In addition to being the most populous nation on Earth, China also has the most people with vision disorders - 610 to 650 million have presbyopia (the diminishing ability of the eye to focus on up-close items) or myopia (nearsightedness), according to a new study from the China Center for Health Development at Peking University. The concern is that the country's optical industry might not be helping the situation.
A key to the country's economic muscle has been its productive and growing workforce. However, a workforce with a large percentage of people having uncorrected vision impairments isn't one that is functioning at its best. While its growth rate is still robust, China has experienced a slowing of its economy during the past few years.
The report's author Dr. Ling Li expresses concern that as China's economy and society continue to transform, its vision care needs to improve with updated operational methods and increased professional standards. According to the report, three primary forces contribute to the country's disparate optical industry.
Fragmented and Ultra-Competitive Market
More than 4,800 companies are registered in optical manufacturing with most of them small - only about 200 generate revenue of more than $3 million annually. According to the report, a large number have outdated production technology and make little or no investment in research and development. Product differentiation is low and product quality is often sub-par. The government's inability to supervise and regulate the industry adequately exacerbates the problem. The situation is prime for mergers and acquisitions, which could inject some needed capital and quality into the industry.
High Retail Distribution Costs
The costs incurred by the retail and distribution sectors add too much to the cost of eyeglasses. The Chinese optical industry has a three-tier system for product distribution - chief sales agent, regional sales agent and then to the retail store - with the price increasing with each tier. Also, optical shops seek prime shopping locations to attract attention, but these often carry high rents. The result is that Chinese consumers shop on price and not the value and benefits that quality eyeglasses and vision care deliver.
Lack of Regulation Policies
The report suggests perhaps the biggest problem is that the healthcare aspect of vision care isn't emphasized in China. The European Union classifies corrective lenses as a Class 1 Medical Device, while in the United States industry organizations combined with FDA regulations ensure high quality standards with defined levels of training and education for optometrists. In China, shopping for glasses often isn't much different than shopping for clothing. There is an overall lack of professional training within the industry; while most optical shops offer free vision screenings, these are conducted by optometrists with vocational - not medical - training. Because of the wide availability of these screenings, consumers don't see the value or appreciate how their vision testing could improve. That's because today they're not getting the benefit of attention from a medically-trained professional who can help diagnose vision disorders and offer prescriptive corrections.
A recent study from the Brien Holden Vision Institute points to China and a few other Asian nations as being particularly susceptible to a myopia epidemic - half of the world's population will be myopic by 2050 if preventive measures aren't taken. Once thought to be only a matter of genetics, now researchers at the Brien Holden Vision Institute and elsewhere believe that lifestyle and behavior also play a role in many vision disorders. The study points to the under-40 age group - especially in Asia - as being extremely susceptible to impairments such as myopia because of the pervasive use of smartphones, computers and other digital devices.
The China Center for Health Development report is a signal that the country's optical industry must improve its quality and professional standards in order to address a vision problem within its population that is expected only to continue growing.