Optical Coherence Tomography Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts

Global Optical Coherence Tomography Market Trends and Insights

AI-enabled quantitative biomarkers unlock new clinical indications

AI transforms OCT from descriptive imaging to predictive diagnostics. More than 1,000 AI-enabled medical devices have received FDA clearance, including the Notal Vision Home OCT platform. Zeiss launched its Research Data Platform in 2025 to automate data capture and analytics, supporting rapid research cycles. Recent Nature studies show retinal microvascular metrics derived from OCT-angiography can stratify cardiovascular risk with high accuracy. Oncology research demonstrates virtual biopsies with micro-registered OCT reduce invasive excisions while maintaining 95.5% accuracy in basal cell carcinoma detection. Collectively, these advances expand the OCT market by opening new reimbursement pathways and specialty demand.

Miniaturized, point-of-care OCT broadens primary-care and ER use

Handheld devices shrink form-factors without sacrificing image quality. Optomed’s Aurora AEYE camera, cleared by the FDA in 2024, enables non-dilated diabetic-retinopathy screening in family clinics with 92–93% sensitivity.^{[1]Optomed, “Primary care gets transformative tool to detect diabetic retinopathy,” optomed.com} AI Optics’ Sentinel scanner ships with embedded analytics and EHR connectivity to streamline referrals. Research teams at the University of Southern California prototype portable OCT otoscopes delivering 38-µm resolution of the middle ear. A USD 20 million ARPA-H grant to Washington University funds photonic-integrated-circuit OCT systems targeting 50-fold speed gains, signalling sustained innovation investment. These solutions mitigate specialist shortages in rural settings and reinforce long-term volume growth for the OCT market.

Geriatric eye-disease burden (AMD, glaucoma, DR)

Population aging drives structural demand. At least 2.2 billion people live with vision impairment and 90% reside in low- and middle-income regions. The UN expects Asia-Pacific residents aged ≥ 60 to double from 630 million in 2023 to 1.3 billion by 2050. Home-based systems such as Notal Vision’s SCANLY enable wet-AMD monitoring, with 96% of patients successfully self-imaging in multi-center trials. AI algorithms now detect mild diabetic retinopathy with 88% sensitivity and 94% specificity, outperforming human graders. Intraoperative OCT further boosts adoption: a 2025 Brazilian study reported 92% macular-hole closure with only 3.24 minutes of added surgical time.

Rapid adoption of SS-OCT in cardiology & oncology

Guideline inclusion accelerates interventional usage. Abbott’s ILUMIEN IV and OCTOBER trials showed OCT-guided PCI reduced major adverse cardiac events by 28% versus angiography alone. Consequently, 2023 ESC and ACC/AHA recommendations list OCT as preferred intravascular imaging modality. Oncology momentum grows through Perimeter Medical’s B-Series OCT, which filed PMA in 2025 after demonstrating lower positive-margin rates in breast-conserving surgery. These data points enlarge clinical demand and propel the OCT market forward.

High capital cost and steep learning curve

Acquisition prices remain substantial, limiting uptake in lower-income regions. Zeiss reported a 3% revenue decline in China during fiscal 2024 as hospitals deferred big-ticket imaging purchases. Operator training needs add friction: interventionalists cite skill deficits as a barrier to routine OCT-guided PCI despite proven outcomes. Health-spending disparities are stark; OECD data show lower-middle-income Asia-Pacific countries invest USD 285 per capita compared to USD 3,891 in high-income peers. These economic and educational gaps temper near-term growth even as longer-term benefits remain clear.

Supply-chain dependence on swept-source lasers

Swept-source lasers require specialized wafers and epitaxial structures. The FDA flagged medical-device supply vulnerabilities in a 2025 report, noting that component shortages disproportionately impact imaging equipment for vulnerable patients. Semiconductor bottlenecks mirror microLED challenges delaying Osram’s USD 1 billion fab until late 2025. Geopolitical restrictions on germanium exports prompted LightPath Technologies to seek alternative chalcogenide glass materials. Manufacturers have started consolidating suppliers and relocating distribution centers, actions that create short-term disruption but aim to strengthen resilience.

Segment Analysis

By Device Type: Point-of-care tools energize growth

Table-top systems retained 62.38% revenue share in 2024 because retina specialists and tertiary hospitals rely on high-resolution imaging to guide therapy. In contrast, handheld units are growing at 13.44% CAGR through 2030 as primary-care adoption widens and emergency rooms seek rapid triage capability. Handheld devices provide clinicians with sub-10-second acquisition and AI-guided interpretation, eliminating the need for dilation in diabetic-eye screening. Catheter-based intravascular OCT remains small yet essential; Abbott’s Dragonfly OpStar catheter improved deliverability in tortuous coronary anatomy while sharpening image fidelity. The OCT market continues to bifurcate between full-feature consoles and ultralight probes that fit tight budgets or portable workflows.

The transition toward miniaturization mirrors broader telehealth trends. Research prototypes that integrate photonic-integrated circuits promise to slash component counts and cost, encouraging mass-volume production. AI-embedded handhelds reduce operator dependency by automating segmentation and diagnosis, which lowers training barriers for family physicians. This accessibility builds incremental procedure volume that directly enlarges the OCT market, especially in regions with sparse specialist coverage.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Technology: Swept-source momentum accelerates

Spectral-domain systems dominated with 67.41% market share in 2024, supported by mature reimbursement codes and established clinical guidelines. Swept-source platforms, however, are pacing at a 12.68% CAGR to 2030 thanks to deeper tissue penetration, higher scan speeds, and artifact reduction. The OCT market size derived from swept-source revenue is anticipated to expand to USD 1.42 billion by 2030, reflecting rapid cath-lab and oncology deployment. Component innovation from Thorlabs, which released MEMS-VCSEL lasers sweeping up to 1 MHz, underpins this growth.^{[2]Thorlabs, “MEMS-VCSEL Swept-Wavelength Laser Sources,” thorlabs.com} Superluminescent diodes are gaining favor as low-coherence sources for dermatology, reducing speckle without costly tunable lasers.

Photonic-integrated-circuit advances may eventually democratize swept-source performance within compact footprints. Coherent reported double-digit growth in health-care optics on the back of AI server demand, suggesting cross-sector economies of scale will lower OCT bill-of-materials over time. Vendors retrofit spectral-domain consoles with speed-boosting upgrades to defend installedbases; Heidelberg Engineering’s SHIFT firmware halves scan acquisition time, illustrating how incumbents extend product lifecycles without hardware swaps. These combined dynamics keep spectral-domain units relevant while redirecting new capital expenditure toward swept-source innovations that future-proof clinical workflows.

By Modality: OCT-angiography reshapes vascular assessment

Structural imaging accounted for 54.68% revenue in 2024, serving as the default for retina, glaucoma, and anterior-segment evaluations. OCT-angiography is outpacing all other modalities at a 12.23% CAGR because it visualizes retinal and choroidal blood flow without dye, reducing adverse-event risk. Medicare introduced CPT 92137 in 2025, formally reimbursing OCTA, and the service limit policy now under review is expected to unlock utilisation among retina practices. Quantitative microvascular metrics generated by AI enhance cardiovascular-risk stratification, leading cardiology groups to integrate retinal OCTA screening into preventive clinics. Polarisation-sensitive and functional Doppler variants remain research-heavy, yet interest is climbing in neurology for early Alzheimer’s vascular biomarkers.

Rapid algorithmic segmentation permits fluid-volume quantification in neovascular AMD with excellent agreement versus manual grading, shortening visit times and improving treatment adherence. Expansion into brain science, as documented in recent PMC reviews, signals broader neurologic relevance that will further enlarge the OCT market.

By End-User: Ambulatory centers gain momentum

Hospitals and tertiary centers preserved 48.77% revenue share in 2024, driven by complex case management and availability of capital budgets. Ambulatory surgical centers and cardiac cath labs are scaling fastest at 14.28% CAGR through 2030 as payers shift elective procedures toward outpatient environments. OCT-guided PCI in outpatient labs cut major adverse events by 28% compared with angiography-guided approaches, reinforcing payer preference for value-based care. Specialty ophthalmic chains leverage portable systems to decentralize screening, while dermatology clinics adopt line-field OCT to triage suspected skin cancers at primary presentation.

Research institutes continue to pilot ultrawide-field prototypes that capture ocular periphery in a single shot, expanding clinical trial endpoints and academic interest. All segments collectively stimulate volume growth; yet outpatient sites show the largest upside as procedural revenue migrates from in-patient departments to lower-cost settings, reinforcing the long-run trajectory of the OCT market.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Sales Channel: Distribution networks widen reach

Direct sales still contributed 53.21% revenue in 2024 because buyers demand integrated training, workflow mapping, and technical support. Distributors and value-added resellers are growing at 13.83% CAGR as vendors court emerging-market hospitals that prefer local language support and financing flexibility. Zeiss’s acquisition of Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center extends surgical-device coverage and deepens service teams in Europe and Asia. Canon’s USD 50 million Cleveland imaging hub exemplifies how manufacturers reinforce regional support infrastructure to sustain direct engagements.

Hybrid models are emerging: Olympus’s cloud-based AI platform bundles endoscopy hardware with subscription analytics, signalling future recurring-revenue opportunities. As AI-enabled OCT matures, similar software-as-a-service layers are likely, prompting distributors to build digital-support competencies. This evolution sustains a robust pipeline of installations that enlarges the OCT market while reducing downtime for clinicians.

Geography Analysis

North America held 42.81% revenue share in 2024 thanks to advanced infrastructure, robust private insurance, and a clear FDA AI policy roadmap. Nevertheless, reimbursement headwinds persist: Medicare’s 2025 Physician Fee Schedule cut ophthalmology payments by 2%, and the conversion factor fell to USD 32.35, squeezing margins for small practices.^{[3]Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, “CY 2025 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule,” cms.gov} New CPT codes for OCT-angiography partially offset cuts, yet relative-value downgrades for structural imaging heighten cost-containment pressure. Canada and Mexico represent white-space opportunities where handheld devices mitigate rural-care gaps, and cross-border teleophthalmology programs capture incremental volume.

Europe maintains steady growth powered by coordinated health systems and accelerated AI adoption. EssilorLuxottica’s 80% stake in Heidelberg Engineering integrates diagnostic platforms with eyewear retail channels, enhancing access in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Spain. Olympus secured CE approval for three cloud-based AI endoscopy systems, underscoring regulatory openness to software-driven innovation. Central and Eastern European governments are investing in hospital-modernization schemes that favor mid-range OCT consoles, sustaining baseline demand even as western markets mature.

Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region, advancing at a 15.32% CAGR between 2025 and 2030. China remains the largest single market but experienced capital-spending delays amid macroeconomic uncertainty, causing a 3% revenue dip for Zeiss in 2024. Japan’s urban-rural physician imbalance constrains rural OCT installations despite otherwise modern infrastructure. India, Australia, and South Korea exhibit strong double-digit unit growth driven by public-health initiatives and telemedicine expansion. Singapore’s SG$200 million AI-healthcare fund and Australia’s 2023–2028 digital strategy further validate the region’s technology-friendly policy environment. These drivers collectively boost the OCT market through rapid capacity build-out, especially for point-of-care formats.