Total worldwide sales of products used to diagnose and treat glaucoma amounted to $4.2 billion in 2008, and pharmaceuticals accounted for the lion’s share of these revenues. A number of devices are used to screen for and monitor glaucoma, however once diagnosed medications instead of surgery is the first line of treatment. As a rule, surgical devices are used only when medication therapy fails to achieve the desired result.

Ophthalmic lasers are used to treat a wide variety of diseases and conditions, but these devices are primarily used to treat retinal disease, glaucoma, and a common complication to cataract surgery. Use of lasers to treat these ophthalmic conditions has been common practice for more than 20 years, and the last major technical progress was made in the mid 1990s with the introduction of diode lasers to replace the older gas lasers. Also, the introduction of the SLT laser, a treatment breakthrough employing a lower power, shorter pulse version of existing technology, has helped to grow the category.

Ultrasonic phacoemulsification is the standard of care for cataract surgery in all wealthy nations, and the technology is on the way to becoming the standard of care in less developed regions, as well. The sophisticated phaco machines and disposable kits required to perform modern cataract surgery create a significant market opportunity.

Market Scope expects global sales of approximately $840 million in cataract equipment and dedicated machines in 2008. In addition, we forecast that the market will increase to $1.15 billion by 2013 at a compounded annual growth rate of 6.4 percent.

The aging of the global population will lead to steady increases in ophthalmic surgery during the next five years. This and rising concerns over cross-contamination are key factors that will drive growth in the single-use ophthalmic surgical products market during the period. New technologies and products such as refractive IOLs will add to the mix of market drivers, as will the increased demand for labor-saving devices, which has been spurred by a growing shortage of ophthalmologists and nurses.

Market Scope expects the global ophthalmic single-use surgical products market to generate $1.78 billion in sales in 2008, and we forecast that the market will climb to $2.31 billion by 2013, representing a compounded annual growth rate of 5.4 percent.

At the manufacturer level, sales of dry eye medications are forecast to grow at a compounded rate of 11.5 percent to reach $2.3 billion by 2013. Much of the growth during this period will come from prescription-based therapeutic products designed to address the causes of dry eye.