Ophthalmic goods and services in the UK saw 14.1 per cent market growth between 2006 and 2010 to reach an estimated £3bn, according to researcher Key Note.
Sales during the four-year period were dominated by spectacles, which accounted for 81.9 per cent of the total value, while numbers of contact lens wearers rose to an estimated 3.6 million people.
Key Note expects the overall market to be worth £3.44bn by 2015.