Scleral Lens Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Huge growth potential due to the aging population: According to the World Health Organization report, the population of individuals above 60 years globally was 1.4 billion in 2020 and is expected to double by 2050. As the world's population ages, age-related eye problems are becoming more common. Scleral lenses have a tremendous market opportunity as corneal disorders such as presbyopia, dry eye syndrome, keratoconus, and corneal ectasia are rapidly growing among the older population. Older adults often have different visual needs and they may require specialized vision correction. These lenses provide better fit and visual clarity compared to the traditional lenses.
• Digitalization in scleral lenses: Digitalization has significantly transformed the scleral lenses, enhancing the precision, efficiency, and customization of lens fitting processes. Several practitioners are focused on implementing advanced technologies such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) and corneoscleral topography to create detailed 3D maps of the eye’s anterior segment. Moreover, digitalization can help practitioners to extend their enterprise globally through remote fitting technologies. Using this, experts can fit scleral lenses for patients in distant locations, reducing the need for travel and making specialized care more accessible.

Challenges

• Insufficient awareness of scleral lenses: Low awareness about scleral lenses among the general public and some eye care professionals in some parts of the globe may hamper its adoption to a certain extent. Patients often hesitate due to misconceptions about the comfort and maintenance of scleral lenses. However, organizations, including the Scleral Lens Education Society (SLS) are working to solve these restrictions by offering information and education to eye care professionals about the fitting and administration of scleral lenses.
• High costs and limited insurance coverage: Scleral lenses are expensive compared to regular lenses and many insurance plans do not fully cover such specialty contact lenses. In addition to this, it requires specialized optometrists for custom fitting, leading to multiple visits and trail lenses, increasing the overall costs and time.