Eyewear sold in the United States 2009-2012, by type

This statistic depicts the total amount of eyewear sold in the United States from 2009 to 2012, by type. In 2012, 69.1 million units of prescription eyeglasses were sold in the United States.

Eyewear in the United States

As the economy continued its gradual recovery last year, the U.S. optical retailing sector also exhibited slow but steady growth. Increasing usage and acceptance of eyewear products in general, and prescription eyewear in particular, is a critical driver for market growth. Plano sunglasses, which are sunglasses fitted with non-Rx lenses, provide protection for the eyes against harmful UV radiation. These non-prescription products are expected to witness lower demand in the organized sector in developing geographies; however, they contribute largely to the overall revenue due to high retail prices.

Eyewear in general has been enjoying widespread popularity; owing to high degree of penetration in developing and developed economies alike. Due to lifestyle changes, which involve increasing formal employment and extensive usage of computers, the number of individuals using corrective eyewear is also on the incline. Contact lenses are gaining user acceptance due to increased awareness and convenience of use. Daily disposable and weekly disposable contact lenses are expected to be the preferred modality, due to their cost effectiveness and low dependency.

The eyewear market will continue to grow as manufacturers continue to adhere to the constant demands and trends of the consumer.