Lens innovations grow contact lens market

The UK's contact lens market has witnessed significant growth in both value and volume during the second quarter of 2010.

According to market research company GfK, the value of the contact lens market in the UK, excluding Northern Ireland, has risen by 5.4 per cent in comparison to the same period in 2009 and has grown 2.4 per cent in volume.

GfK attributes this growth to the success of daily disposable and silicone hydrogel (SiH) lenses which both achieved record sales during the quarter. In that time 106 million daily disposable lenses were sold for a value of £56.2m, with the clear spherical lens segment accounting for 90.3 per cent of sales.