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Optometry and Optical Dispensing in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Arna Richardson Arna Richardson Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: September 2024 ANZSIC Q8532

Revenue

$4.6bn

2024-25

$4.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

22,714

Businesses

3,418

Wages

$X.Xbn

Optometry and Optical Dispensing in Australia industry analysis

Optometry practices and optical dispensing stores have contended with an increasingly competitive operating environment in recent years. New corporate players have continued to expand, while online competition has intensified, influencing the industry's performance. Ensuing price wars have lowered prices and weighed on profit, as both online and bricks-and-mortar optometry chains have competed for a growing number of consumers seeking competitively priced eyewear. The COVID-19 pandemic added to the industry's challenges, as national and regional lockdown measures restricted operations for many optical dispensing stores and eye clinics. These lockdown measures translated into fewer routine eye care examinations and a dip in sales of spectacles and sunglasses. At the same time, a dramatic increase in digital device use during COVID-19 lockdowns has seen a growing number of Australians across all age groups suffer from deteriorating ocular health and digital eye strain.

Trends and Insights

  • Optometry practices and optical dispensing stores have contended with an increasingly competitive operating environment in recent years. Online eyewear rivals gained significant ground during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding to the industry's challenges.
  • Optical dispensers operate retail outlets that sell spectacles and other visual aids. These stores can fill prescriptions for spectacles and other visual aids as well as provide a range of frame styles and shaded glasses.
  • Industry enterprises are distributed largely in line with Australia’s population spread. Similarly, the number of optometry consultations in each state and territory largely reflect population and age distributions across Australia.
  • The basis of competition varies across the industry. Although price isn’t a competitive factor in the optometry segment (as optometry services are mainly bulk-billed to Medicare), it’s a major competitive factor in the optical dispensing segment.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $4.6bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Underlying favourable growth drivers support the industry

  • According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics in its National Health Survey, 2022 (latest available), over 14.4 million Australians, representing an estimated 56.7% of the total population, have one or more long-term eye conditions.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Optometry and Optical Dispensing in Australia
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Higher demand for corrective eyewear is forecast across all demographics

  • As a growing number of people work in service industries and office environments, and increasingly use personal computers and other devices, the visual demands placed on the average Australian will continue to rise. Demographics will shape industry demand in the coming years with greater incidences of ocular disorders – including myopia and astigmatism – set to occur across all age cohorts.

Biggest companies in the Optometry and Optical Dispensing in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
Specsavers
1,570.0
Luxottica
797.0
Oscar Wylee
175.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Optometry and Optical Dispensing in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Optometry and orthoptic services, Spectacles (frames and lenses sold together) and Other eyewear products. Optometry and orthoptic services is the largest segment of the Optometry and Optical Dispensing in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Bundle deals help boost spectacle sales

  • Complete spectacles (prescription lenses with frames) represent the industry's largest product segment.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The industry covers registered optometrists, optical dispensers and orthoptists. Optometrists primarily test eyesight, diagnose sight defects, and prescribe or dispense spectacles and contact lenses. Optical dispensers mainly dispense spectacles or contact lenses. Orthoptists diagnose and treat ocular muscle disorders.

What's included in this industry?

Spectacles (frames and lenses sold together)Optometry and orthoptic servicesSunglasses, contact lenses and spectacle frame accessories

Companies

SpecsaversLuxotticaOscar Wylee

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

MACULAR DEGENERATIONCATARACTGLAUCOMAMEDICARE BENEFITS SCHEDULE (MBS)

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 8532 - Optometry and Optical Dispensing in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Optometry practices and optical dispensing stores have contended with an increasingly competitive operating environment in recent years. Online eyewear rivals gained signific...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Optical dispensers operate retail outlets that sell spectacles and other visual aids. These stores can fill prescriptions for spectacles and other visual aids as well as prov...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Industry enterprises are distributed largely in line with Australia’s population spread. Similarly, the number of optometry consultations in each state and territory largely ...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The basis of competition varies across the industry. Although price isn’t a competitive factor in the optometry segment (as optometry services are mainly bulk-billed to Medic...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The industry is fragmented and includes many small players. In addition to independent or standalone optometry practices, the industry includes optical dispensing stores that...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Specsavers's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Luxottica's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Oscar Wylee's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Specsavers, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Luxottica, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Oscar Wylee, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Households with ancillary private health insurance that includes optical and orthoptics coverage tend to spend more on optometry and optical dispensing services. Approximatel...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Industry players have varying cost structures. Profit differs depending on whether optical dispensers focus on price or differentiation. Cost structures also vary between opt...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Optometry and Optical Dispensing industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Optometry and Optical Dispensing industry in Australia is $4.6bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Optometry and Optical Dispensing in Australia industry in 2024?

There are 3,418 businesses in the Optometry and Optical Dispensing industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Optometry and Optical Dispensing industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Optometry and Optical Dispensing industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 1.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Optometry and Optical Dispensing industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Optometry and Optical Dispensing industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Optometry and Optical Dispensing market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Optometry and Optical Dispensing market in Australia are Specsavers, Luxottica and Oscar Wylee

What does the Optometry and Optical Dispensing in Australia include?

Spectacles (frames and lenses sold together) and Optometry and orthoptic services are part of the Optometry and Optical Dispensing industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Optometry and Optical Dispensing in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is Specsavers.

How competitive is the Optometry and Optical Dispensing industry in Australia?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Optometry and Optical Dispensing industry in Australia.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Specialist Medical Services in Australia
  • Online Shopping in Australia

Complementors

  • Photographic and Optical Goods Manufacturing in Australia
  • Other Health Services in Australia

International industries

  • Eyeglasses & Contact Lens Stores in the US
  • Optometrists in the US
  • Eye Surgery Clinics in the US
  • Online Eyeglasses & Contact Lens Sales in the US
  • Eyeglasses & Contact Lens Stores in Canada

View all industries in Australia

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.