Eyewear Manufacturing Industry Profile

Companies in this industry manufacture ophthalmic products including contact lenses, prescription glasses frames and lenses, and sunglasses. Major companies include Bausch + Lomb and Marchon Eyewear (both based in the US), as well as EssilorLuxottica (France), Fielmann (Germany), and De Rigo, Marcolin, and Safilo (all based in Italy).

Global eyewear market is forecast to reach about $173 billion by 2029, according to Statista. Italy is home to many of the world's top eyewear manufacturers.

The US eyewear manufacturing industry includes about 500 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $6 billion.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by demographics, fashion trends, new product lines, and the level of consumers' discretionary income. The profitability of individual companies depends on maximizing operating efficiencies, maintaining a stable of licenses with popular brands, and effective pricing. Large companies have advantages in purchasing power for raw materials and may control many of the distribution outlets. Small companies can compete effectively by offering more specialized and innovative product lines. The US industry is highly concentrated: the 50 largest companies account for about 95% of industry revenue.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Major products include eye glasses frames, prescription lenses, lens coatings, contact lenses, sunglasses, reading glasses, and goggles.

Eyewear makers usually have in-house design teams to develop frames for their proprietary or licensee brands. The manufacturing process can be intensive. Metal frame manufacturing can require some 70 to ...