Prescription lens services are updating to suit the needs of modern consumers
Implications - Prescription contact lenses and glasses now incorporate elements that modern day consumers are in need of, rather than only offering products that improve sight. Whether sold via smart phone apps, infused with AR elements, or whether they feature UV-blocking designs, these products serve to enhance the lens-wearing experience. This shift is not just indicative of changing technologies in this industry, but also of an increased need to meet the accessibility and convenience-based consumer expectations that they have now come to expect in all aspects of their lives.
Workshop Question - How can your brand incorporate or enhance any of the convenience-based solutions that consumers have grown accustomed to?
Trend Themes
1. Smart Contact Lenses - Developing custom contact lenses infusing augmented reality technology inside
2. Direct-to-consumer Prescription Replacements - Eliminating the inconvenience of getting prescription lenses in a pair of stylish frames
3. 3d-printed Optical Lenses - Printing 3D optics or lenses to shape them exactly to a patient's specific vision needs
Industry Implications
1. Optical Industry - The industry will be disrupted as optical manufacturers shifts to smart, direct-to-consumer and 3D-printed lenses
2. E-commerce - The e-commerce market for prescription lenses will be altered as direct-to-consumer business models become more prevalent
3. Augmented and Virtual Reality - The trend of incorporating AR technology in smart contact lenses is expected to impact the AR industry as well.
