A once sleepy segment led by two eyewear brands- Essilor of France in lenses, and Italy’s Luxottica in frames- is now being transformed into a hotbed of innovation and marketing activities, thanks to the convergence of health and fashion trends, the internet, and favorable demographics. From the medical or optical side (spectacles) to a purely fashion perspective (sunglasses), there has been a remarkable evolution in the global eyeglasses industry.
Today, there are many world’s top eyewear companies than ever before. Powerhouse eyewear brands like Essilor, LUXOTTICA GROUP, Novartis, and Safilo Group all invest massively in their eyewear collections and promote new styles, innovative materials and other factors that can offer their business a competitive edge.
Top 5 Eyewear Brands that are Dominating the Global Market in 2018
1. Essilor
Attributed with influential breakthroughs that have left a significant mark on the world of optics (progressives, plastic, photochromic lenses), the Essilor Group, based in Charenton-le-Pont, France, is one of the pioneering eyewear brands. The world’s leading ophthalmic optics and sunglasses brand, Essilor designs, manufactures and endorses a wide range of eye lenses to protect and correct eyesight. The company adopts technologies that are employed across varied scientific disciplines while designing their latest products.
This process of constant renewal guarantees comfort and optimum visual quality for wearers. Iconic products, such as Crizal, the leading ‘No-Glare’ lens, and Varilux, the world’s first progressive addition lens, symbolize Essilor’s potential for cutting edge innovation. Essilor’s approach to innovation also relies heavily on an extensive network of global partnerships involving industrial groups, universities and subject matter experts including SERI (Singapore Eye Research Institute) and CNRS (National Scientific Research Center) in France.
2. Johnson & Johnson Vision Care
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care is a leading eyewear company, committed to creating cutting-edge solutions for a range of eye care needs. Since its ACUVUE Brand made its debut in 1987 as the world’s first disposable contact lens, the company has consistently brought innovative, scientific and quality advancements to the global eyewear industry.
Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, the company designs, manufactures, and sells disposable contact lenses. It offers multifocal, color, spherical, toric and eye enhancement contact lenses along with lenses for astigmatism patients. In 2017, Johnson & Johnson acquired Abbott Medical Optics (AMO). This helped them add ophthalmic eyewear products in three crucial areas of patient care- laser refractive surgery (LASIK), consumer eye health and cataract surgery.
3. Luxottica Group
Luxottica Group, which began its journey in the 1960s, has been one of the world’s leading eyewear brands in the design, manufacture, and distribution of sports, luxury, fashion, and performance eyewear. Since its incorporation, the company has transformed eyeglass frames from an essential medical device to a sought-after fashion accessory. This revolution not only helped to create a growing consumer appetite, but also increased the demand for premium branded frames around the world. Luxottica has been a pioneer in delivering eyewear collections that are enriched with innovative materials and sophisticated decorations.
A well-balanced and robust company portfolio is undoubtedly a core strength of Luxottica, which includes prestigious licensed brands as well as iconic proprietary brands.
4. Novartis
Alcon, a US-based company that operates as a subsidiary of Novartis, manufactures cutting-edge eye care products. The company ranks second in the contact lenses and solutions market. After establishing a strong foothold in America, Novartis is now aiming to grow its presence in Western Europe and the Asia Pacific. In doing so, it is constantly innovating, as recently seen with the latest multifocal edition of its Dailies Total 1 contact lenses.
Novartis retails a wide range of product categories like ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, surgical equipment, and contact lenses. It also offers contact lenses and surgical devices for cataract, glaucoma, vitreoretinal, and refractive treatment.
5. Safilo Group
There has been a surge in the emergence of Italian companies in the global eyewear market over the past decade. However, more recently, many of Italy’s manufacturers lost their markets to low-cost rivals in markets like Singapore and China. However, Safilo and Luxottica are the two Italian companies that have successfully transformed eyeglasses from a healthcare product into a pricey fashion accessory.
Safilo Group manufactures prescription eyewear and sunglasses- operating a number of brands that are grouped into licensed and own brands. The latter includes Polaroid, Smith Optics, Safilo, Carrera, and Oxydo eyewear brands.
Report featured in this article:
