractive zones. These lenses are made to solve presbyopia issues, which cause people over the age of 40 to start losing their ability to read close-up objects or read print.

Material Insights

The silicone hydrogel lens segment dominated the market and accounted for the largest revenue share of more than 69% in 2022. These lenses are soft lenses that allow an abundant amount of oxygen to pass through the lens to the cornea than regular soft contact lenses. The increased oxygen permeability of silicone hydrogel makes them an excellent choice for unique contact lens designs that might result in hypoxia issues when constricted with traditional soft hydrogel materials.

The hydrogel contact lenses segment is gaining traction in the market and expanding at a rapid rate having a CAGR of around 8.0% due to the property of being flexible and adherent to the surface of the eye. Hydrogel is used in the majority of soft lenses, including disposable lenses. Gas permeable (GP) lenses also known as Fluorosilicone acrylate lenses, perform significantly better than soft lenses since they are considerably more enduring, simple to maintain their shapes, and do not dry.

Application Insights

The corrective segment is estimated to record substantial revenue growth of around USD 190.0 million in 2022 which is gaining momentum and is anticipated to maintain its dominance by significantly expanding at a CAGR of nearly 7.0% from 2023 to 2030. Corrective lenses are used to give an effective kind of vision correction for the majority of visual issues, including myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia. These lenses are also utilized in situations of color inadequacies.

Therapeutic contact lenses and soft lenses are frequently used to treat and manage non-refractive eye diseases. A bandage contact lens keeps a damaged or diseased cornea from being rubbed by blinking eyelids, enabling it to recover. Cosmetic lenses are also one of the segments which are gaining a lot of momentum in the market as it is specially designed to change or intensify the color of the eyes.

Distribution Channel Insights

Retail and eye care professional distribution channel accounted for a substantial market share of around 64.0% in 2022. Most people consider retail and eye care professionals as better options in the region due to the regular check-ups and the easy availability of the products or the lenses they preferred with the optician's assistance.

The e-commerce distribution channel is gaining momentum and record exponential growth of USD 180.0 million by 2030 owing to the shifting preference of consumers to purchase lenses from online stores rather than buying from retail stores.  Future e-com trends in the GCC countries will be comparable to those in Western countries. Regardless of the incentives pushing businesses to use e-commerce as a way of selling goods and products, how consumers make purchases is consistent throughout countries in GCC.

Usage Insights

The daily disposable segment held a significant revenue share of more than 33% in 2022 and is expected to expand at a substantial growth rate of around 8% by the end of 2030. This growth is attributed to the high demand for these lenses as they have a single-time usage property and cannot be reused once removed. Daily disposable lenses do not require any further maintenance, such as storing them in a disinfectant solution while not in use. There is a high risk of accumulation of various substances like protein, calcium, and lipids on the permanent or reusable lenses thus making them irritable and more prone to multiple infections. However, using daily disposable lenses there is no buildup of these components.

Type Insights

Cleared contact lens segment is estimated to record a substantial revenue share of more than 60.0% by 2030. Cleared contact lenses are made from natural biocompatible, sustainable hydrogel material groups. It is used mainly based on daily disposability and can be used for 10 to 12 hours once worn. These lenses are UV protected and can block 87.0% of UVA and 91.0% of UVB rays.

Colored contact lenses are generally temporary lenses that accentuate the natural color of the eyes. It enhances the color and brings definition to the outer edge of the iris and increases light reflection on the eye. As people are likely to change their aesthetics and look, most lenses are FDA-approved which is safe to use when prescribed by the optometrist.

Country Insights

Saudi Arabia accounted for a significant revenue share of around 35.0% in 2022 and is anticipated to grow at a substantial rate of around 4.0% during the forecast period. The larger population in the country is suffering from various eye problems such as ocular diseases and growing incidences of eye injuries. The commonly observed problems in the aging population of the country are cataracts, myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.

Furthermore, technical development and constant research into superior contact lens technologies are aiding market expansion. As the region shifts consumer preference from prescription eyeglasses to contact lenses changing trends and beauty standards are also accelerating the market growth.

Turkey is one of the highest growing markets having a CAGR of nearly 8.0% during the forecast period, as major countries such as the U.K., the U.S., and Hong Kong have about 57.0% of the exports from Turkey. Besides, Belarus has also shown a noticeable rise in shipments among the major nations from 2012 to 2021.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Key players in the MEA contact lenses market are focusing on introducing new technology and innovative products, for reducing the thickness of contact lenses and also making them for longer usage and in different color shades.

• Bausch + Lomb Corporation announced that Bio true Hydration Contact Lens Rehydrating drops, a preservative-free multi-dose rehydrating drop for use with soft permeable contact lenses has gained 510(k) approval from the US Food and Drug Administration.

• Essilor Luxottica announced an exclusive licensing arrangement for Swarovski Eyewear design, production, and international distribution. This agreement combines the creativity of Swarovski with the innovation, knowledge, and expertise of Essilor Luxottica.

Some of the key players in the Middle East & Africa contact lenses market include:

• Bausch + Lomb Inc.

• Acuvue (Johnson and Johnson)

• Alcon Vision LLC

• Carl Zeiss AG

• Cooper Vision Inc.

• Dahab Contact Lenses

• Desio (Qualimed Srl)

• Essilor International

• H.W. Contact Lens

• Hoya Corporation

• Medennium

• Synerg Eyes

• Lens Me

• Diva Lenses

• Anesthesia

• Leila & Leila

• Layla Beauty

• Eye Candys

• Celena Colored Contact Lenses

• Bella Contact Lenses

• Aderra Lenses

• Amara Lenses

• NEWLENS

• Optik Dunyast

• Bies Kimya

• Diafarma Pharmaceuticals and Medical Products Ltd.

• Nexgen Optical

• CLS Trade

• I-Clinic

• Beauteous

Middle East & Africa Contact Lenses Market Report Scope

Middle East & Africa Contact Lenses Market Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the Middle East & Africa contact lenses market report based on the material, design, application, type, distribution channel, usage, and country:

• Material Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Silicone Hydrogel

  • Fluorosilicone Acrylate

  • Hydrogel

  • PMMA

• Design Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Spherical Lens

  • Toric Lens

  • Multifocal Lens

  • Others

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Corrective

  • Therapeutic

  • Cosmetic

  • Prosthetic

  • Lifestyle-oriented

• Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Colored Contact Lenses

  • Clear Contact Lenses

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

  • E-Commerce

  • Eye Care Professionals

  • Retail

• Usage Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Daily Disposable

  • Disposable

  • Frequently Disposable

  • Traditional (Reusable) Lenses

• Country Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • UAE

  • Saudi Arabia

  • Turkey

  • Egypt

  • Rest of the Middle East & Africa