Eyewear in 2025: The big picture
Value sales of eyewear are set to rise in Italy in 2025. Growth is set to be supported by a gradually improving macroeconomic context and the easing of cost pressures that have weighed heavily on the industry in recent years.
2025 key trends
Across eyewear, 2025 has further deepened the polarisation between high-end and value-driven purchases, shaped by rising price sensitivity, shifting consumer sentiment, and evolving channel strategies. While premiumisation efforts continue, especially amongst luxury players, demand for affordable alternatives is simultaneously gaining ground.
Competitive landscape
Luxottica Group SpA and Essilor Italia SpA, both owned by EssilorLuxottica SA, remained the two largest players in eyewear in Italy in 2024. Luxottica, the leading player, lost some share during the year, largely as a result of the issues faced by the Ray-Ban brand in spectacle frames and sunglasses.
Retail developments
Optical goods stores is set to remain the leading distribution channel within eyewear overall in 2025, accounting for the majority of value sales, even though its share is expected to decline slightly due to the growth of other channels, particularly online. Optical goods stores’ dominance remains unchallenged in the spectacles category, which is set to represent almost 65% of total eyewear value sales in 2025, and this is expected to persist throughout the forecast period.
What next for eyewear?
Value sales of eyewear are set to rise in Italy over the forecast period, though growth across Italy’s eyewear industry will be uneven across categories, with spectacles and contact lenses expected to see steady expansion supported by demographic, medical, and lifestyle trends, while sunglasses are set to experience more subdued gains due to shifting priorities and increased competition. Contact lenses and solutions is projected to grow both in volume and value, albeit from a low base relative to other Western markets.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Eyewear industry in Italy with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to the following key categories:
- Contact Lenses
- Spectacles
- Sunglasses
If you're in the Eyewear industry in Italy, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Eyewear in Italy report includes:
- Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
- Detailed segmentation of international and local products
- Historic volume and value sizes, company and brand market shares
- Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
- Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
- What is the market size of Eyewear in Italy?
- How are sales of contact lenses performing compared to spectacles?
- Which are the leading brands in Eyewear in Italy?
- How are products distributed in Eyewear in Italy?
- How are demographic changes impacting demand?
- To what extent are fashion and consumer affluence growth determinants?
- Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
Eyewear in Italy
Eyewear in 2025: The big picture
2025 key trends
Competitive landscape
Retail developments
What next for eyewear?
DISCLAIMER
Contact Lenses and Solutions in Italy
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Structural barriers limit user growth, but value rises on shift to daily disposables and premium materials
Alcon maintains leadership amid growing pressure from private label expansion
Myopia control lens market expands, driven by medical certification and practitioner endorsement
Daily disposables and presbyopia-led demand to drive contact lens growth
Myopia control expected to continue growing in the forecast period
Independent optical goods stores to remain central as online growth accelerates
Spectacles in Italy
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Spectacle lenses drives growth as premiumisation and medical positioning offset economic pressures
Essilor extends lead supported by lenses and innovation
Myopia control lenses grow as key players build awareness and value
Demand for spectacles to be driven by ageing population, digital lifestyles, and growing focus on prevention and premium lenses
Progressive lens innovation and digital tools reshape competition in a fragmented market
Eyewear manufactuers bet on tech and med innovations to foster long-term growth
Sunglasses in Italy
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Volume growth set to resume for sunglasses in 2025
Luxottica leads despite share erosion
Athleisure and outdoor trends push sports sunglasses ahead of the market
Outlook for sunglasses remains sluggish despite economic recovery
Eyewear brands turn to celebrity power amid growing competition
Sunglasses expected to increasingly become an omnichannel category
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Eyewear
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- Daily Disposable Lenses (DD)
- Frequent Replacement Lenses (FRP)
- Conventional Lenses
- Myopia Control Contact Lenses
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- Contact Lens Solutions
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- Readymade Reading Glasses
- Spectacle Frames
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- Standard Spectacle Lenses
- Myopia Control Spectacle Lenses
- Sunglasses
Eyewear
Eyewear is the aggregate of contact lenses, spectacles and sunglasses.
See all of our definitionsWhy buy this report?
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- Track key industry trends, opportunities and threats
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This report originates from Passport, our Eyewear research and analysis database.
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