Over the years, contact lenses have become a viable alternative to eyeglasses. Whether for vision correction or fashion and aesthetic purposes, contact lenses are a popular go-to for consumers worldwide.
According to market research from Future Market Insights, the global contact lens market was estimated to be valued at $10.04 billion. Meanwhile, researchers suggest that by 2034, the market will reach an impressive $16.26 billion. As mentioned above, this rapid market growth is due to increasing demand for vision correction, convenience, and aesthetic benefits offered by contacts.
Aside from the benefits of contact lenses, the rapid market growth is also attributable to the many innovations and developments in the sector. Nowadays, manufacturers and brands adopt emerging technologies and new research findings to improve their products, making contact lenses even more accessible, convenient, and functional depending on consumer needs and preferences.
Below, we’ll take a look at some key contact lens tech and trends to watch out for in 2025:
One of the key technologies making contact lenses more accessible and convenient for many consumers is the Internet. Over the years, it has become increasingly easy to buy contact lenses, not only in physical stores but also via online retailers. Retailer Contacts Direct makes it easy for people to order contact lenses online with options for free express shipping, insurance plans, and an online vision assessment for consumers looking to renew existing eye prescriptions.
Aside from the convenience of online purchases, the proliferation of eCommerce also means eye care providers can adopt other digital solutions to reach patients more easily, including online chat or SMS to provide flexible and convenient ways for accessing contact lenses. Market researchers also highlight that daily disposable lenses make up 50% of the US market in value sales, providing the most value for cost-conscious consumers.
New contact lens technologies
Beyond making contact lenses more accessible and convenient for consumers to get, emerging technologies on the market have also brought improvements to eye health management through contact lenses. One of these improvements is the newly announced one week replacement contact lens from pharmaceutical and medical device company Alcon, the PRECISION7. The lens, which uses a 7-day ACTIV-FLO System, provides 16 hours of comfort and clear vision and is the only one-week replacement lens available on the market, according to a news release.
However, new contact lens technologies should also be properly introduced to consumers and patients. Data showed that three of four contact lens wearers want their eye care professionals to talk to them about new contact lens technologies. The technology used in Alcon’s PRECISION7 also provides a viable and affordable option for patients who don’t have the option of wearing daily disposable lenses.
The rise of smart contact lenses
Finally, while smart contact lenses aren’t entirely new, emerging technologies will continue to improve features and offerings, as well as promote the accessibility of smart contacts for everyday wearers. In 2022, Mojo Vision announced the launch of the Mojo Lens prototype. The smart contact lens from Mojo features a micro-LED display and micro-batteries that facilitate eye tracking, communications, and software. At the time, the Mojo Lens prototype was dubbed the world’s first augmented reality (AR) contact lenses. The smart contact lens functioned alongside a wearable ARM processor around the wearer’s neck, allowing a wireless relay of information to the lens and back to computers that track eye movement.
A few years later, contact lens technologies have evolved even further. Most recently, a team from the University of Utah developed an all-in-one hybrid energy-generation unit specifically designed for eye-based tech. The result? Smart contact lenses that convert tears to energy using an eye-blinking-activated system. When wearing these contacts, the wearer’s natural teas serve as a biofuel to generate power. Later on, the power output from this device can fuel various applications, including wearable biosensors and electrically responsive drug-delivery systems within the eye’s environment.
If you found this post useful or interesting, you can check out our post on the use ofaugmented reality in advertising and how brands and businesses are using AR glasses to better reach customers.
