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Silicone hydrogel lens sales soared during 2005
Atlanta?Silicone hydrogel contact lens sales are speeding up so rapidly that they may overtake traditional soft contact lens sales by the end of 2007, according to estimates based on retail audit data by the A.C. Nielsen Co. CIBA Vision holds the leading share of the silicone hydrogel segment at 49.5% of retail sales year-to-date, August 2005, according to the data.
Atlanta-Silicone hydrogel contact lens sales are speeding up so rapidly that they may overtake traditional soft contact lens sales by the end of 2007, according to estimates based on retail audit data by the A.C. Nielsen Co. CIBA Vision holds the leading share of the silicone hydrogel segment at 49.5% of retail sales year-to-date, August 2005, according to the data.
"As more silicone hydrogel lenses are introduced, we are witnessing an acceleration of eye-care professionals converting to these advanced materials," said Karen Gough, president, CIBA Vision's Americas Region.
"If present trends continue, silicone hydrogels will become the dominant lens material in the United States during 2007, ahead of our prior forecasts," she continued.
Since September 2004, when CIBA Vision introduced its 2-week silicone hydrogel lens, O2OPTIX, the silicone hydrogel segment's share of retail sales has grown on an average of 1.2 points per month. By year-end 2006, the segment's share is likely to exceed 45%.
