Page 32 - The Indian Optician Digital Edition Jan-Feb 2020

COSMETIC CONTACT LENS MARKET TO a feeling of discomfort.
EXCEED $1.3 BILLION BY 2024 “Although there have been
many recent advancements in new
T he Cosmetic Contact Lenses naturally with the usual appearance functions for smart contact lenses,
Market is expected to exceed
of eyes. This segment has gained
USD 1.3 billion by 2024; according to tremendous popularity over the there has been little progress in
solving the drawbacks associated
a new research report. last few years among the teens and with wearing contact lenses day
young adults’ population. to day,” said Professor Matsuhiko
According to Global Market
Insights, Inc., headquartered in Another interesting observation Nishizawa, an engineer at Tohoku
Delaware, U.S., the growing usage in is that the RGP type cosmetic contact University.
the entertainment sector is expected lens market segment will witness To address this problem, the
to boost the cosmetic contact lens noticeable gains of approximately researchers developed a new
market size. These lenses are mostly 6% over the forecast period – the mechanism designed to keep
used in the entertainment industry reason for this could be associated the lens moist. The system uses
to enhance the wearer’s makeup and to benefits such as high oxygen electroosmotic flow (EOF), which
make them appear more dramatic. permeability, sharp vision, durability, causes liquid to flow when a voltage
Other reasons cited for increase and cost-effectiveness. Likewise, is applied across a charged surface.
in this segment are: incline in there will be a rising demand for In this case, a current applied to a
customer’s towards coloured soft and comfortable cosmetic hydrogel causes fluid to flow upwards
contact lenses, growing disposable lenses in hydrogel material owing from the patient’s temporary tear
incomes and increased online to its significant advantages as reservoir behind the lower eyelid to
availability due to the relaxation in compared to other counterparts the surface of the eye.
regulatory approval. and Daily disposables are likely to “This is the first demonstration
As per the report, the increasing hold revenue to the tune of USD 500 that EOF in a soft contact lens
acceptance of corrective LASIK million by 2024. can keep the lens moist,” explains
surgery and an increase in the overall Additionally, online stores Nishizawa.
geriatric population is expected to distribution channel segment is The researchers also explored
negatively affect the market size. the option of using a wireless
expected to account for over 20% power supply for the contact lenses.
The report also stipulates that the cosmetic contact lens market They tested two types of battery,
circle cosmetic contact lens market revenue share by 2024. These stores a magnesium-oxygen battery and
product segment accounted for over provide products at lower prices an enzymatic fructose-oxygen fuel
70% revenue share in 2017 owing along with on-time delivery which cell, both of which are known to be
to the availability of diverse designs will foster new opportunities for the safe and non-toxic for living cells.
coupled with its ability to blend in industry growth. They showed that the system can
be successfully powered by these
SMART SELF-MOISTURISING biobatteries, which can be mounted
CONTACT LENSES directly on the charged contact lens.

However, more research is
A new type of smart contact in the journal Advanced Materials required to develop improved self-
lenses that have the ability
Technologies.
to maintain a layer of fluid between moisturising contact lenses that are
tougher and capable of operating at
the contact lenses and the eye have It is widely known that contact smaller currents.
been developed by a research team lenses can cause “dry eye syndrome”
from Tohoku University. The lenses due to reduced blinking and “The scope of this technology
feature a novel self-moisturising increased moisture evaporation. Dry for other applications, such as drug
system that enables them to prevent eye syndrome can lead to corneal delivery, can be expanded later,”
dry eyes, reports a study published wounds and inflammation as well as sums up Nishizawa.

| JAN-FEB 2020 | 28 CONTACT LENS NEWS

January-February 2020 SK News IDML.indd 1 02/15/2020 20:30