Market inSights 2024 with 2025 Forecast

The 2024 Market inSights with 2025 Forecast, published by The Vision Council, provides a comprehensive analysis of the U.S. optical industry’s performance and trends. Valued at $68.3 billion, the report reflects growth across several key product categories, consumer preferences, and retail dynamics. It also provides a forward-looking forecast for 2025, offering actionable insights for stakeholders in eyewear retail, vision care, and optical product manufacturing. Covering both prescription and non-prescription products, the report reveals how economic shifts, managed vision care, and purchasing channels (in-person vs. online) are shaping the future of the optical industry.

Report Methodology

To create a highly accurate and data-rich market model, The Vision Council leveraged multiple data sources:

• Patient billing and payment transactions from over 2,700 optical retail locations.
• Consumer expenditure data from millions of anonymized card transactions.
• Retail location data verified via corporate directories and Google Places API.
• Monthly Consumer inSights surveys with over 48,000 U.S. respondents annually.

Data was processed using advanced analytics and AI techniques. Distinctions were made between prescription (exams, lenses, frames, contact lenses) and non-prescription (plano sunglasses, readers) categories, with detailed pricing, volume, and reimbursement modeling. This ensured precise estimates for both private pay and managed vision care purchases across in-person and online channels.

Key Findings

Market Value & Growth

• The total market value in 2024 was $68.3 billion, growing 2.7% from 2023. Key segments included ophthalmic lenses ($17.2B) and plano sunglasses ($17.8B).

Consumer Spending

• After market spikes in 2022, induced by stimulus spending and post-pandemic demand, consumer spending continued to show stability.
• Consumers shifted toward budget-friendly eyewear, especially for frames and readers.

Retail Landscape

• While online shopping played a critical role, the market remained driven by in-person purchases.
• Contact lenses and plano sunglasses were particularly popular for online purchases.

2025 Forecast

• Budget-friendly purchasing is likely to continue influencing the market.

Why It Matters

This report is vital for optical retailers, eye care professionals, managed vision care providers, and product manufacturers navigating a shifting landscape. Understanding consumer behavior, online vs. in-person trends, and product-specific insights helps stakeholders make data-driven decisions.

With economic uncertainty and new U.S. administration policies on the horizon, market insights like these are essential for strategic planning. Moreover, this report highlights the increasing importance of managed vision care, pricing transparency, and ecommerce growth in the eyewear sector. This data offers a clear view into what’s driving eyewear consumer trends and where opportunities lie in 2025.