Market Trends of Optical Lens Edger Industry
Automatic Optical Lens Edger Segment is Expected to Witness a Significant Growth Over the Forecast Period
A typical edging system contains - edger and optical blocker. The optical edger is a part of optical manufacturing equipment that edges, cuts, or grinds optical lenses so that they can fit into the selected frame. Different types of edging modes are automated beveling, controlled beveling, EX lens edging, rimless edging, automated grooving, and controlled grooving. The emergence of automatic technology in optical lens cutters and edgers has eliminated the usage of water for finishing operations. The integration of automation has provided various technical advantages such as auto-calibration and improved versatility of products over other sustainable cutters and lens edgers. The automatic optical lens edger segment forecast appears promising due to the rise in the ophthalmology, and camera industries, and the high incidence of eye-related disorders.
The technological advancements by key market players are increasing demand for the edgers in the photography and opthalmology industries. For instance, in March 2022, Topcon Healthcare launched SOLOS, an automatic lens analyzer. SOLOS is designed as a multi-functional device to simplify the clinical workflow by combining a fully automated lensmeter with a full-range spectrometer. It provides automatic lens type detection, automatic marking, and lens mapping of single vision, progressive, and other multifocal lenses-in spectacle frames or as uncut lenses. Thus, such advancement in the automatic lenses is driving the automatic lens edger segment, thereby propelling the market.
Furthermore, with the increase in ophthalmic diseases, the demand for lenses is expected to increase which in turn is expected to drive demand for automatic manufacturing. For instance, in March 2021, an article by European Journal of Ophthalmology, reported that myopia is predicted to become the most common cause of irreversible vision impairment and blindness worldwide. Similarly, in August 2022 an article by Journal of Glaucoma reported that primary open-angle glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease highly prevalent in the European adult population, with cases expected to increase over the next 30 years. Thus, a high incidence of eye disorders is increasing the demand for lenses, which in turn will increase the demand for automatic lens edgers and thus fueling the growth of the studied market. Thus, due to the above-mentioned reasons, the market is expected to show significant growth over the forecast period.
North America is Expected to Witness a Significant Growth Over the Forecast Period
North America is projected to dominate the global optical lens edger market over the forecast period due to the presence of a large eyeglass consumer base, the presence of key market players, and technological advancements. The adoption of technologies that help optimize the entire workflow is a key trend in the global optical lens edger market. Demand for high-quality finishes for modern optical edgers among industrial manufacturers is also propelling the growth of the studied market in the region. Key players are focusing on customization to gain a competitive advantage in the optical lens market. For instance, in March 2022, STAAR Surgical Company received the US FDA approval for the EVO/EVO+ Visian Implantable Collamer Lens ('EVO') for the correction of myopia and myopia with astigmatism. For another instance, in November 2021, Lentechs is developing a new generation of soft, suspended contact lenses, designed to transform the treatment paradigm for presbyopia, and announced key results in a milestone clinical trial evaluating its investigational contact lens for patients with presbyopia and presbyopia with astigmatism.
Furthermore, well-established insurance policies and the availability of advanced healthcare infrastructure are a few of the other factors boosting the market in this region. Also, the increasing number of geriatric populations, along with a growing patient pool in the region is impacting the growth of the studied market significantly. According to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness 2021 database, approximately 4.4 million people have eye loss in the United States. Also, presbyopia is a natural part of aging characterized by a gradual loss of the eye's ability to focus on objects up close and impacts many people in the United States. Thus, due to the aforesaid mentioned reasons the region is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period, thereby driving the market.
