Eye and Face Protection Market

Market Overview

As the spread of COVID-19 pandemic accelerates, global health systems are becoming overwhelmed with a growing number of potentially infectious patients seeking testing and care. This has increased the need to prevent the spread of infection to and from health care workers (HCWs) and patients, thereby potentially raising the demand for various personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly eye and face protection equipment such as face shields, surgical mask, respirators, and protective goggles. Additionally, misuse, panic buying, and stockpiling of these products by common citizens is leading a manifold increase in demand worldwide. Moreover, the coronavirus pandemic is putting an unprecedented pressure on the global healthcare systems and the rise in medical needs is exposing widening gaps in inventory of eye and face protection equipment.

Updates in Guidance for Rational Use and Reliance on Alternatives to Increase as Supply Slumps

Over the years, growth of the eye and face protection market remained driven by growing infrastructural activities in developing economies and expanding oil & gas exploration and production. However, the scenario is changing amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, compelling manufacturers to stop the production of industrial products and focus on medical applications. Additionally, as supply shortages are putting lives at risks and leaving HCWs ill-equipped to care for COVID-19 patients, governments and public health organizations are targeted towards boosting supply, easing export restrictions, and putting strict measures in place to stop speculation and hoarding of eye and face protection equipment. This is expected to result in steady demand and supply in near term.

Shortages of medical supplies, due to expansive shutdown of factories in major equipment producing countries such as China and limited availability of raw materials, have forced health care providers to improvise with next-best alternatives. Several HCWs are creating eye and face protection devices with office supplies, reusing existing supplies when treating different patients, or doubling up on flimsy masks in the absence of N95 respirator masks. Moreover, doctors and nurses in highly populous countries like India are relying on helmets and raincoats in place of medical eye and face protection equipment.

Educational Institutions, Researchers, and Start-ups Join the Manufacturing Race

As the disrupted supply chains along with panic buying and hoarding of vital PPE needed by the frontline workers has left a shortage, governments are working closely with manufacturers to ramp up the production of eye and face protection equipment. In the U.S., President Trump has invoked the Defense Production Act to mobilize war-scale manufacturers of critical items. Educational institutes such as MIT are joining the manufacturing race, where a team launched a technique that combines low-cost materials and high-rate manufacturing of disposable face shields. The design of these shields not only includes extra protection but can also be reused without the risk of contamination.

The sheer volume of eye and face protection equipment needed to keep HCWs and patients safe in the COVID-19 crisis is daunting. Researchers at UMass Amherst have designed low-cost plastic-based face shields which are being made available to manufacturers such as K+K Thermoforming for mass production. Furthermore, several local manufacturers and startups are leveraging 3D printing technology to develop face shields and protective goggles that provide additional protection to the face and eyes of the medical professionals at relatively low cost.

Developed Markets Lead the First Wave of Growth, Developing Economies Close In

North America and Europe continue to hold major share of global eye and face protection market value. The emergence of the U.S. and Italy as the hardest hit countries after China has resulted in exponentially increased demand for eye and face protection equipment in these regions. As the U.S. passes an economic relief bill that gives manufacturers such as 3M and Honeywell protection against lawsuits when selling tens of millions of eye and face protection equipment to HCWs, the regional market will continue to witness robust growth.

Presence of major supply chains in China is contributing to growth of the eye and face protection market in Asia Pacific. Reopening of factories in the nation and ease of export restrictions on medical supplies are further likely aid to global demand for protective equipment.

Eye and Face Protection Market: Competitive Landscape

The FMI’s report profiles a list of leading players operating in the eye and face protection market wherein product portfolio, new launches, growth strategies, and regional presence of each player have been detailed. Some of these players include, but are not limited to, 3M, Dynaflux, Inc., Bullard, Uvex Safety Group, Avon Rubber Plc, Honeywell International Inc., Kimberly-Clark, Grainger, Msa Safety Inc, Ansell Limited, and DuPont.