Zeiss Vision sees 'golden' decade of growth in country

Zeiss Vision will remain dedicated to its investment in China, one of the top priority markets for the German manufacturer of eyeglass lenses and ophthalmic instruments, a senior executive of the company said during an exclusive interview in Shanghai.

The company will integrate its global expertise with local strategies to align with the demands of the Chinese market, explore and expand new business areas, and shape the future market, said Sven Hermann, a member of the executive board of the 179-year-old Zeiss Group.

"This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the China Optometric and Optical Association, and Zeiss Vision Care has been rooted in China for 30 years," said Hermann, who is also president and CEO of Zeiss Consumer Markets.

"We are honored to have witnessed the prosperous development of the industry in China, and we have full confidence in our sustainable prosperity in China and our contribution to the high-quality development of the vision care industry," he said during this year's China (Shanghai) International Optics Fair (SIOF), which concluded on Saturday.

Hermann noted that the company expects China, a fast-growth market, to become its largest market and the biggest contributor for Zeiss Vision Care.

"By closely understanding the needs of Chinese consumers, we will innovatively introduce diversified products, especially those that meet digital trends. Also, based on a deep understanding of consumers, we will adapt marketing strategies that meet the market need, thereby deepening our brand influence," he said.

"We will be growing with our customers in China. We believe that we will see a golden decade of growth of eyecare in China and us focusing on delivering superior eyecare to deliver astonishing growth," he said.

Data by market consultancy Frost& Sullivan showed the number of people with refractive errors and cataracts in China will reach 769 million in 2025, and the demand for ophthalmic diagnosis and treatments will continue to increase.

According to China Insights Consultancy, the size of the ophthalmic market in China reached 223.1 billion yuan ($30.7 billion) last year, and is expected to exceed 250 billion yuan in 2025.

Zeiss has invested in six legal entities in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, covering a diverse range of businesses in the optical field with a total cumulative investment of nearly 4.1 billion yuan. It has established a comprehensive and sustainable eye health industry ecosystem encompassing such key functions as product design, research and development, manufacturing, personalized customization and sales.

Hermann said this is having a positive impact on the industry, driving technological innovation and progress.

During the past two fiscal years, 15 percent of the company's revenues were spent on R&D, which laid the foundation for the success and continued expansion of the company's technology and market leadership, said Hermann.

At this year's SIOF, the company launched the Zeiss DuraVision Gold UV coating that features innovative breakthroughs in aesthetics, performance and cleanability.

In recent years, to address societal concerns in China regarding myopia management among teenagers and presbyopia management, the company launched key products to meet consumer needs. For example, Zeiss MyoCare lenses with C.A.R.E.technology significantly slow axial elongation. Also, Zeiss Progressive Light 2 Lenses are an ideal choice for first-time progressive wearers, allowing users to focus easily and comfortably on both near and far objects.