contact lens

The contact lens market in China is a multi-billion dollar market. Recent data indicate that nearly 36 million Chinese - almost 13％ of all Chinese - wear contact lenses. There are numerous manufacturers of contact lenses (e.g., Johnson & Johnson, Bausch & Lomb, and CIBA Vision) and many different channels of distribution, including eye care practitioners (e.g., ophthalmologists and optometrists), national and regional optical chains, mass merchants (e.g., Wal-Mart and Costco), and mail order and Internet firms. The contact lens market has undergone significant change in recent years. In the past, for example, contact lenses were designed to last for long periods of time, required daily removal, and involved extensive cleaning regimens. Consumers generally purchased these lenses from their eye care practitioners after an eye exam and lens fitting and then replaced them, for example, when the prescription changed or a contact lens was lost or damaged. Manufacturers had not developed production methods for lenses that provided standardized reproduction. The development of standardized lenses has facilitated the growth of sellers other than eye care practitioners. Consumer choice in the contact lens market is expanding, and that can have important benefits to consumers. Competition among contact lens sellers benefits consumers through lower prices, greater convenience, and improved product quality.