Expected to be valued at US$ 700 million in 2023, the global market for eye and face protection is forecast to surge at a CAGR of 10.8% until 2033, reaching a valuation of US$ 1,960 million. In the healthcare industry, frontline workers are constantly at risk of contracting infections resulting from exposure to pathogens while performing surgery or treatment. Hence, the need for wearing personal protective equipment, surgical masks, face shields, and medical gloves is highly important. This requirement was especially enforced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to the healthcare industry, the demand for eye and face protection products experienced a sharp increase within the general population as well. The pandemic ushered in a pattern of panic buying, as people sought to safeguard themselves from any form of physical contact in the initial stages of the crisis. With no availability of any vaccine, donning protective gear was the only alternative. Hence, suppliers had to regulate the availability and sales of essential products during this time.
As per guidelines published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in areas with moderate to substantial community transmission of COVID-19, healthcare personnel were recommended to wear eye protection to avoid possible contact with the infection. Eye protection materials such as face shields and goggles, protect the eyes from splashes, sprays, and infectious droplets.
Sales of eye and face protection products are also expected to soar amid the increased frequency of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). These types of infections affect patients and caregivers alike in any setting. Each year, hundreds of millions of patients globally are affected by HAI. This burden is especially higher in low and middle-income countries. Hence, there is a consensus that hospitals and other healthcare settings must invest in basic measures to prevent its onset. Adopting basic protection solutions such as eye and face protection is one such solution.
Various healthcare companies, consumer products companies, and start-ups have joined forces to manufacture eye and face protection products. 3M, for instance, offers safety glasses and goggles, with a selection of coatings, lens types, and accessories. An example of it is the 3M Solus 2000 series, equipped with a U6-rated polycarbonate lens that absorbs 99.9% of UVA, UVB and UVC rays between 200 and 380 nanometres. Additionally, it is also coated with an anti-fog and anti-scratch technology, or the 3M Scothguard Anti-Fog coating.
Likewise, Bullard manufactures a line of face protectors made from nylon dielectric brackets which offer users increased protection, comfort and versatility. The product line includes band or slot-mounted styles that securely attach to a user’s cap, or full-brim style hat providing increased protection from flying debris, sparks, chemical splashes, and sprays.
During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, UMaas Amherst played an active role in ensuring that the spread of the infection would remain as constrained as possible. To do this, it designed, fabricated, and distributed 81,000 face shields throughout the region. The face shield is fabricated totally out of the face shield material, a thin PET film measuring 0.01 inches, and uses a curved fold to contour to the forehead and angle the shield to allow for wearing glasses or goggles on the nose. The design can be rapidly fabricated under laser cutters or die-cutting machines without the need for post-processing or additional materials.
On similar lines, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) offered its range of COVID-19 face shields which are adjustable, lightweight, and clear flat sheets. The face mask can be assembled in as little as 60 seconds.
| Data Points | Key Statistics |
|---|---|
| Expected Market Value in 2023 | US$ 700 million |
| Anticipated Market Value in 2033 | US$ 1,960 million |
| Growth Rate (2023 to 2033) | CAGR of 10.8% |
As the spread of COVID-19 pandemic accelerates, global health systems are becoming overwhelmed with a growing number of potentially infectious patients seeking testing and care.
This has increased the need to prevent the spread of infection to and from health care workers (HCWs) and patients, thereby potentially raising the demand for various personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly eye and face protection equipment such as face shields, surgical mask, respirators, and protective goggles.
Additionally, misuse, panic buying, and stockpiling of these products by common citizens is leading a manifold increase in demand worldwide. Moreover, the coronavirus pandemic is putting an unprecedented pressure on the global healthcare systems and the rise in medical needs is exposing widening gaps in inventory of eye and face protection equipment.
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Over the years, growth of the eye and face protection market remained driven by growing infrastructural activities in developing economies and expanding oil & gas exploration and production. However, the scenario is changing amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, compelling manufacturers to stop the production of industrial products and focus on medical applications.
Additionally, as supply shortages are putting lives at risks and leaving HCWs ill-equipped to care for COVID-19 patients, governments and public health organizations are targeted towards boosting supply, easing export restrictions, and putting strict measures in place to stop speculation and hoarding of eye and face protection equipment. This is expected to result in steady demand and supply in near term.
Shortages of medical supplies, due to expansive shutdown of factories in major equipment producing countries such as China and limited availability of raw materials, have forced health care providers to improvise with next-best alternatives.
Several HCWs are creating eye and face protection devices with office supplies, reusing existing supplies when treating different patients, or doubling up on flimsy masks in the absence of N95 respirator masks. Moreover, doctors and nurses in highly populous countries like India are relying on helmets and raincoats in place of medical eye and face protection equipment.
As the disrupted supply chains along with panic buying and hoarding of vital PPE needed by the frontline workers has left a shortage, governments are working closely with manufacturers to ramp up the production of eye and face protection equipment. In the USA, President Trump has invoked the Defense Production Act to mobilize war-scale manufacturers of critical items.
Educational institutes such as MIT are joining the manufacturing race, where a team launched a technique that combines low-cost materials and high-rate manufacturing of disposable face shields. The design of these shields not only includes extra protection but can also be reused without the risk of contamination.
The sheer volume of eye and face protection equipment needed to keep HCWs and patients safe in the COVID-19 crisis is daunting. Researchers at UMass Amherst have designed low-cost plastic-based face shields which are being made available to manufacturers such as K+K Thermoforming for mass production.
Furthermore, several local manufacturers and startups are leveraging 3D printing technology to develop face shields and protective goggles that provide additional protection to the face and eyes of the medical professionals at relatively low cost.
Principal Consultant
North America and Europe continue to hold major share of global eye and face protection market value. The emergence of the USA and Italy as the hardest hit countries after China has resulted in exponentially increased demand for eye and face protection equipment in these regions.
As the USA passes an economic relief bill that gives manufacturers such as 3M and Honeywell protection against lawsuits when selling tens of millions of eye and face protection equipment to HCWs, the regional market will continue to witness robust growth.
Presence of major supply chains in China is contributing to growth of the eye and face protection market in Asia Pacific. Reopening of factories in the nation and ease of export restrictions on medical supplies are further likely aid to global demand for protective equipment.
The FMI’s report profiles a list of leading players operating in the eye and face protection market wherein product portfolio, new launches, growth strategies, and regional presence of each player have been detailed. Some of these players include, but are not limited to, 3M, Dynaflux, Inc., Bullard, Uvex Safety Group, Avon Rubber Plc, Honeywell International Inc., Kimberly-Clark, Grainger, Msa Safety Inc, Ansell Limited, and DuPont.
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Eye and Face Protection Market
