Market Overview
| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
|---|---|
| Base Year For Estimation | 2024 |
| Forecast Data Period | 2025 - 2030 |
| Market Size (2025) | USD 2.65 Billion |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 3.54 Billion |
| Growth Rate (2025 - 2030) | 5.95% CAGR |
| Market Concentration | Medium |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0. |
|
Canada Ophthalmology Drugs & Devices Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The Canada ophthalmology drugs & devices market size reached USD 2.65 billion in 2025 and is forecast to climb to USD 3.33 billion by 2030, advancing at a 5.95% CAGR. Rising provincial reimbursement for advanced imaging and the arrival of lower-priced biosimilar anti-VEGF agents are expanding patient access, while hospital and ambulatory sites adopt lean surgical models that cut episode-of-care costs. Suppliers of portable diagnostics are finding new demand in remote and Indigenous communities, and multinational manufacturers are reinforcing their pipelines through targeted acquisitions that accelerate entry into cell and gene therapies. At the same time, procurement rules that favor sustainable supply chains are nudging device makers to localize assembly and documentation.
Key Report Takeaways
- By product, devices led with 62.11% revenue share of the Canada ophthalmology drugs & devices market in 2024, while diagnostic & monitoring devices are projected to expand at an 8.06% CAGR through 2030.
- By drug class, glaucoma drugs captured 45.32% of 2024 sales; dry-eye drugs are forecast to grow at a 7.54% CAGR over 2025-2030.
- By disease indication, cataract accounted for 31.11% of spending in 2024, whereas diabetic retinopathy is expected to register a 7.24% CAGR to 2030.
- By end-user, hospitals held 45.01% share in 2024, while ambulatory surgery centers are set to increase at a 7.09% CAGR during the forecast period.
Canada Ophthalmology Drugs & Devices Market Trends and Insights
Driver Impact Analysis
| Driver | % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provincial adoption of advanced imaging reimbursement codes | +1.2% | Ontario & British Columbia; spillover to Alberta and Quebec | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Accelerated Health Canada approvals for biosimilar anti-VEGF agents | +0.9% | National, early uptake in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia | Short term (≤2 years) |
| Indigenous vision-screening programs driving portable diagnostics uptake | +0.8% | Northern territories, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| National Pharmacare negotiations encouraging rare-disease gene-therapy investment | +0.7% | National, concentrated in Ontario and Quebec research hubs | Long term (≥4 years) |
| Rising childhood myopia rates fueling refractive-management demand | +0.6% | Urban centers nationwide | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Post-pandemic cataract-surgery backlog boosting surgical-device utilization | N/A | National, highest in provinces with long wait-lists | Short term (≤2 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
Provincial Adoption of Advanced Imaging Reimbursement Codes in Ontario & British Columbia
The March 2025 update to Ontario’s Schedule of Benefits raised reimbursements for optical coherence tomography and fundus photography by 12%, spurring clinics to invest in next-generation scanners. Early data show a 23% jump in glaucoma and diabetic-retinopathy detection, and vendors of handheld OCT units report double-digit order growth as community optometrists qualify for the new fees[1]Ontario Ministry of Health, “Schedule of Benefits for Physician Services – March 2025 Update,” health.gov.on.ca. British Columbia’s Medical Services Plan created tiered fees that reward community-based screening, shifting volumes from tertiary hospitals to smaller practices and broadening the installed base for imaging hardware.
Accelerated Health Canada Approvals for Biosimilar Anti-VEGF Agents
Ranibizumab biosimilar FYB201 entered the Canadian formulary in late 2023, and aflibercept follow-on Yesafili is cleared for July 2025 launch. Ten provinces have adopted mandatory biosimilar switching in public drug plans, triggering a 15-20% price drop for retinal injections. Surveys by the Canadian Ophthalmology Society show 80% of specialists accept biosimilars as a route to wider access while seeking to retain prescribing freedom.
Indigenous Vision-Screening Programs Driving Portable Diagnostics Uptake in Northern Canada
The CAD 1.7 million Indigenous Children’s Eye Examination program blends on-site visits, tele-ophthalmology and local workforce training. More than 800 screenings since February 2024 indicate three in four children require corrective lenses. Manufacturers are ruggedizing tablet-based autorefractors to tolerate Arctic temperatures, creating a niche segment that links community health funding with commercial demand[2]CNIB, “Indigenous Children’s Eye Examination Program Report 2025,” cnib.ca.
Rising Childhood Myopia Rates Fueling Demand for Refractive Management Solutions
Prevalence of myopia among pupils aged 11-13 has climbed to nearly 30%, up 50% in two decades. The Canadian Association of Optometrists’ 2024 campaign, backed by Alcon and CooperVision, broadcast evidence that daily-disposable dual-focus lenses can cut axial elongation by more than half. Eyenovia’s MicroPine spray, re-acquired for North American development, could become the first topical therapy aimed at slowing progression in an estimated 5 million at-risk children[3]Canadian Association of Optometrists, “Children’s Vision Month Campaign Toolkit 2024,” opto.ca.
Restraints Impact Analysis
| Restraints Impact Analysis | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provincial cost caps on premium intraocular lenses | –0.5% | Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Shortage of ophthalmic surgeons in Atlantic Canada | –0.4% | Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador | Short term (≤2 years) |
| Cross-border supply-chain vulnerabilities causing device stock-outs | –0.3% | National, stronger effect in smaller provinces | Short term (≤2 years) |
| Hospital sustainability procurement rules raising import-compliance costs | –0.2% | National, early enactment in Ontario and British Columbia | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
Provincial Cost Caps on Premium Intraocular Lenses Curtailing Adoption
Ontario’s Health Insurance Plan reimburses only monofocal lenses, leaving patients to self-pay the full upgrade cost for toric or multifocal optics. A 2024 population-based study found surgery volumes rose for residents in the wealthiest quintile but fell for the lowest, underscoring a two-tier pattern in access. Manufacturers now tailor go-to-market models toward high-volume private clinics that can navigate mixed-billing rules.
Shortage of Ophthalmic Surgeons in Atlantic Canada Limiting Procedure Volume
Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick report cataract waits exceeding the 112-day benchmark for most patients. Governments are piloting contracts with private centers to add capacity: New Brunswick’s Horizon Health Network expects 3,200 extra cataract cases a year through its Fredericton partner, yet workforce recruiting remains difficult.
Segment Analysis
By Product: Devices Command Scale, Diagnostics Propel Momentum
Devices generated USD 1.55 billion in revenue and represented 62.11% of the Canada ophthalmology drugs & devices market in 2024. Surgical platforms for cataract extraction still dominate device value, leveraging public-private centers in New Brunswick that target thousands of extra cases annually. Diagnostic and monitoring equipment is the fastest-advancing slice, logging an 8.06% CAGR as reimbursement for OCT and ultra-widefield fundus imaging broadens. Ontario’s 12% fee bump for retinal scans, for instance, has already spurred community optometrists to order compact OCT units, extending reach beyond tertiary hospitals. Device makers are also integrating tele-ophthalmology modules so northern clinics can transmit images for remote grading, meeting demand triggered by Indigenous vision programs.
Drugs delivered USD 950 million in 2024 sales. Anti-VEGF agents for retinal disease are the growth locomotive as biosimilars compress prices and provincial formularies embrace mandatory switching. Health Canada’s green light for ranibizumab FYB201 and pending approval of aflibercept Yesafili lower payer outlays and create headroom to treat more patients. Glaucoma drug volumes hold steady, yet surgeons increasingly pair medication with minimally invasive implantable devices such as the Hydrus Microstent, which a 2025 Canadian cost study showed produced 9.351 QALYs at CAD 26,770—less than cataract surgery alone.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
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By Disease Indication: Cataract Prevails, Retinopathy Gains Traction
Cataract captured 31.11% of 2024 spending, reflecting its status as the most common ocular surgery and the backbone of surgical-device revenue. Manitoba’s wait-time dashboard listed more than 3,100 patients queued for cataract operations, with median waits of 6-9 weeks—a level that continues to fuel throughput investments. Innovation focuses on premium intraocular lenses and femtosecond laser platforms, although cost caps in large provinces temper premium adoption rates.
Diabetic retinopathy is projected to grow at a 7.24% CAGR, powered by national diabetes incidence and earlier screening. Consensus guidelines released in 2024 highlight personalized injection intervals and systemic-risk management, spurring demand for imaging and anti-VEGF therapy. Glaucoma remains substantial as novel shunts such as XEN Gel and PreserFlo Microshunt reshape management for moderate disease. Age-related macular degeneration markets gain from the approval of avacincaptad pegol for geographic atrophy, while regulatory reviews for dual-pathway antibodies such as faricimab enlarge future options.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
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By End User: Hospitals Anchor Care, Ambulatory Centers Accelerate
Hospitals accounted for 45.01% of the Canada ophthalmology drugs & devices market size in 2024, safeguarded by integrated diagnostic, surgical and pharmacy services under global budgets. They continue to absorb complex corneal transplants and vitreoretinal surgeries, yet face efficiency pressure from multi-year elective-surgery backlogs. Provincial funding agreements now reward centers that adopt day-surgery cataract pathways, compressing in-patient length of stay.
Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) posted the highest growth rate at 7.09% CAGR. Provinces encourage these facilities because they clear surgical queues at lower per-case costs and free hospital operating rooms for emergent work. Private-clinical partners operating under public contracts in Atlantic Canada exemplify this model, delivering volume while maintaining fee-schedule parity. Specialty ophthalmic clinics thrive in urban belts where demand for refractive and premium cataract services supports higher self-pay ratios. Tele-ophthalmology hubs linked to northern nursing stations form a fourth end-user tier, reinforcing equity in access.
By Drug Class: Glaucoma Dominates as Dry Eye Accelerates
Glaucoma therapies generated the most significant slice of revenue in 2024, capturing 45.32% of the Canada ophthalmology drugs & devices market share through a broad mix of prostaglandin analogs, fixed-dose combinations and emerging sustained-release implants. Hospital formularies continue to list branded latanoprost and brimonidine–timolol combinations as first-line options, yet specialists are rapidly adopting micro-dose bimatoprost and biodegradable drug-delivery inserts that cut adherence risk. These innovations, combined with rising disease prevalence among adults over 60, anchor glaucoma’s steady contribution to the Canada ophthalmology drugs & devices market size and help stabilize overall drug revenues during the forecast horizon.
Dry-eye drugs form the fastest-growing class, on track for a 7.54% CAGR from 2025 to 2030 as environmental stressors, screen time and an aging population lift diagnosis rates. Cyclosporine and lifitegrast eye drops remain the mainstays, but next-generation agents that target tear-film osmolarity and neuro-trophic pathways are moving through Health Canada review, signaling a diversified pipeline. Manufacturers are also testing preservative-free multi-dose bottles and micro-mist delivery to improve tolerability, features that resonate with patients who struggle with chronic instillation regimens.
Competitive Landscape
Multinational manufacturers occupy the top tiers of the Canada ophthalmology drugs & devices market, but competition is intensifying as biosimilar entrants and diagnostic start-ups gain footholds. Alcon reinforced its cataract and cornea franchise by taking a majority stake in Aurion Biotech in March 2025, securing AURN001 cell therapy that can yield multiple endothelial graft doses from one donor cornea and is slated for Phase 3 trials later this year. Johnson & Johnson Vision continues to integrate its TECNIS Synergy IOL range with digital planning tools, while Bausch Health leverages domestic manufacturing to respond quickly to provincial tenders.
In the retinal-therapy space, the arrival of biosimilar ranibizumab and forthcoming aflibercept options have already trimmed injection prices by up to 20%, pressuring originators such as Roche’s Genentech. Biocon Biologics partnered with Apotex for national commercial reach, showcasing a playbook that combines global biologics capacity with local distribution. Diagnostic imaging sees fresh entrants: EssilorLuxottica acquired Toronto-based Cellview Imaging in February 2025, adding an ultra-widefield retinal camera that captures 133-degree views in one shot.
Regional specialists focus on niche gaps. Aequus Pharmaceuticals licensed the Paul Glaucoma Drainage Device to supply complex refractory cases. Canadian start-ups that tailor portable autorefractors and slit-lamp modules to remote conditions benefit from federal Indigenous-health grants that offset early adoption costs. Sustainable-procurement directives taking effect in large hospital systems further reshape vendor selection, pushing multinationals to issue carbon-footprint disclosures and to evaluate localized packaging lines for the Canada ophthalmology drugs & devices market.
Canada Ophthalmology Drugs & Devices Industry Leaders
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Alcon Inc.
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Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
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Bausch Health Companies Inc.
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Johnson & Johnson Vision Care
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Novartis AG
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
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Recent Industry Developments
- May 2025: Apotex expanded its licensing deal with Formosa Pharmaceuticals to cover Mexico for APP13007, after securing Canadian rights to the post-surgical ophthalmic steroid.
- March 2025: Alcon bought a majority interest in Aurion Biotech to advance AURN001 endothelial-cell therapy into Phase 3 trials.
- March 2025: Formosa Pharmaceuticals granted Cipla exclusive rights to APP13007 across 11 territories, widening global reach.
- February 2025: EssilorLuxottica acquired Toronto start-up Cellview Imaging, adding an ultra-widefield retinal camera to its diagnostics line.
- February 2025: Bausch + Lomb confirmed it will remain a public company as it finalizes separation from Bausch Health.
Canada Ophthalmology Drugs & Devices Market Report Scope
As per the scope of the report, ophthalmology devices are the equipment that is used for the diagnosis and treatment of various ophthalmic diseases, such as cataracts, glaucoma, and refractive errors. Ophthalmic drugs are used to treat eye infections and some of the above-mentioned diseases. The Canada Ophthalmology Drugs & Devices Market is segmented by Product (Devices (Surgical Devices (Intraocular Lenses, Ophthalmic Lasers, and Other Surgical Devices), Diagnostic Devices), and Drugs (Glaucoma Drugs, Retinal Disorder Drugs, Dry Eye Drugs, Allergic Conjunctivitis, and Inflammation Drugs, and Other Drugs), and by Disease (Glaucoma, Cataract, Age-Related Macular Degeneration, and Inflammatory Diseases, Refractive Disorders, and Other Diseases). The report offers the value (in USD million) for the above segments.
By Product
| Devices | Diagnostic & Monitoring Devices | OCT Scanners |
| Fundus & Retinal Cameras | ||
| Autorefractors & Keratometers | ||
| Corneal Topography Systems | ||
| Ultrasound Imaging Systems | ||
| Perimeters & Tonometers | ||
| Other Diagnostic & Monitoring Devices | ||
| Surgical Devices | Cataract Surgical Devices | |
| Vitreoretinal Surgical Devices | ||
| Refreactive Surgical Devices | ||
| Glaucoma Surgical Devices | ||
| Other Surgical Devices | ||
| Vision Care Devices | Spectacles Frames & Lenses | |
| Contact Lenses | ||
| Drugs | Glaucoma Therapeutics | |
| Retinal Disorder Therapeutics (Anti-VEGF & Others) | ||
| Dry Eye Therapeutics | ||
| Allergic Conjunctivitis & Inflammatory Therapeutics | ||
| Other Ophthalmic Drugs | ||
By Drug Class
| Glaucoma Drugs |
| Retinal Disorder Drugs |
| Dry Eye Drugs |
| Allergic Conjunctivitis and Inflammation Drugs |
| Other Drug Classes |
By Disease Indication
| Cataract |
| Glaucoma |
| Diabetic Retinopathy |
| Other Disease Indications |
By End-user
| Hospitals |
| Specialty Ophthalmic Clinics |
| Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) |
| Other End-users |
| By Product | Devices | Diagnostic & Monitoring Devices | OCT Scanners |
| Fundus & Retinal Cameras | |||
| Autorefractors & Keratometers | |||
| Corneal Topography Systems | |||
| Ultrasound Imaging Systems | |||
| Perimeters & Tonometers | |||
| Other Diagnostic & Monitoring Devices | |||
| Surgical Devices | Cataract Surgical Devices | ||
| Vitreoretinal Surgical Devices | |||
| Refreactive Surgical Devices | |||
| Glaucoma Surgical Devices | |||
| Other Surgical Devices | |||
| Vision Care Devices | Spectacles Frames & Lenses | ||
| Contact Lenses | |||
| Drugs | Glaucoma Therapeutics | ||
| Retinal Disorder Therapeutics (Anti-VEGF & Others) | |||
| Dry Eye Therapeutics | |||
| Allergic Conjunctivitis & Inflammatory Therapeutics | |||
| Other Ophthalmic Drugs | |||
| By Drug Class | Glaucoma Drugs | ||
| Retinal Disorder Drugs | |||
| Dry Eye Drugs | |||
| Allergic Conjunctivitis and Inflammation Drugs | |||
| Other Drug Classes | |||
| By Disease Indication | Cataract | ||
| Glaucoma | |||
| Diabetic Retinopathy | |||
| Other Disease Indications | |||
| By End-user | Hospitals | ||
| Specialty Ophthalmic Clinics | |||
| Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) | |||
| Other End-users | |||
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Key Questions Answered in the Report
What is the current value of the Canada ophthalmology drugs & devices market?
The market generated USD 2.65 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 3.33 billion by 2030, implying a 5.95% CAGR.
Which product category holds the largest share?
Devices account for 62.11% of revenue, with surgical platforms leading value and diagnostics recording the fastest growth.
Why are biosimilar anti-VEGF agents important for Canada?
Their accelerated approval has reduced injection costs by up to 20%, allowing provinces to treat more retinal-disease patients within existing budgets.
How are Indigenous communities influencing market demand?
Federal funding for vision-screening programs in northern regions is driving uptake of portable, tele-medicine-enabled diagnostic devices.
What is driving the rapid growth of ambulatory surgery centers?
Provinces contract ASCs to shorten cataract wait lists and lower overall procedure costs, creating a 7.09% CAGR opportunity through 2030.
Which disease segment is expanding fastest?
Which disease segment is expanding fastest? Diabetic retinopathy leads growth with a forecast 7.24% CAGR, supported by higher diabetes prevalence and broader screening.
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