Plano Sunglasses (Polarized, Non-Polarized) Market Size & Forecast Report, 2012 - 2020

Industry Insights

The plano sunglasses market is analyzed on a global level in this report. The global plano sunglasses market was valued at USD 10,828.0 million in 2012 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.0% from 2013 to 2020. Global shipments were estimated to be 285.5 million units in the year 2012, in terms of volume.

Plano glasses are also called non-prescription glasses. Plano sunglasses are the non-prescription lenses that are used to protect the eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays and not for correction of vision. They are mainly used to look good. Scientific studies show that exposure of the eyes to UV rays over a period may damage the human eyes and may lead to cataract. It may also cause damage to the retina. According to the report by American Optometric Association (AOA), overexposure towards solar radiation may risk of macular degeneration and can be tackled with the use of Plano glasses. The primary revenue is generated by the sale of a high-end product.

Growing demand for smart products across the globe is one of the key factors for the anticipated market growth. The changing lifestyle, demand for fashionable sunglasses and the availability of technologically advanced products in urban areas are some of the important factors which are expected to drive the global Plano sunglasses market over the forecast period. Also, growing awareness among the general population regarding the importance of protecting the eyes is also the key driving force for the market. The global Plano sunglasses market has a huge opportunity during the forecast period, and hence major player in this market are focusing on increasing and developing their distribution channel globally.

One of the prime restraining factors for the global Plano sunglasses market is the vast majority of the population is affected by the visual deficiencies which include hyper myopia (farsightedness) and myopia (nearsightedness). Among this population, a large percentage of people rely on the use of spectacles, thus affecting the demand for Plano sunglasses. Besides, to serve the dual purpose of protecting the eyes and vision correction, Prescription Sunglasses are used.

However, the impact of this restraint is anticipated to reduce in the coming years, due to growing adoption of contact lenses and permanent vision correction procedures. For instance, the growing demand for the surgical procedure known as LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) used to lower the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses is anticipated to affect favorably to the global Plano sunglasses market over the forecast period. The growth in purchasing power of the end users and increasing wearer base is likely to fuel the growth of Plano sunglasses market.

Product Insights

On the basis of product type, the global Plano sunglasses market is broken down into non-polarized and polarized sunglasses. Standard non-polarized sunglass lenses are used to reducing the amount of visible light that enters the eye. Polarized sunglasses help in improving the visual sharpness and enhancing vision. These glasses make use of vertically aligned filters that helps in blockage of unwanted horizontally polarized light and thus allows useful vertical lights to enter into the eye. Polarized lenses are produced by using techniques such as molding, injection, vacuum forming and casting. Polaroid Eyewear also makes use of press-polishing forming which is a newly developed technology i.e. Resultant lenses are optically correct as they taper towards the edges and thicker in the center. Few of the polarized lenses have met the international standards such as Australian AS/NZS1067, European EN1836, American ANSI Z80.3, Chinese GB10810, and PTX4000. However, there are a few restrictions to polarized glasses, as they are not supposed to be used in the aviation environment, as it may reduce the visibility of instruments that are incorporated anti-glare filters.

Consumers are gaining awareness regarding the importance of protecting their eyes, and prefer polarized sunglasses despite their high selling price. This segment accounted for approximately 20% of the overall market in 2012 and is expected to show considerable growth in the coming years, with an estimated CAGR of 4.6% from 2013 to 2020.

Lens Material Insights

On the basis of the lens material the plano sunglasses market is broken down into polyurethane, CR-39 or allyl diglycol carbonate (ADC), polycarbonate, and others such as glass and nylon. Consumers focus on the water resistant lenses which are not prone to cracking and breaking.

CR-39 held the largest market share as in 2012, due to its cost effectiveness and durability. It also accounted for 40.8% of the overall market share in the same year. Although the Polycarbonate lenses are lightweight and superior impact resistance, they have less optical clarity and are lower scratch resistance. Despite the fact that glass contributes to the highest optical clarity still it accounted for a small percentage of the market and is further expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.4% over the forecast period which is lower than the global average. Though glass lenses provide the highest optical clarity and scratch resistance, they are more expensive and are not very impact resistant.

Sunglasses have tints so as to reduce the brightness. Green, gray and brown tints are color neutral. Gray lenses are recommended for ensuring color recognition. Other tints comprise rose, mirrored or yellow/amber. Major frame materials used in Plano sunglass production include metal, nylon and zyl.

Regional Insights

North America and Europe accounted for over 60% of the market in 2012, due to higher affordability limit among consumers as well as the presence of major players. Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest growing market in the coming years, with an estimated CAGR of 10.1% from 2013 to 2020.

Despite low volume share, the European market is expected to be the highest contributor to global market revenue owing to high selling prices of Plano sunglasses and preference for premium sunglasses, particularly in Italy and Spain. The unorganized sector of countries such as India and China hampers the revenues of companies operating in the market. Sale of knockoff Plano sunglasses also negatively impact the brand value of industry participants.

Competitive Insights

The industry is characterized by mergers and acquisitions by key participants to consolidate market share. Safilo Group S.p.A. owns Polaroid which is a key brand in the polarized sunglasses space. Italy-based Luxottica Group S.p.A. was the largest market player in 2012, and has accrued a large number of proprietary and licensed brands through strategic initiatives. Safilo Group S.p.A. owns Polaroid, a key brand in the polarized sunglasses space. Major brands include Ray-Ban, Persol, Oakley, Vogue Eyewear, etc. other players are Marchon Eyewear, Marcolin Eyewear, Charmant Group, and De Rigo S.p.A. among others.

Market Segment:

Plano Sunglasses Lens Outlook
       • Polarized
       • Non-Polarized

Plano Sunglasses Lens Material Outlook
       • CR-39
       • Polycarbonate
       • Polyurethane
       • Others (Glass, Nylon, etc.)

Plano Sunglasses Regional Outlook
       • North America
       • Europe
       • Asia Pacific
       • RoW