Contact Lenses and Solutions in China

PROSPECTS

Contact lenses compatible with fashion and exercise trends

Contact lenses became increasingly popular amongst younger consumers, particularly millennials, towards the end of the review period. Demand was underpinned by a preference for looks that do not involve glasses and the fact that contact lenses allow for the easier application of cosmetics.

Convenience and hygiene support demand for disposable products

Daily disposable contact lenses was by far the most dynamic category in 2019, with growth driven by the increasing demand for convenience amongst consumers leading ever busier modern lifestyles. Daily disposable contact lenses do away with the need for continual cleaning and concerns about particular storage requirements.

Internet retailing maintains dynamic expansion

E-commerce is thriving across a broad range of consumer goods categories in China and, while optical shops remained by far the largest channel in contact lenses and solutions in 2019, internet retailing maintained dynamic growth during the year. Internet retailing is strongly compatible with contact lenses and solutions – non-perishable, easily transportable products that are purchased on a regular basis – and busy consumers appreciate the convenience of online purchases, as well as the breadth of the product offer and the low prices offered by the channel.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Major players gain share with innovation and attention-grabbing marketing

The three leading players in contact lenses and solutions - Shanghai Hydron Contact lens Optics Co Ltd, Bausch & Lomb Inc and Johnson & Johnson Inc - each gained value share in 2018. This reversed a trend of combined share growth amongst the players outside the top seven, as the leading companies successfully employed their innovation, branding and marketing resources to target demand trends amongst younger consumers.

Leaders focus on comfort and convenience with DD

In line with evolving demand trends, daily disposable products are seeing significant investment from the leading players in contact lenses and solutions. Johnson & Johnson, for example, launched its Acuvue Oasys 1-Day with Hydraluxe, which is claimed to provide more moisture and whole day comfort, in China in 2018.

Johnson &Johnson partnership underlines growing role of fashion

Contact lenses companies are increasingly focusing their attention on younger consumers who are less set in their eye care behaviour and more fashion-conscious than their older counterparts, and lead lifestyles that are compatible with demand for contact lenses. Fashion is exerting a growing influence on developments in contact lenses, with Johnson & Johnson’s Acuvue brand partnering with INMIX, which offers fast fashion brands in sunglasses and frames, to open a pop-up store and introduce a co-branded tailor-made gift box early in 2019.

Files are delivered directly into your account within a few minutes of purchase.