Sheridan, Wyoming – November 04, 2026 -- The global ophthalmic equipment market is valued at USD 21.2 billion in 2026 and will reach USD 30.5 billion by 2031, a 7.5% CAGR over 2026-2031, according to a new study by Wissen Research.
Untreated vision loss drives procurement toward two device tiers
The World Health Organization reported in February 2026 that at least 2.2 billion people have a near or distance vision impairment, and that at least 1 billion of those cases could have been treated. Cataracts affect more than 94 million people, and nearly half of those facing cataract-related blindness still lack access to surgery. Global cataract surgical coverage rose by about 15% over two decades, but WHO projects growth of only 8.4% in the current decade.
Wissen finds demand splitting in two: more capable surgical and imaging platforms in hospitals, and lower-cost portable and AI-assisted devices for patients far from specialist eye centres.
Cataract buyers now weigh throughput, uptime and cost per procedure over purchase price
Because cataract surgery is short, equipment availability, patient turnover and operating-room utilization shape purchasing. The report expects procurement to depend increasingly on total cost per procedure, uptime and throughput. The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness put global effective cataract surgical coverage at 44% in its 2026 Vision Atlas. WHO reported that three in four people needing cataract surgery in the African Region remain untreated.
Installed systems also feed recurring sales. Alcon reported about USD 3.03 billion in surgical consumables sales in 2025, against USD 941 million from surgical equipment and other products. Its total surgical business reached approximately USD 5.8 billion. Eurostat counted more than 5 million cataract surgeries across the European Union in 2023.
AI retinal screening moves out of specialist clinics, with 36 approved devices
A 2025 review found 36 ophthalmic AI devices approved by regulators across Europe and the United States. AI-based fundus cameras and optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems help identify diabetic retinopathy and track progression. OCT has become the standard retinal imaging technique, with more than 30 million procedures performed globally each year.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration maintains a dedicated classification for software that analyzes retinal images to identify referable diabetic retinopathy. The American Diabetes Association's 2025 Standards of Care recognize retinal photography with remote expert interpretation, or FDA-authorized AI algorithms, as ways to widen screening access. ATscale published guidance in 2025 on handheld autorefractors, based on a multicountry study in Ethiopia, Nepal and Nigeria. Wissen cautions that AI adoption remains application-specific, with clinical validation, interoperability, regulatory approval and performance across diverse populations still open issues.
Femtosecond lasers and 3D imaging raise surgical precision
Femtosecond lasers, three-dimensional imaging and improved visualization are making cataract, retinal and refractive procedures more precise. Wissen sees manufacturers differentiating on visualization quality, procedural efficiency and integration with existing operating-room infrastructure. Adoption will depend on capital budgets, training requirements and demonstrable clinical value.
High acquisition and maintenance costs remain the main brake on adoption
OCT devices, digital retinal imaging systems and femtosecond lasers require significant capital, which can hold back smaller clinics and resource-limited facilities. Total cost of ownership also includes installation, calibration, maintenance and software upgrades. A shortage of ophthalmologists, trained technicians or referral systems can keep utilization low.
A 2024 World Bank article reported that only 19% of people in low-income and lower-middle-income countries had access to the simplest diagnostic tests. Wissen notes that the figure covers diagnostics broadly, not ophthalmology alone. The World Bank also cites transportation costs, distribution expenses and foreign-currency constraints that raise the price of imported devices, along with shortages of trained personnel, spare parts and repair technicians that increase downtime.
Alcon pays USD 550 million for Neurotech as rivals launch surgical platforms
In October 2026, Alcon Inc. of Switzerland acquired Neurotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. of the United States for USD 550 million. The deal adds ENCELTO, the first FDA-approved treatment for Macular Telangiectasia Type 2, to Alcon's retinal portfolio.
Also in October, Haag-Streit Holding AG launched the Eyesi Surgical Platform 3.0 globally at AAO 2026, with virtual-reality simulations for cataract and retinal surgery training. Johnson & Johnson showcased SmartLOAD IOL Delivery Technology and enhancements to its VERITAS Vision System at the same event, and reported more than one million global implants of TECNIS PureSee and Odyssey IOLs.
In August 2026, Carl Zeiss Meditec AG of Germany launched the DORC EVA NEXUS surgical system in a dedicated cataract configuration, with advanced fluidics, intraocular pressure stabilization and programmable phaco settings.