New lens materials take off

According to the latest market data from industry body the Association of Contact Lens Manufacturers, the number of people using highly oxygen-permeable silicone hydrogel lenses in the UK more than doubled in the past 12 months.

These lenses are now used by over 400,000 people, accounting for more than 12% of contact lens wearers. The market value for silicone hydrogels in 2005 was £19.8m, an increase of 61% on the previous year. In total there are about 3.3m contact lens wearers in the UK, representing 6.7% of the adult population.

The number of wearers has more than doubled over the period 1992-2005.