Facts and stats on the UK contact lens market
ACLM statistics (2011)
The size of the UK contact lens market in 2011 was £231.1m as reported by the Association of Contact Lens Manufacturers (ACLM). This represents an increase of two per cent from 2010.
The market was made up of the sale of over 583 million contact lenses. Market value comprised daily disposables (58 per cent), soft frequent replacement lenses (eight per cent), silicone hydrogels (28 per cent), soft traditional lenses (two per cent) and rigid lenses (five per cent).
The number of people using silicone hydrogel lenses has increased by 10 per cent in the last 12 months (April 2012) with these lenses now worn by 1.3 million people. In total there are 3.7 million contact lens wearers in the UK which represents 7.5 per cent of the adult population.
Technological developments continue to come on-stream, making contact lenses more suitable than ever for presbyopes. Even in these economically challenging times their popularity with wearers remains strong and they offer the best opportunity for business growth to eyecare practitioners. Contact lens wearers invariably remain loyal to their practitioner for aftercare.
For more information on the UK contact lens market visit the ACLM website www.aclm.org.uk, call 01380 860418 or email secgen@aclm.org.uk
Eurolens Research (2010)
According to the annual ‘Trends in contact lens prescribing’ survey compiled by Eurolens Research at the University of Manchester, 98 per cent of new contact lens fits and 95 per cent of refits in 2010 were soft lenses. Of new soft lenses prescribed, 48 per cent were silicone hydrogel lenses and the most common replacement schedule was monthly (52 per cent) followed by daily (45 per cent). More than a third new soft lenses prescribed were toric lenses (for astigmatism) and about one in 10 (11 per cent) was a multifocal lens (for presbyopia).
The proportion of extended wear lenses (allowing overnight wear) prescribed was five per cent of new fits and 13 per cent of refits. The proportion of rigid lenses prescribed as refits fell to five per cent. Overall, rigid lenses accounted for only four percent of all fits.
There were no survey reports in 2010 of orthokeratology lenses being refitted. Most prescribed contact lens solutions (89 per cent) were multipurpose solutions.
