Majority of the ophthalmic procedures performed in India are estimated to be delayed, postponed or canceled due to COVID-19, as they are considered to be elective. However, with the gradual easing of lockdown measures, the country’s vision care devices market is set to rebound in the coming months, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

According to GlobalData’s Medical Intelligence database, the vision care devices market in India was valued at about US$3.8bn in 2019. Spectacle lenses, which include bifocal spectacle lenses, progressive multifocal spectacle lenses, single vision spectacle lenses and trifocal spectacle lenses, accounted for about 90% of the Indian vision care devices market.

GlobalData’s research reveals that vision care devices market accounted for about 90% of the Indian ophthalmic devices market. The vision care devices market in India is highly fragmented with Essilor Luxottica, Alcon and Johnson & Johnson Vision Care being the leading players. 

Bhaskar Vittal, Medical Devices Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The current COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the vision care devices market in India. Except in the case of emergencies, majority of the eye related procedures have been postponed due to strict contact guidelines issued by the Government of India as part of the lockdown measures. Ophthalmologists are at greater risk of contracting COVID-19 while examining patients’ eyes compared to other specialties.”

Ophthalmologists are currently using telephone/video or other forms of telemedicine during lockdown period to advise patients. With easing of lockdown measures in some states, vision care devices such as spectacle lenses and contact lenses are expected to be available more easily.

Vittal concludes: “With the opening up of outpatient care in most of the states, patients with vision problems are expected to consult ophthalmologists at much higher rate as they cannot be postponed indefinitely. Vision correction procedures are also expected to come back in the coming months leading to higher demand for vision care devices. Secondary market, which includes upgrade or replacement of existing vision care devices, is expected to add to the demand.”