The market research institute, Gfk , has published data on billings in the French optics sector: the total for the year to end June 2004 was 3.46 billion euros before tax, in other words, a 4% increase in value.

Gfk said that ¡°this development is due not only to the trend in health expenditure, but to product improvement and significant investments in advertising.¡±

Corrective lenses, which represent 58% of the segment¡¯s billings, had a 3.5% increase in sales volumes (around 23 million lenses sold) and 3.9% in terms of value, with pre-tax billings of 2 billion euros. Nine out of ten lenses are organic and sales of progressive lenses account for 51% of billings. The French are increasingly attracted by high-index, slightly colored, photochromic lenses and by anti-reflection treatments.

A scorching 2003 heralded a favorable moment for sales of sunglasses and the market grew by 1% over 12 months. The contactology sector improved by 8% and stands at 286 million euros.