CONTACT LENS INDUSTRY WORTH ALMOST US$296 MLN IN FIVE ASIAN MARTS

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- Total value of the contact lens industry
hit almost US$296 million in five Asian markets, comprising Taiwan, South Korea,
Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, in the first half of 2010.

The industry registered growth of three per cent compared to the second half
of 2009, with the average price per piece of contact lens costing US$1.58,
according to GfK Asia, a market research organisation.

The company said findings by its optics retail panel, which tracked
performance of the contact lens market, showed Taiwan and South Korea to be the
two biggest markets.

"Overall, Taiwan has the biggest market of contact lens users but South
Korea remains the major contributor in sales value due to the fact that the
average price of contact lens is higher in the country, averaging at US$2.50 per
piece," GfK Asia's regional commercial director Stanley Kee.

Growth of the industry in this region was propelled by Singapore, South
Korea, and Hong Kong which all grew in both sales and unit values in the first
six months of this year, GfK Asia said.

"South Korea enjoyed the greatest value growth at 10 per cent while
considerable unit increment of six per cent was reflected in Singapore," it
said.
-- BERNAMA