Pupil Expanders Market Is Growing with the Increasing Number of Cataract Surgeries

 

Pupil expanders, or pupil expansion devices, are used by surgeons in patients with small pupils to perform cataract surgery. Thus, with the increasing number of cataract surgeries, the demand for pupil expanders is also increasing, driving the pupil expanders market growth. According to the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), around three million Americans undergo cataract surgery annually. These type of expanders help improve cataract surgeon’s visualization and also help in surgical procedures such as IOL implantation, anterior capsulorhexis performance, and lens removal, without damaging ocular tissues.

Small size of the pupils is one of the biggest challenges faced by most ophthalmologists while performing surgery. Moreover, small size creates difficulties for cataract surgeons to perform cataract surgery. Pupil expanders engages the pupillary margin through flanges and enlarges in size with hydration. A safe and effective tool to manage small pupils and IFIS patients during surgery to help improve the surgeon's field of view. The disposable 6.5 mm pupil expander provides a 5.5 mm expanded pupil. Thus, with the increasing prevalence of eye disorders and growing awareness about the eye health, the demand for pupil expanders is also increasing.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 12 million people aged 40 years and over in the U.S. have vision impairment, including 1 million who are blind, 3 million have vision impairment after correction, and 8 million who have vision impairment due to uncorrected refractive error. This in turn is also expected to accelerate the growth of the market. However, the growth of the pupil expanders market is mainly driven by the rising incidence of cataract. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, cataracts affect more than 24.4 million Americans age 40 and older.

On the basis of region, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. The pupil expanders market, in North America and Asia Pacific, is witnessing strong growth due to the increasing prevalence of eye diseases, the rising healthcare expenditure, and rise in government initiatives to prevent cataract/blindness among the population. For example, Beaver Visitec International launched the Visitec I-Ring Pupil Expander at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery in San Diego. Moreover, owing to increasing investments by manufacturers, emerging economies, such as India, and China, are expected to witness substantial growth in the pupil expanders market.