China Eyewear Market Analysis Report
Executive Summary
China's eyewear market has become one of the largest and fastest-growing eyewear consumption markets globally. In 2023, the market size reached 125 billion RMB, and is expected to exceed 150 billion RMB by 2025. Market drivers include high myopia rates among youth, consumption upgrades, growing demand for fashion accessories, and digital channel expansion.
2023 Market Size
+8.2% YoY Growth
Myopia Population
World's Largest
Online Sales Share
+12% YoY Growth
Retail Stores
-3% YoY Change
Market Size and Growth Drivers
Market Size Evolution (Billion RMB)
Key Growth Drivers
High Youth Myopia Rates
Overall myopia rate among Chinese children and teenagers reaches 52.7%, with high school students exceeding 80%, creating rigid demand.
Growing Fashion Accessory Demand
Eyewear as fashion item, average ownership increased from 1.5 to 2.3 pairs, driving shorter replacement cycles.
Digital Channel Expansion
Improved online prescription services and mature AR try-on technology driving rapid online sales growth.
Consumption Upgrade Trend
Expanding middle class increasing demand for premium brands, functional lenses, and personalized customization.
Market Segmentation Analysis
By Product Type
By Price Range
By Sales Channel
By Regional Distribution
Lower-tier cities becoming main growth drivers, with annual growth rate of 12.5%, higher than 6.8% in tier 1 cities.
Consumer Insights
Student Segment
35% share, value functionality, blue-light protection, price sensitivity, 1-2 year replacement cycle.
Functional Needs
White-collar Workers
40% share, focus on brands, design, comfort, willing to pay premium for high-end products.
Brand-oriented
Middle-aged & Elderly
15% share, focus on reading glasses, progressive lenses, value practicality and reading comfort.
Pragmatism
Fashion Consumers
10% share, treat eyewear as fashion accessories, own multiple pairs for different occasions.
Fashion Accessories
Key Consumption Trends
- Rising personalized customization demand: 62% of consumers want eyewear that reflects personal style
- Emphasis on health functionality: Rapid growth in blue-light protection, UV protection, anti-fatigue lenses
- Increased online purchase acceptance: 35% of consumers have purchased eyewear online, up 20% from five years ago
- Enhanced brand awareness: International brands dominate premium market
- Value service experience: Professional optometry services and after-sales support become key selection factors
- Sustainability concerns: Eco-friendly materials and recyclable packaging beginning to influence purchasing decisions
Market Competition Landscape
| Competitive Segment | Representative Brands | Market Share | Target Customers | Channel Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Luxury Brands | Ray-Ban, Oakley, Prada, Gucci | ~12% | High-income groups, fashion seekers | Premium malls, brand flagship stores, duty-free shops |
| International Mass Brands | EssilorLuxottica, Safilo Group brands | ~28% | Middle-high income white-collar, professionals | Chain eyewear stores, department store counters, e-commerce |
| Domestic Leading Brands | Boshi Glasses, Baodao Glasses, Mujosh | ~35% | Mass market, students, entry-level professionals | National chain stores, online flagship stores |
| Regional Brands | Local eyewear brands | ~15% | Local consumers, price-sensitive groups | Regional stores, community shops |
| Online Emerging Brands | Warby Parker, Coterie & domestic DTC brands | ~10% | Young consumers, digital natives | Pure online or online-offline integration |
Market Concentration
China's eyewear market has relatively low concentration, with top 5 companies accounting for approximately 28% combined, showing "big market, small companies" characteristic:
- Boshi Glasses: ~7% market share, A-share listed company, over 500 stores nationwide
- Baodao Glasses: ~6% market share, Taiwanese background, over 300 stores nationwide
- Luxottica Group: ~5% market share, dominates premium market with Ray-Ban, Oakley etc.
- Essilor: ~5% market share, lens technology leader, expanding influence through acquisitions
- Mujosh: ~5% market share, targets young fashion market, design-driven growth
Competition Trends
Accelerated Digital Transformation
Online-offline integration becoming mainstream, AR try-on, AI optometry technology applications普及.
Active M&A Integration
Capital driving industry consolidation, regional chains being acquired, market concentration gradually increasing.
Intensified Differentiation Competition
Brands building competitive advantages through market segmentation, professional services, unique designs.
Rationalized Price Competition
Transition from pure price wars to value competition, service and quality becoming key differentiators.
Sales Channel Analysis
Offline Channel Evolution
Traditional eyewear stores facing transformation pressure, showing following trends:
- Increased chainization: Large chains expanding market share through acquisitions
- Experiential retail: Adding optometry equipment, rest areas, coffee zones to enhance experience
- Specialized positioning: Emergence of specialized stores for children's eyewear, sports eyewear
- Store digitization: Introducing virtual try-on, digital optometry equipment
Online Channel Growth
E-commerce channels maintaining rapid growth, main characteristics:
- Platform diversification: Tmall, JD.com as main platforms, social e-commerce like Douyin, Xiaohongshu rising
- Integrated services: Providing online optometry, home pickup, free adjustments and other value-added services
- Technology-driven: Mature AR try-on technology improving online purchase experience
- DTC model emerging: Brands directly reaching consumers through official websites, mini-programs
Omni-channel Integration Becoming Mainstream
Online-offline boundaries blurring, consumers expecting seamless shopping experience. Offline stores provide experience and services, online channels provide convenience and selection, both channels meeting different consumption scenarios.
Policy and Regulatory Environment
Major Policy Impacts
Youth Myopia Prevention Policies
Ministry of Education and seven other departments jointly issued "Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Children and Adolescents Myopia Implementation Plan", promoting school vision screening and standardized eyewear fitting.
Medical Device Regulation
Contact lenses and care solutions classified as Category III medical devices, requiring corresponding licenses for production and operation.
Optometrist Qualifications
Optometrists require certification, professional standards gradually improving, promoting industry professionalization.
Price Regulation
Market regulatory authorities strengthening supervision on inflated prices, false advertising in eyewear industry.
Market Future Outlook
Sustained Growth Drivers
High youth myopia rates, population aging, consumption upgrades - three major factors will continue driving market growth.
Accelerated Technological Innovation
Smart glasses, digital optometry, AI fitting technologies will reshape industry ecosystem.
Increased Market Concentration
Capital driving industry consolidation, leading companies will further expand market share.
Higher Internationalization
Chinese brands accelerating overseas expansion, while international brands paying more attention to Chinese market.
By 2028, China's eyewear market size is expected to reach 200 billion RMB, with annual compound growth rate maintaining at 7-9%.