Retinal Imaging Devices Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends and Forecast (2026 - 2031)

Global Retinal Imaging Devices Market Trends and Insights

Growing Global Burden of Chronic Retinal Disorders

Diabetic retinopathy already affects more than 100 million adults worldwide and is poised to rise with diabetes prevalence reaching 643 million by 2030. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) incidence climbs sharply after age 60 as longevity increases. Health agencies now recommend automated retinal imaging for non-communicable disease screening, spurring procurement across both developed and emerging markets. China’s urban prevalence of diabetic retinopathy exceeded 24% in 2024, prompting annual fundus-photography mandates that are cascading into provincial budgets. The policy momentum cements a long-duration growth runway for the retinal imaging devices market^{[1]D. Magliano, “IDF Diabetes Atlas: 10th Edition,” International Diabetes Federation, idf.org}.

Continuous Technological Advancements in Imaging Modalities

Swept-source OCT platforms achieve axial resolutions below 5 μm and scan speeds exceeding 200,000 A-scans per second, revealing microvascular changes that older systems miss. In September 2024, the Maestro2 OCTA earned U.S. 510(k) clearance, combining angiography and automated diabetic retinopathy grading in a single unit. Ultra-widefield cameras now capture up to 200° of the retina in a single shot, improving the detection of peripheral lesions associated with retinal vein occlusion. Hand-held OCT units have penetrated neonatal intensive care units, where portability is critical. Together, these innovations shorten acquisition times, reduce motion artifacts, and expand the clinical utility of retinal imaging devices.

Expansion of Government-Funded Vision Screening Programs

NHS England committed GBP 42 million in 2024 to place OCT devices in 1,200 community optometry practices, while New Zealand, India, and China have rolled out national diabetic retinopathy screening pilots that reimburse AI-enabled fundus photography. Such programs guarantee baseline demand and justify localized manufacturing, shielding vendors from cyclical capital-spending risk. The trend is spreading to middle-income economies in South America and the Middle East, broadening the addressable market for retinal imaging devices^{[2]“Healthy China—Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Guidelines 2024,” National Health Commission of China, nhc.gov.cn}.

Rising Geriatric Population and Associated Eye-Care Demand

United Nations projections indicate the 65-plus cohort will exceed 1.6 billion by 2050, with East Asia and Southern Europe bearing the sharpest demographic tilt. AMD prevalence doubles every decade after 60, driving recurring imaging for anti-VEGF therapy monitoring. Japan recorded an 18% rise in ophthalmology visits among residents aged 70 and above between 2020 and 2024, a trend that is pushing hospitals toward automated imaging workflows. Multi-modal platforms that consolidate OCT, fundus photography, and angiography lower patient wait times, a critical factor for frail older adults.

High Capital Expenditure and Maintenance Costs

Spectral-domain systems cost USD 80,000–120,000, and swept-source platforms surpass USD 150,000, placing them beyond many low-volume clinics. Annual service contracts add 10–15% of purchase cost, while consumables add USD 5,000–8,000 per year. U.S. reimbursement of USD 50–70 per OCT scan requires at least 1,500 procedures annually to break even. Many rural facilities postpone upgrades, entrenching a two-tier market that clouds near-term growth potential.

Shortage of Skilled Eye-Care Technicians

The United States faces a projected deficit of 9,300 ophthalmic technicians by 2030. Training to competency takes 6–12 months, and scarcity is worse in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where ratios slip below one technician per 100,000 people. Automated alignment and image-quality feedback can mitigate but not eliminate the need for skilled personnel, slowing throughput in large-scale screening programs^{[3]“Ophthalmic Technician Shortage Forecast,” American Academy of Ophthalmology, aao.org}.

Segment Analysis

By Device: OCT Dominance Meets Ultra-Widefield Disruption

Optical coherence tomography commanded 46.54% of retinal imaging devices market share in 2025 thanks to its role in macular and glaucoma management. Spectral-domain units remain the workhorse, yet swept-source variants are taking over the replacement cycle due to deeper choroidal penetration and faster scan speeds. Ultra-widefield cameras will log a 9.54% CAGR through 2031, benefiting from 200° one-shot coverage that uncovers peripheral diabetic lesions. Fundus cameras hold volume leadership, but AI-enabled, non-mydriatic designs are eroding market share in the low end. Other devices—such as adaptive optics and hyperspectral cameras—remain research-centric pending reimbursement clarity.

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

By Application: Disease Diagnosis Anchors, R&D Accelerates

Disease diagnosis retained 64.32% of 2025 revenue as providers follow guideline-mandated imaging for diabetic retinopathy, AMD, and glaucoma. Treatment monitoring expands alongside anti-VEGF regimens that require monthly OCT scans. Research and development will pace a 9.65% CAGR as drug sponsors adopt retinal biomarkers for neurodegeneration and gene-therapy trials. Cloud-based reading centers standardize protocols across multi-site studies, creating incremental lift for the retinal imaging devices market size at the application level.

By Indication: Diabetic Retinopathy Leads, Vein Occlusion Surges

Diabetic retinopathy generated 38.65% of the 2025 demand, anchored by established annual screening guidelines. Retinal vein occlusion will grow fastest at 10.11% CAGR, propelled by anti-VEGF gains that necessitate frequent imaging. AMD remains a perennial driver as wet-form patients undergo serial OCT. Smaller segments—retinal detachment, uveitis—increase the case for multimodal systems that image both the posterior pole and the periphery in a single sitting.

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

By End-User: Hospitals Dominate, ASCs Gain Momentum

Hospitals held 54.32% of 2025 turnover by virtue of capital depth and embedded technician teams. Ophthalmology group practices are consolidating to garner vendor discounts, while ambulatory surgical centers will post a 10.23% CAGR as payers funnel volume to lower-cost sites. Subscription pricing makes high-end OCT accessible to clinics with less than 5,000 annual visits, sustaining unit diffusion. Mobile screening vans and research institutions form a long-tail segment that provides geographic reach and data for public health analytics.

Geography Analysis

North America accounted for 42.12% of global sales in 2025, supported by Medicare OCT reimbursement under CPT codes 92133 and 92134, which surpassed 15 million scans. The United States houses over 25,000 installed spectral-domain units, and the replacement cycle is tilting toward swept-source models. Canada is scaling AI-based diabetic retinopathy screening in family clinics to shorten specialist wait times. Meanwhile, private Mexican ophthalmology centers are upgrading to differentiate services, though public procurement remains budget-tight.

Asia-Pacific will advance at an 8.54% CAGR to 2031. China’s directive to equip all tier-2 and tier-3 cities with automated screening by 2027 is set to sharply lift unit sales, while India has dedicated INR 3.2 billion (USD 38 million) to portable cameras that feed its blindness-control program. Japan’s 29% elderly population share is already straining eye-care capacity, driving the adoption of AI-enabled workflows. South Korea’s expansion of reimbursement for OCT angiography will double annual procedure volume by 2028. Australia’s shared-care pilots underline the region’s appetite for connected, community-based models.

Europe accounted for about 28% of 2025 revenue. The United Kingdom’s community-optometry roll-out of OCT devices represents the region’s most significant public procurement to date. Germany reimburses OCT for glaucoma and AMD but lags in reimbursing for diabetic retinopathy, leading to a two-speed market. France leans on non-mydriatic cameras for its diabetes screening. GCC nations invest in tertiary-eye centers to attract medical tourists, whereas Sub-Saharan Africa relies on donor-funded portable cameras. South America’s opportunity clusters in Brazil and Argentina, where private chains upgrade to spectral-domain OCT as public-sector tenders remain sporadic.