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Global Cataract Surgery Devices Market Overview, 2025-30

Published Nov 12, 2025
Length 112 Pages
SKU # BORM20565603

Description

The global cataract surgery devices market is experiencing robust growth, driven by the increasing prevalence of cataracts, advancements in surgical technologies, and expanding access to eye care services worldwide. The market encompasses a wide range of devices, including phacoemulsification systems, femtosecond laser platforms, intraocular lenses, ophthalmic viscoelastic devices, surgical instruments, and accessories. The typical life cycle of cataract surgery equipment ranges from 8 to 12 years, depending on device type, usage intensity, and maintenance practices. High-volume surgical centers generally schedule service and calibration every 6 to 12 months, while femtosecond laser systems require more frequent checks to maintain laser precision, optical alignment, and fluidics performance. Regulatory frameworks governing cataract surgery devices vary across regions but generally include stringent requirements for device approval, import, and post-market surveillance. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration regulates ophthalmic devices, ensuring compliance with international safety and efficacy standards. The European Medicines Agency oversees device certification and market entry in Europe, while other regions have similar regulatory bodies enforcing specific requirements. Devices must meet rigorous quality standards, including ISO certifications and adherence to international medical device regulations for clinical evaluation and traceability. Government policies play a crucial role in shaping the cataract surgery devices market. In many countries, public health programs, insurance coverage for cataract surgeries, and initiatives aimed at reducing preventable blindness contribute to increased demand for cataract surgery devices. Additionally, rising private sector investment, growing medical tourism, and awareness campaigns promoting early cataract detection are driving demand for advanced surgical equipment.

The global cataract surgery devices market is evolving through strategic mergers, collaborations, and technological innovations, enhancing accessibility, efficiency, and surgical precision. Leading global manufacturers are actively forming partnerships with regional hospitals, ophthalmic centers, and local distributors to strengthen their presence. For example, Alcon and Johnson & Johnson Vision have partnered with leading ophthalmic hospitals in Saudi Arabia and UAE to introduce advanced phacoemulsification and femtosecond laser systems. Collaborative efforts also extend to training programs for ophthalmic surgeons, enabling knowledge transfer and increasing adoption of premium intraocular lenses, multifocal lenses, and toric IOLs. Robotic-assisted surgical platforms and advanced imaging systems are also being gradually introduced in top-tier hospitals, enhancing procedural accuracy, reducing surgical time, and minimizing postoperative complications. The growing focus on ambulatory surgery centers and day-care ophthalmic facilities further drives demand for compact, reliable, and technologically advanced devices. From a trade and raw material perspective, the global cataract surgery devices market relies on a combination of domestic manufacturing and imports. High-end phacoemulsification systems, laser optics, and biocompatible polymers are predominantly imported from the United States, Germany, and Japan. Local manufacturing is limited, mostly focusing on surgical consumables and basic instruments. Raw materials such as hydrophobic acrylics, silicone, PMMA, and precision optical glass are essential for IOL production and laser device manufacturing.

Market Drivers

Increasing aging population: One of the primary drivers behind the global cataract surgery devices market is the steadily growing older-adult population worldwide, which correlates with a higher incidence of cataracts and thus a greater need for surgical interventions. As life expectancy rises and more people enter the age brackets most at risk for cataract development (typically 60 years and above), the volume of cataract surgeries naturally increases, prompting demand for devices such as phacoemulsification systems, intraocular lenses (IOLs), ophthalmic viscoelastic devices and supporting equipment.
Technological advancements: another major driver is the continuous innovation in cataract surgery devices and supporting technologies, which enhances outcomes, broadens the scope of surgical options, and stimulates adoption. Advancements include femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS), micro-incision phacoemulsification systems, premium IOLs, AI-driven diagnostics and intraoperative guidance tools. These technologies lead to better visual outcomes, fewer complications, faster recovery times, and greater patient satisfaction all of which encourage both surgeons and patients to choose surgery and upgrade equipment.

Market Challenges

High cost and affordability constraints: A significant challenge facing the global cataract surgery devices market is the high cost associated with advanced surgical equipment, premium devices and technologies, which limits adoption in cost-sensitive regions and settings. Numerous reports highlight that femtosecond laser systems, premium IOLs and other cutting-edge devices carry substantial upfront capital investment, maintenance costs and consumables cost. In many developing and emerging market geographies, limited reimbursement coverage, low healthcare budgets, and patients’ unwillingness or inability to pay for premium procedures compound this barrier.
Lack of skilled professionals: another key challenge is the shortage of trained ophthalmic surgeons and the variable infrastructure needed to adopt sophisticated cataract surgery devices globally. Advanced surgical techniques require not only expensive equipment but also highly skilled personnel, training programmes, and operational workflows aligned with best practices. Reports show that many regions particularly in emerging countries have fewer ophthalmologists per capita, fewer surgical centres equipped for high-volume modern cataract surgeries and less well-developed supporting infrastructure.

Market Trends

Shift toward minimally invasive outpatient procedures: One of the key trends shaping the global cataract surgery devices market is the movement toward minimally invasive procedures, premium intraocular lenses and outpatient surgical centres. Surgeons and patients increasingly prefer techniques that reduce incision size, trauma, and recovery time and complication risk driving adoption of micro-incision phacoemulsification, femtosecond lasers and premium IOLs such as multifocal or toric lenses.
Rising adoption of digital health: another emerging trend in the global cataract surgery devices market is the integration of digital health technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), tele-ophthalmology, portable/mobile surgical units and enhanced diagnostics. With increasing emphasis on surgical precision, workflow efficiency and connectivity, manufacturers are incorporating AI-driven imaging, preoperative planning systems, intraoperative analytics and remote monitoring into their cataract surgery device offerings.

Intraocular lenses dominate the global cataract surgery devices market because they are an indispensable component of cataract surgery driven by advancements in lens technology and increasing demand for premium visual outcomes.

Intraocular lenses represent the largest segment in the global cataract surgery devices market primarily because they are the core medical device used to replace the eye’s natural lens after cataract removal making them indispensable to every cataract procedure performed worldwide. Cataract surgery, being one of the most frequently conducted surgeries globally, inherently generates a vast and consistent demand for IOLs. The World Health Organization estimates that cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness, affecting over 90 million people globally, and as life expectancy rises, the number of cataract surgeries continues to grow exponentially. Technological advancements have significantly expanded the functionality and desirability of IOLs, transforming them from basic vision-restoring implants into sophisticated devices capable of correcting refractive errors and enhancing post-surgical vision quality. Innovations such as multifocal, toric, accommodating, and extended depth-of-focus (EDOF) IOLs enable surgeons to offer patients customized solutions tailored to their visual needs, reducing dependence on spectacles after surgery. For instance, multifocal IOLs allow clear vision at multiple distances, while toric IOLs correct astigmatism a feature that is increasingly popular among patients seeking convenience and improved lifestyle outcomes. These advanced lenses command higher prices and profit margins, further propelling revenue growth in the IOL segment. The integration of IOL technology with digital surgical systems and advanced diagnostics has improved surgical precision and outcomes, driving surgeon and patient confidence. Manufacturers are increasingly investing in materials science, introducing IOLs made from advanced hydrophobic acrylic and blue light-filtering materials that enhance optical clarity and biocompatibility.

Nuclear sclerotic cataracts dominate and grow fastest in the global cataract surgery devices market because they are the most common age-related cataract type worldwide and increasing demand for surgical intervention.

Nuclear sclerotic cataracts represent the largest and fastest-growing application segment in the global cataract surgery devices market primarily because they are the most prevalent form of cataract affecting the world’s aging population. This type of cataract develops gradually in the central zone of the lens, causing it to harden, yellow, and lose transparency over time, leading to progressive visual decline. Another reason nuclear sclerotic cataracts dominate is their slow yet progressive nature, which often results in patients delaying treatment until visual impairment becomes significant. Because this cataract type progresses over many years, by the time surgery becomes necessary, the condition tends to be advanced, requiring sophisticated surgical techniques and specialized devices to ensure safe and efficient removal. This directly fuels the demand for advanced cataract surgery devices such as phacoemulsification systems, viscoelastic agents, and premium intraocular lenses. Technological advancements have further accelerated the treatment of nuclear sclerotic cataracts, making surgeries safer, faster, and more accessible. The introduction of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery and enhanced phacoemulsification systems has improved the precision of lens fragmentation and extraction a critical factor in handling dense, sclerotic nuclei. These innovations reduce the risk of surgical complications and postoperative inflammation, which are more likely in hard, mature nuclear cataracts. As a result, ophthalmologists are increasingly confident in performing surgeries even for severe cases, thereby driving up the number of procedures and device utilization rates.

Ambulatory Surgery Centers are the fastest-growing end-user segment in the global cataract surgery devices market because they offer cost-efficient and increasing preference for outpatient procedures.

Ambulatory Surgery Centers are rapidly emerging as the fastest-growing end-user segment in the global cataract surgery devices market, primarily due to the global shift toward value-based, outpatient healthcare delivery that emphasizes cost efficiency, convenience, and high surgical throughput. Cataract surgery is inherently suited to the ambulatory model because it is a minimally invasive procedure with low complication rates and short recovery times, allowing patients to undergo same-day discharge without requiring overnight hospitalization. This has led to a surge in cataract surgeries being performed in ASCs rather than traditional hospital settings. A major factor propelling the growth of ASCs in the cataract surgery devices market is their operational efficiency and focus on high surgical volumes. Unlike large hospitals that manage multiple specialties, ASCs specialize in specific procedures such as ophthalmic surgeries, enabling them to streamline workflows, reduce waiting times, and maximize the number of surgeries performed per day. This efficiency creates strong demand for reliable, compact, and easy-to-use cataract surgery devices such as phacoemulsification systems, ophthalmic viscoelastic devices, and intraocular lenses that support fast procedural turnover. Technological innovation has also played a crucial role in the expansion of ASCs globally. The miniaturization and portability of surgical equipment, combined with advancements in phacoemulsification and femtosecond laser systems, have made it possible for ASCs to deliver hospital-grade outcomes in smaller, lower-cost facilities. Additionally, the increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI), real-time imaging, and surgical navigation systems within these centers enhances surgical precision, shortens operating times, and improves patient outcomes.

Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region in the global cataract surgery devices market due to its rapidly aging population and rising adoption of advanced surgical technologies supported by government initiatives.

The Asia-Pacific region is witnessing the fastest growth in the global cataract surgery devices market because of a confluence of demographic, economic, and technological factors that are transforming the region’s eye care landscape. One of the foremost drivers of this growth is the region’s rapidly aging population, which has led to a significant rise in age-related eye diseases such as cataracts. According to the United Nations, by 2050, nearly one in four people in Asia will be aged 60 or older, creating a massive patient base for cataract surgeries. Countries such as Japan, China, India, and South Korea are already reporting a surge in cataract incidence, as the natural aging process causes clouding and hardening of the eye lens. In addition to demographics, rapid healthcare infrastructure development and growing accessibility to surgical care have greatly accelerated market expansion. Many Asia-Pacific countries are making substantial investments in upgrading hospitals, establishing specialized eye clinics, and training ophthalmologists to meet the growing demand for cataract surgeries. India, for example, has become one of the largest cataract surgery markets in the world, performing millions of surgeries annually through both public health programs and private eye care chains like Aravind Eye Care and Sankara Nethralaya. Asia-Pacific is at the forefront of adopting digital health technologies and AI-driven diagnostics in ophthalmology. Teleophthalmology programs and portable surgical devices are extending cataract care to remote communities, overcoming barriers of geography and infrastructure. Countries like Japan and Singapore are pioneering AI-assisted cataract screening and surgical planning systems, setting new standards for precision and efficiency in cataract treatment.

• April 2025: Alcon announced the launch of the UNITY® Vitreoretinal Cataract System (VCS) and UNITY® Cataract System (CS), offering a versatile platform with both a combined console (VCS) and a standalone cataract system (CS). The systems featured first-to-market technologies, including UNITY 4D Phaco, HYPERVIT® 30K, and the UNITY Intelligent Fluidics system, designed to improve efficiency and surgical outcomes for cataract and vitreoretinal procedures.
• March 2025: Alcon announced that Vivity®, the widely implanted extended depth of focus (EDOF) intraocular lens, became available on its advanced Clareon® lens material. Clareon Vivity® received CE Mark approval and began its commercial rollout in Europe in early Q2 2025.
• October 2024: Bausch + Lomb introduced the enVista Envy IOL after receiving FDA approval for it-s wavefront-optimized optics that deliver sharp vision at all distances.
• September 2024: ClearView 3 Lens, a dual-lens designed to reduce glare and halos, offering a seamless visual experience, was launched by LensTech Inc.
• September 2024: Johnson & Johnson Vision launched TECNIS Odyssey, a next-generation IOL engineered to minimize halos and glare while improving contrast sensitivity.
• July 2024: Lensar announced that the Oertli Instrumente received FDA 510(k) clearance for its Faros anterior cataract surgery system.
• June 2024: Alcon's new UNITY Cataract and Vitreoretinal Systems received U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance.
• January 2024: Carl Zeiss Meditec obtained FDA clearance for the VisuMax 800 SMILE platform and surpassed 2 million cataract cases planned with its Veracity Surgery Planner, highlighting the rise of digital workflow tools.
• January 2024: Bausch + Lomb secured FDA approval for the Teneo Excimer Laser Platform, complementing its cataract franchise with refractive capabilities.
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Table of Contents

112 Pages
1. Executive Summary
2. Market Dynamics
2.1. Market Drivers & Opportunities
2.2. Market Restraints & Challenges
2.3. Market Trends
2.4. Supply chain Analysis
2.5. Policy & Regulatory Framework
2.6. Industry Experts Views
3. Research Methodology
3.1. Secondary Research
3.2. Primary Data Collection
3.3. Market Formation & Validation
3.4. Report Writing, Quality Check & Delivery
4. Market Structure
4.1. Market Considerate
4.2. Assumptions
4.3. Limitations
4.4. Abbreviations
4.5. Sources
4.6. Definitions
5. Economic /Demographic Snapshot
6. Global Cataract Surgery Market Outlook
6.1. Market Size By Value
6.2. Market Share By Region
6.3. Market Size and Forecast, By Geography
6.4. Market Size and Forecast, By Product Type
6.5. Market Size and Forecast, By Application
6.6. Market Size and Forecast, By End User
7. North America Cataract Surgery Market Outlook
7.1. Market Size By Value
7.2. Market Share By Country
7.3. Market Size and Forecast, By Product Type
7.4. Market Size and Forecast, By Application
7.5. Market Size and Forecast, By End User
8. Europe Cataract Surgery Market Outlook
8.1. Market Size By Value
8.2. Market Share By Country
8.3. Market Size and Forecast, By Product Type
8.4. Market Size and Forecast, By Application
8.5. Market Size and Forecast, By End User
9. Asia-Pacific Cataract Surgery Market Outlook
9.1. Market Size By Value
9.2. Market Share By Country
9.3. Market Size and Forecast, By Product Type
9.4. Market Size and Forecast, By Application
9.5. Market Size and Forecast, By End User
10. South America Cataract Surgery Market Outlook
10.1. Market Size By Value
10.2. Market Share By Country
10.3. Market Size and Forecast, By Product Type
10.4. Market Size and Forecast, By Application
10.5. Market Size and Forecast, By End User
11. Middle East & Africa Cataract Surgery Market Outlook
11.1. Market Size By Value
11.2. Market Share By Country
11.3. Market Size and Forecast, By Product Type
11.4. Market Size and Forecast, By Application
11.5. Market Size and Forecast, By End User
12. Competitive Landscape
12.1. Competitive Dashboard
12.2. Business Strategies Adopted by Key Players
12.3. Key Players Market Share Insights and Analysis, 2024
12.4. Key Players Market Positioning Matrix
12.5. Porter's Five Forces
12.6. Company Profile
12.6.1. Alcon Inc.
12.6.1.1. Company Snapshot
12.6.1.2. Company Overview
12.6.1.3. Financial Highlights
12.6.1.4. Geographic Insights
12.6.1.5. Business Segment & Performance
12.6.1.6. Product Portfolio
12.6.1.7. Key Executives
12.6.1.8. Strategic Moves & Developments
12.6.2. Johnson & Johnson
12.6.3. Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
12.6.4. Bausch + Lomb Corporation
12.6.5. NIDEK Co. Ltd.
12.6.6. Glaukos Corporation
12.6.7. Beaver-Visitec International, Inc.
12.6.8. Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG
12.6.9. Hoya Corporation
12.6.10. Rayner Surgical Group Limited
13. Strategic Recommendations
14. Annexure
14.1. FAQ`s
14.2. Notes
14.3. Related Reports
15. Disclaimer
List of Figures
Figure 1: Global Cataract Surgery Market Size (USD Billion) By Region, 2024 & 2030
Figure 2: Market attractiveness Index, By Region 2030
Figure 3: Market attractiveness Index, By Segment 2030
Figure 4: Global Cataract Surgery Market Size By Value (2019, 2024 & 2030F) (in USD Billion)
Figure 5: Global Cataract Surgery Market Share By Region (2024)
Figure 6: North America Cataract Surgery Market Size By Value (2019, 2024 & 2030F) (in USD Billion)
Figure 7: North America Cataract Surgery Market Share By Country (2024)
Figure 8: Europe Cataract Surgery Market Size By Value (2019, 2024 & 2030F) (in USD Billion)
Figure 9: Europe Cataract Surgery Market Share By Country (2024)
Figure 10: Asia-Pacific Cataract Surgery Market Size By Value (2019, 2024 & 2030F) (in USD Billion)
Figure 11: Asia-Pacific Cataract Surgery Market Share By Country (2024)
Figure 12: South America Cataract Surgery Market Size By Value (2019, 2024 & 2030F) (in USD Billion)
Figure 13: South America Cataract Surgery Market Share By Country (2024)
Figure 14: Middle East & Africa Cataract Surgery Market Size By Value (2019, 2024 & 2030F) (in USD Billion)
Figure 15: Middle East & Africa Cataract Surgery Market Share By Country (2024)
Figure 16: Porter's Five Forces of Global Cataract Surgery Market
List of Tables
Table 1: Global Cataract Surgery Market Snapshot, By Segmentation (2024 & 2030) (in USD Billion)
Table 2: Influencing Factors for Cataract Surgery Market, 2024
Table 3: Top 10 Counties Economic Snapshot 2022
Table 4: Economic Snapshot of Other Prominent Countries 2022
Table 5: Average Exchange Rates for Converting Foreign Currencies into U.S. Dollars
Table 6: Global Cataract Surgery Market Size and Forecast, By Geography (2019 to 2030F) (In USD Billion)
Table 7: Global Cataract Surgery Market Size and Forecast, By Product Type (2019 to 2030F) (In USD Billion)
Table 8: Global Cataract Surgery Market Size and Forecast, By Application (2019 to 2030F) (In USD Billion)
Table 9: Global Cataract Surgery Market Size and Forecast, By End User (2019 to 2030F) (In USD Billion)
Table 10: North America Cataract Surgery Market Size and Forecast, By Product Type (2019 to 2030F) (In USD Billion)
Table 11: North America Cataract Surgery Market Size and Forecast, By Application (2019 to 2030F) (In USD Billion)
Table 12: North America Cataract Surgery Market Size and Forecast, By End User (2019 to 2030F) (In USD Billion)
Table 13: Europe Cataract Surgery Market Size and Forecast, By Product Type (2019 to 2030F) (In USD Billion)
Table 14: Europe Cataract Surgery Market Size and Forecast, By Application (2019 to 2030F) (In USD Billion)
Table 15: Europe Cataract Surgery Market Size and Forecast, By End User (2019 to 2030F) (In USD Billion)
Table 16: Asia-Pacific Cataract Surgery Market Size and Forecast, By Product Type (2019 to 2030F) (In USD Billion)
Table 17: Asia-Pacific Cataract Surgery Market Size and Forecast, By Application (2019 to 2030F) (In USD Billion)
Table 18: Asia-Pacific Cataract Surgery Market Size and Forecast, By End User (2019 to 2030F) (In USD Billion)
Table 19: South America Cataract Surgery Market Size and Forecast, By Product Type (2019 to 2030F) (In USD Billion)
Table 20: South America Cataract Surgery Market Size and Forecast, By Application (2019 to 2030F) (In USD Billion)
Table 21: South America Cataract Surgery Market Size and Forecast, By End User (2019 to 2030F) (In USD Billion)
Table 22: Middle East & Africa Cataract Surgery Market Size and Forecast, By Product Type (2019 to 2030F) (In USD Billion)
Table 23: Middle East & Africa Cataract Surgery Market Size and Forecast, By Application (2019 to 2030F) (In USD Billion)
Table 24: Middle East & Africa Cataract Surgery Market Size and Forecast, By End User (2019 to 2030F) (In USD Billion)
Table 25: Competitive Dashboard of top 5 players, 2024
Table 26: Key Players Market Share Insights and Anaylysis for Cataract Surgery Market 2024
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