Europe Eyewear Market

Europe Eyewear Market Size

The Europe eyewear market was estimated at USD 57 billion in 2024. The market is expected to grow from USD 58.7 billion in 2025 to USD 83.3 billion in 2034, at a CAGR of 4%.

The adoption of smartphones, computers, and tablets has become inevitable in everyday activities. Most such screens make use of low-quality vision devices which increase chances of having vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that out of the 2.2 billion people who have some form of vision impairment, many suffer from prolonged screen time.

As stated in the research conducted by the American Optometric Association (AOA), over 50% of adults that engage with a screen for more than five hours a day deal with at least one of the symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) such as eye strain, dryness, and blurred vision. Furthermore, GMAC claims that children are experiencing an increase in myopia faster than any other age group in the world. They project that 50% of the world’s population will be myopic by 2050, an increase from the 23% reported in 2000.

More focus on eye care is motivating patients to get their eyes tested more frequently. The Vision Council estimates that 75% of adults in the United States have some form of vision correction, with 80% of them requiring eyeglasses. This trend is also true in Europe, for instance, the European Council of Optometry and Optics (ECOO) reports that 64% of Europeans have prescription glasses or contact lenses, and there is a growing need for quality spectacles.

Western Europe is benefiting from a boom in eyewear sales because of the continent's increasingly aging population. The Population Reference Bureau (PRB) reports that Europe has the highest proportion of elderly people in the world. Of the entire European population, approximately 19% are aged over 65 years. This trend is particularly sharp in Italy and Germany, where Eurostat indicates that 23% and 22% of their respective populations are aged 65 or over.

Due to vision-based problems like cataracts and presbyopia becoming more common, the WHO claims that 91% of individuals aged sixty-five and over require vision correction. With this, there is a higher need for prescription and reading glasses, as well as other specialized lenses.

Eyewear is no longer seen simply as an accessory for vision correction, but rather as a fashion item. Therefore, OIA reports that the global eyewear market grew to over USD 140 billion dollars in 2022, which is expected to increase even more due to the expansion of stylish designs and advanced technologies.

In Europe, Euromonitor International’s 2023 report showed that 45% of consumers prioritize style when purchasing eyeglasses. Companies are leveraging customer insights to develop new innovations. For instance, the prominent eyewear firm Luxottica reported that, in 2022, new materials such as lightweight titanium and blue-light-blocking lenses provided 60% of the company’s revenue. Besides, the expansion of e-commerce is transforming the eyewear industry.

Europe Eyewear Market Trends

• The surge in the use of digital devices has drastically increased the demand for blue light-blocking eyeglasses throughout Europe. Such strains have raised a common concern for working professionals and students as the exposure to digital screens is on the rise. The European Eyewear Industry Association claims that blue light glasses sales skyrocketed 25% over the past three years because of remote work and online schooling. Moreover, research conducted by the Vision Council suggests that close to 60% of adults in Europe suffer from some form of digital eye strain which increases the demand for blue light glasses.
  
• The European Optics Market Report 2024 suggests that blue light glasses will have a steady 6% growth rate every year during the forecast period. This marks the growing concern for eye protection from digital fatigue.
  
• The growth in environmental awareness has increased the demand for sustainable eyewear products. There are more and more brands that use eco-friendly materials such as recycled plastics, biodegradable acetate, wood, and bamboo to fashion environmentally friendly eyewear collections. This is in line with the new consumer trends where people purchase products with green sustainability embedded in them.
  
• The 2024 Global eyewear market report predicts that the sustainable eyewear segment will grow at an annual growth rate of 8% throughout the forecast period due to the shifting consumer’s inclination towards greener products. As industry has seen an increase in the percentage of ‘eyewear produced using recycled materials by 30% over the past five years, The European Green Materials Council has shown this demonstrates the trend towards sustainability within the industry.
  

Europe Eyewear Market Analysis

• The Europe eyewear market by product type is segmented into spectacles, contact lens, and sunglasses.
  
• Spectacles held the dominant market of USD 26 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 36.6 billion by 2034.
  
• The rise and proliferation of the smartphone and digital device market has resulted in an unprecedented rise in global Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) cases around the world. The European Council of Optometry and Optics states that almost 60% of the consumers using digital devices complain of CVS symptoms such as eye strain and headaches.
  
• Additionally, the recent rise in online learning and education from home is causing children to experience a disproportionate amount of CVS. The increase in the hours spent on digital screens across all age groups, settings and educational levels, has profoundly escalated the cases of CVS across the globe and experts believe this pattern will only worsen in the coming years. 
  

• The Europe eyewear market by distribution channel is segmented into online and offline.
  
• The online segment accounted for a market share of around 63.6% in 2024 and is projected to grow by 2034.
  
• The development of mobile devices and the acceptance of online purchases are the major factors of interest in industry. This change has occurred mostly because of the convenience brought about by services such as delivery to the doorstep, convenient return and refund policies, better communication with customers, and numerous payment methods.
  
• Moreover, e commerce websites attract clients by offering deals or coupons, especially for loyal customers and subscribers. Online shopping has become more popular, increasing year after year. It is estimated that online shopping will increase by more than 15% a year for at least the next five years, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF), underscoring growing confidence consumers have in new technology.
  
• Moreover, the adoption of advanced technologies, like virtual try-on capabilities, is motivating more people to buy glasses via the internet as it improves the shopping experience and decreases uncertainty about the choice of products. The Vision Council also indicates that this phenomenon is becoming more pronounced as online sales of glasses are growing by approximately 20% per year.
  

• In 2024, the U.K is projected to report revenues of roughly USD 12 billion from the European eyewear market alone, making it the largest market, and it is expected to reach around USD 16.6 billion by 2034. The U.K. market takes advantage of the high retail expenditures on fashion accessories and premium eyewear where spectacles and sunglasses are not only worn for vision correction but also as fashion items. In addition, the high market penetration of vision care providers coupled with service insurance coverage increases the uptake of eyewear solutions. The European Federation of the Optical Industry reports that the United Kingdom exports a substantial part of eyewear products, as there is growing awareness of eye care alongside the demand for quality branded eyewear.
  

Europe eyewear Market Share

The Europe eyewear industry is fragmented, with prominent players, such as Carl Zeiss AG, Luxottica Group SpA, Safilo and Hoya Corporation, holding a market share of 10%.

• In the Europe eyewear market, Luxxotica has the largest share due to its comprehensive product portfolio.
  
• With a robust brand portfolio, wide distribution, and a vertical integration strategy, Luxottica has the greatest luxottica market share in the European eyewear industry. Luxottica also possesses internationally acclaimed brands such as Ray-Ban, Oakley, and Persol and produces eyewear for top luxury fashion houses like Prada, Chanel, and Versace, enabling luxottica to capture the entire premium and mid-range segments.
  

Europe eyewear Market Companies

Luxxotica, a major player in the Europe eyewear industry. In 2024, EssilorLuxottica and Dolce & Gabbana revealed the early renewal of their licensing agreement for the design, manufacturing, and global marketing of prescription frames and sunglasses under the Dolce & Gabbana brand.

Major players operating in the Europe eyewear market are:

• Carl Zeiss
• Luxottica Group
• Safilo
• Hoya
• Cooper Companies
• Johnson & Johnson Vision Care
• Bausch & Lomb
• Charmant Group
• CIBA VISION
• De Rigo Vision
• Fielmann
• JINS
• Marchon Eyewear
• QSpex Technologies
• Rodenstock
• Seiko Optical Products
• Shamir Optical Industry
• Silhouette International
• Warby Parker
• Zenni Optical  
  

Europe eyewear Industry News

• In February 2024, Carl ZEISS AG secured an IP portfolio regarding electronic glasses from Mitsui Chemicals. This acquisition should strengthen the company’s position in commitment to technological development in the market.
  
• In 2023, Bausach and Lomb introduced SeeNa, which is an Eye Diagnostic System developed to be used on refractive cataract patients. SeeNa records all the most important parameters that are needed subsequently to assess the patients’ eyes and determine the power calculations for the cataract lens (IOL) in one single step.
  

This Europe eyewear market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry, with estimates & forecasts in terms of revenue (USD Billion) and volume (Thousand units) from 2021 to 2034, for the following segments:

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Market, By Product Type

• Spectacles
  • Single Vision
  • Multifocal
  • Bifocal
  • Progressive
  • Reading Glasses
  • Safety Glasses
  • Others (Blue Light Glasses, etc.) 
• Contact Lens
  • Soft Contact Lens
  • Rigid Contact lens
  • Others (Toric Contact Lens)
• Sunglasses
  • Polarized
  • Non-polarized

Market, By Type

• Prescription
• Non-Prescription

Market, By Material

• Metal
• Plastic
• Polycarbonate
• Rubbers
• Others (Wooden, Nylon, Silicon etc.)

Market, By Shape

• Shape
• Oval & Aviator
• Rectangular
• Round
• Square
• Others (Oversized, Shield, etc.)

Market, By Price

• Low
• Medium
• High

Market, By End User

• Male
• Female
• Unisex
• Kids

Market, By Distribution Channel

• Online
  • E-Commerce
  • Company Site 
• Offline
  • Specialty Stores
  • Mega Retail Stores
  • Others (Optical Camps, Ophthalmic Centers, etc.)

The above information is provided for the following countries:

• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain