Market Overview

The market of contact lenses, contact lens solutions, care systems, and eye drops in Japan, based on the shipment values at manufacturers, has been estimated at 311,300 million yen in 2022. As 2022 has seen a lift of COVID-19 semi-state of emergency measures at all prefectures nationwide, the country has entered the phase of resuming social and economic activities. Currently, with private spending and the domestic economy are showing an uptick, expansion is continuing for the contact lenses and related products market.

Noteworthy Topics

Global Supply Chain Disruptions

In 2022, COVID-19 semi-state of emergency measures ended at all prefectures by March which relaxed behavior restrictions and social and economic activities fully resumed. Since then, the contact lens market has shifted from the recovery phase from the corona crisis to the expansion phase.

Since the latter half of 2022 the influence of lengthy Russian invasions to Ukraine as well as the COVID-19 crisis disrupted the supply chain worldwide, from procurement of raw materials to production and distribution, which was no difference in the contact lens market, suffering from delivery delays and out-of-stock products. Still, the market continued to expect strong and expanding demand for contact lenses.

Future Outlook

After COVID-19 was reclassified into Class 5 from Class 2 under the Infectious Disease Act by May 2023, with restoration of society being underway, the opportunity to wear contact lenses has been expected furthermore.

On the other hand, soaring prices of materials as well as of manufacturing have raised the product prices, which is likely to continue boosting the market size by value.

​In the medium term, economic slowdown has become a concern due to increasing geopolitical risks and economic uncertainty perceived. Still, there also are some growth factors including response to bifocal contact lenses, which makes the market to be where both expansion or contraction can be possible.

Research Outline