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Online Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Sales in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Arna Richardson Arna Richardson Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: July 2024 ANZSIC OD4089

Revenue

$191.5m

2024-25

$204.2m

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xm

Employees

334

Businesses

56

Wages

$XX.Xm

Online Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Sales in Australia industry analysis

The industry has benefited from the rapidly expanding online retail space over the past decade. Many online eyewear retailers have reaped the rewards of online retailing's lower operating costs. This has allowed them to offer greater discounts on their products compared with their bricks-and-mortar counterparts, although in some instances this has come at the expense of profit margins. Several online eyewear retailers have successfully capitalised on trends positioning eyewear as a fashion accessory, with competitive offerings designed to encourage consumers to purchase multiple pairs. They have also adopted new technologies to provide consumers with virtual fitting rooms and other customisation options to help consumers feel more comfortable purchasing eyeglass frames and lenses before physically trying them on.

Trends and Insights

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the pace of digitisation within the wider eye care market, to the benefit of online optical retailers. As consumers become increasingly comfortable shopping for optical products online, continued growth opportunities exist for the industry.
  • Previously, consumers' hesitance to purchase eyewear online heavily influenced the industry's product profile. However, online eyewear companies' investments in technology allowing consumers to choose and try on glasses virtually are gradually changing the industry's product profile.
  • Given the nature of online retailing, the most densely populated areas account for the largest share of industry revenue. The three most populous states – New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland – generate over three-quarters of industry revenue.
  • Price is a leading form of competition, with online retailers using lower prices and discounts to entice and retain customers. Early adopters offered significant discounts to appeal to hesitant customers. Returning customers typically have higher average spends than new customers.
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Everything you need in one report

  • Reliable market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
  • Online membership platform with PDF, Word, Excel and PPT exports

Industry Overview

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 8.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $191.5m in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The industry benefits from favourable growth drivers across several fronts

  • The industry has recorded strong growth in recent years, on the back of robust growth across the entire online retailing landscape.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Online Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Sales in Australia
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Favourable demographics will help propel industry growth

  • An ageing population is set to bolster demand for eyewear in the coming years, in line with a rise in age-related eye disorders, including cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Biggest companies in the Online Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Sales in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Luxottica
35.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 1 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Online Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Sales in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Contact lenses , Eyeglasses and Sunglasses. Contact lenses is the largest segment of the Online Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Sales in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Contact lenses lend themselves well to online retailing

  • Contact lenses represent the industry’s largest product segment as they lend themselves well to online retailing since they’re standardised and consumers are familiar with particular brands and varieties.
  • More insights available in the full report

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Competitors

  • Optometry and Optical Dispensing in Australia

Complementors

  • Photographic and Optical Goods Manufacturing in Australia
  • Specialist Medical Services in Australia
  • Other Health Services in Australia

International industries

  • Online Eyeglasses & Contact Lens Sales in the US
  • Online Glasses & Contact Lens Retailing in the UK

View all industries in Australia

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Industry firms primarily sell optical and eyewear goods over the internet. Firms purchase merchandise from manufacturers or wholesalers to onsell to consumers. The industry also includes sunglasses sold online.

What's included in this industry?

Eyeglasses Contact lensesSunglassesOther eyewear products

Companies

Luxottica

Purchase this report to view all 1 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

BIFOCAL LENSESGLAUCOMACATARACTMACULAR DEGENERATIONTORIC CONTACT LENSES

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 8532 - Online Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Sales in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the pace of digitisation within the wider eye care market, to the benefit of online optical retailers. As consumers become increasingly ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Previously, consumers' hesitance to purchase eyewear online heavily influenced the industry's product profile. However, online eyewear companies' investments in technology al...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Given the nature of online retailing, the most densely populated areas account for the largest share of industry revenue. The three most populous states – New South Wales, Vi...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Price is a leading form of competition, with online retailers using lower prices and discounts to entice and retain customers. Early adopters offered significant discounts to...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The Online Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Sales industry displays low market share concentration, with only one player commanding a market share in excess of 5.0%. This reflects...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Luxottica's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Luxottica, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Several variables influence the frequency, quality and type of eyewear purchased online. For example, while prescription eyeglasses are a necessity, disposable income can det...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

A company's business model can influence its cost structure. Online eyewear retailers that compete on the basis of price and rely heavily on aggressive price discounting and ...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.

Frequently Asked Questions

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Online Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Sales industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Online Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Sales industry in Australia is $191.5m in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Online Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Sales in Australia industry in 2024?

There are 56 businesses in the Online Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Sales industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 4.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Online Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Sales industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Online Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Sales industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 8.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Online Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Sales industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Online Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Sales industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Online Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Sales market in Australia?

The biggest company operating in the Online Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Sales market in Australia is Luxottica

What does the Online Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Sales in Australia include?

Eyeglasses and Contact lenses are part of the Online Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Sales industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Online Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Sales in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is Luxottica.

How competitive is the Online Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Sales industry in Australia?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Online Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Sales industry in Australia.