Retinal Disorder Treatment Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity & Forecast, Segmented By Type (Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy, Others), By Dosage Form (Gels, Eye Solutions, Capsules & Tablets, Eye Drops, Ointments), By Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacy, Online Pharmacy, Retail Pharmacy), By Region & Competition, 2020-2030F

Market Overview

Global Retinal Disorder Treatment market was valued at USD 15.02 Billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 25.60 Billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 9.25%.

The Global Retinal Disorder Treatment Market is entering a pivotal phase of transformation, propelled by demographic shifts, rising global disease incidence, and a wave of innovation in precision and regenerative therapeutics. Conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), retinal vein occlusion (RVO), and retinitis pigmentosa continue to represent high-burden, sight-threatening disorders with considerable unmet clinical need. This sustained market expansion is being fueled by a growing patient base and increased adoption of advanced biologics, gene-targeted therapies, and long-acting drug delivery systems that are reshaping clinical treatment protocols. Unlike previous eras focused primarily on disease stabilization, the current market trajectory reflects a transition toward restorative outcomes, with a growing emphasis on neural regeneration, visual function recovery, and durability of therapeutic response.

Key Market Drivers

Rising Prevalence of Retinal Disorders

The increasing prevalence of retinal disorders is a fundamental factor fueling the expansion of the Global Retinal Disorder Treatment Market. Globally, over 2.2 billion people are affected by near or distance vision impairment. Notably, in at least 1 billion of these cases, the impairment was either preventable or remains untreated highlighting a significant unmet need and an addressable market opportunity for eye care solutions. Conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, and retinitis pigmentosa are becoming increasingly common across global populations. The global burden of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is on a sharp upward trajectory, driven by demographic aging. Prevalence reached approximately 196 million cases in 2020 and is forecasted to rise to 288 million by 2040 representing a 47% increase over two decades and signaling a growing demand for targeted retinal therapies and long-term disease management solutions.

Diabetic retinopathy remains one of the most common complications of diabetes. According to the International Diabetes Federation, over 530 million people are living with diabetes worldwide, a number projected to rise sharply in the coming decades. Between 1990 and 2022, the global diabetic population grew more than fourfold from 200 million to 830 million underscoring a dramatic escalation in metabolic health challenges. In 2021 alone, diabetes and diabetes-related kidney disease accounted for over 2 million deaths. Additionally, elevated blood glucose levels were responsible for approximately 11% of all cardiovascular-related fatalities, reinforcing the urgent need for integrated diagnostic, therapeutic, and monitoring solutions across the healthcare value chain. Poor dietary habits, lack of physical activity, and high rates of smoking and obesity are increasing the risk factors for retinal disorders in both developed and developing countries. This expanding patient population directly translates into higher demand for ongoing treatment and management solutions, thereby driving market growth.

Many retinal disorders are chronic and progressive, requiring long-term or lifelong treatment. For instance, patients diagnosed with wet AMD typically undergo regular intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF agents. This recurrent treatment model generates sustained revenue streams for pharmaceutical companies and significantly contributes to market scalability. Additionally, the long-term nature of retinal diseases encourages investment in patient monitoring, follow-up diagnostics, and personalized therapies, creating commercial opportunities across various segments of the treatment ecosystem. Untreated or poorly managed retinal disorders can lead to severe vision impairment or blindness, resulting in reduced quality of life, productivity losses, and increased caregiver burden.

This economic and social impact has prompted governments and healthcare providers to allocate more resources to preventive care, early detection, and timely treatment. As a result, there is increased public and private investment in eye health infrastructure, awareness campaigns, and affordable access to retinal care further accelerating market expansion. The rising prevalence of retinal disorders incentivizes pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies to expand their treatment portfolios. This includes developing novel therapeutics such as: Long-acting anti-VEGF agents, Gene therapies and cell-based interventions, Sustained-release drug delivery systems. This diversification meets the varied needs of a growing and heterogeneous patient population, supporting deeper market penetration and broader product adoption.

Aging Global Population

The aging global population is one of the most influential demographic trends shaping the Global Retinal Disorder Treatment Market. By 2050, an estimated 80% of the global elderly population will reside in low- and middle-income countries marking a major demographic shift in healthcare demand. Notably, as early as 2020, the number of individuals aged 60 and above had already surpassed the population of children under five, signaling a structural pivot in global health priorities toward age-related disease management and geriatric care infrastructure, particularly in emerging markets. Many retinal disorders are age-associated diseases, particularly age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is a leading cause of vision loss in people over 60. Other conditions like retinal detachment, epiretinal membrane, and vitreomacular traction also occur more frequently in older adults. As populations age, the prevalence of these conditions naturally rises. For example: The World Health Organization (WHO) projects that by 2030, one in six people globally will be aged 60 or older.  This growing senior population substantially increases the target patient base, creating a larger and more consistent demand for retinal disorder treatments.

Older adults tend to access healthcare services more frequently, particularly for chronic and degenerative diseases. As a result, they are more likely to engage in regular eye exams, preventive screenings, and specialist consultations, which leads to: Earlier diagnosis of retinal conditions, Higher treatment initiation rates, Greater treatment adherence, especially for recurring therapies such as anti-VEGF injections. This sustained engagement with the healthcare system drives volume growth across both pharmaceutical and procedural segments of the retinal treatment market.

Retinal diseases in older adults often require ongoing and repetitive treatment cycles, particularly in the case of wet AMD and diabetic macular edema. These may involve: Monthly or bimonthly intravitreal injections, Continuous imaging and monitoring, Surgical interventions in advanced cases. This recurring nature of treatment translates to stable, recurring revenue streams for market participants, making the aging population a commercially valuable segment. Governments and healthcare providers are increasingly investing in geriatric care infrastructure, including dedicated eye care services for elderly patients. This includes Specialized ophthalmology clinics, Mobile retinal screening units, Home-based or community-level care initiatives. These investments improve access to treatment, particularly in rural or underserved areas, allowing companies to tap into previously underpenetrated segments of the aging population.

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Key Market Challenges

High Cost of Treatment and Limited Affordability

Retinal disorder treatments particularly anti-VEGF therapies, advanced diagnostics (like Optical Coherence Tomography), and retinal surgeries are often prohibitively expensive, especially in low- and middle-income markets. The recurring nature of treatment (e.g., monthly injections for wet AMD) further compounds financial burden on patients.

This cost barrier significantly limits market penetration in price-sensitive regions. Even in developed economies, budget constraints in public health systems and restricted reimbursement policies pose challenges for long-term patient adherence. For industry stakeholders, Reduced patient retention and compliance, Pricing pressure from governments and insurance providers, Limited scalability of premium therapies in emerging markets. To achieve sustained growth, companies need to invest in cost-effective delivery models, biosimilars, and pricing strategies tailored to diverse economic segments.

Limited Access to Specialized Eye Care Infrastructure

In many parts of the world, particularly rural and underserved regions, there is a serious shortage of retinal specialists, diagnostic infrastructure, and surgical capabilities. Even in middle-income countries, specialized eye care remains concentrated in urban centers, limiting the reach of advanced treatments.

This creates a geographic imbalance in market access, where the availability of treatments is restricted not by innovation but by infrastructure gaps. The lack of trained personnel and equipment hinders early diagnosis and delays treatment initiation, leading to poorer outcomes and reduced demand for therapeutic products. Lower uptake of advanced therapies in high-potential but underdeveloped regions, Higher market development costs to build capacity or support training initiatives, Reduced ROI from product launches in fragmented or infrastructure-poor regions. Addressing this challenge requires strategic partnerships with healthcare providers, NGOs, and governments to improve retinal care accessibility.

Key Market Trends

Shift Toward Long-Acting and Sustained-Release Therapies

One of the most transformative developments in retinal care is the industry-wide move toward long-acting formulations and sustained-release drug delivery systems. Traditional treatments such as monthly intravitreal injections for wet AMD have been effective but come with challenges related to patient compliance, clinical burden, and healthcare costs. Port delivery systems (e.g., Genentech's Susvimo), Extended-duration anti-VEGF agents (e.g., Vabysmo, Eylea HD), Biodegradable implants and micro-pumps under clinical development.

This trend enhances patient adherence, reduces the frequency of clinic visits, and improves overall treatment outcomes critical factors for long-term market growth. For pharmaceutical and biotech companies, it opens opportunities to: Differentiate their offerings with more convenient and premium solutions, Command pricing premiums for innovation. Capture broader patient segments, especially those currently under-treated due to procedural fatigue or logistical barrier. As the market continues to shift toward durability and patient-centric delivery, players that invest in sustained-release platforms are expected to gain a competitive edge.

Rising Integration of AI and Imaging Technologies in Diagnostics

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced retinal imaging is reshaping how retinal disorders are detected, monitored, and managed. Tools such as AI-powered fundus analysis, deep learning algorithms, and portable OCT (optical coherence tomography) devices are enabling earlier, more accurate diagnoses even in primary care settings.

FDA-approved AI tools like IDx-DR for diabetic retinopathy screening, Increased adoption of tele-ophthalmology in both developed and emerging markets. This technological shift is expanding the diagnostic footprint of retinal care, especially in regions with limited specialist access. It also creates adjacent revenue streams for device manufacturers, software providers, and telemedicine platforms. Increased patient inflow into the treatment funnel through early detection, Higher utilization of therapeutics, especially in early-to-mid disease stages, New partnerships between pharma, tech firms, and diagnostic players. In the near term, AI-driven diagnostics are expected to accelerate patient conversion rates and reduce the burden on overstretched retinal specialists.

Segmental Insights

Dosage Form Insights

Based on the category of Dosage Form, the Eye Drops segment emerged as the fastest growing in the market for Retinal Disorder Treatment in 2024. Conventional treatments for retinal disorders, especially anti-VEGF agents used in AMD and diabetic macular edema, require intravitreal injections an invasive and often uncomfortable procedure that must be performed in clinical settings. This contributes to treatment fatigue, patient drop-off, and limited adoption in under-resourced regions.

Emerging formulations of topical retinal therapies aim to deliver active compounds to the posterior segment of the eye via non-invasive eye drops. This shift dramatically improves patient compliance, reduces procedural risks, and enables self-administration, which is particularly valuable in chronic conditions requiring long-term management. Low- and middle-income countries often face shortages of retinal specialists and limited access to surgical or injectable therapies. Eye drops, by contrast, can be distributed and administered more broadly, without the need for specialized infrastructure. Eye drops serve as a scalable, low-cost delivery system particularly suited for population-wide screening and treatment programs in high-prevalence geographies such as Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and parts of Africa. These factors contribute to the growth of this segment.

Type Insights

Based on the category of Type, the Macular Degeneration segment emerged as the dominant in the global market for Retinal Disorder Treatment in 2024. Macular degeneration continues to be the primary focus of ophthalmology R&D, with several gene therapies, sustained-release platforms, and combination therapies under development. Gene therapy candidates for dry AMD and geographic atrophy (e.g., GT005 by Gyroscope Therapeutics), Dual-action biologics targeting multiple pathways (e.g., Ang-2 and VEGF inhibitors like Vabysmo), Complement inhibitors for treating geographic atrophy (e.g., Apellis’ Syfovre). This concentration of innovation not only solidifies the segment’s dominance but also offers future growth potential beyond current therapeutic limits. Early entrants into emerging treatment classes are well-positioned to secure premium market positions.

Macular degeneration especially wet AMD is more frequently diagnosed and actively managed than other retinal disorders such as retinitis pigmentosa or macular edema due to rare causes. The availability of well-established screening tools like fundus photography and OCT (optical coherence tomography) facilitates early detection and treatment initiation. Higher diagnosis rates lead to greater patient conversion and treatment initiation. A larger patient base ensures greater product uptake and wider distribution footprints. The established treatment protocols enable efficient integration into health systems and insurance models, boosting volume and revenue.

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Regional Insights

North America emerged as the largest market in the global Retinal Disorder Treatment market in 2024, holding the largest market share in terms of value. The U.S. healthcare system, while complex, offers reimbursement for most retinal treatments, including high-cost biologics and diagnostics. Medicare and private insurers routinely cover AMD, diabetic macular edema, and other retinal disease therapies, removing cost-related barriers for the aging population.

Enables wider patient access to expensive treatments like Lucentis, Eylea, and Vabysmo, provides pricing stability for manufacturers, Creates an environment where innovation is financially viable and more readily scalable. North America hosts the largest concentration of clinical trials for retinal disorders and is home to major academic institutions, CROs, and specialized ophthalmic centers. Additionally, the region benefits from a dense network of venture-backed biotech startups and established pharmaceutical players focusing on ophthalmology.

North America serves as a launchpad for new technologies, accelerating global innovation cycles, Attracts foreign direct investment (FDI) into retinal research and manufacturing, Facilitates faster commercialization due to proximity to top-tier research and regulatory bodies. The region has a dense network of retinal specialists, advanced clinics, and diagnostic facilities, ensuring early detection and active disease management. Technologies like optical coherence tomography (OCT) and AI-assisted retinal imaging are widely deployed in both urban and community settings. Supports high treatment penetration rates, Enables the management of chronic retinal disorders through structured care pathways, Facilitates the adoption of next-gen therapies, including gene and cell-based treatments.

Recent Developments

• In April 2025, Théa has officially launched Sepul Bio, a dedicated business unit focused on the clinical advancement of RNA-based therapeutics targeting rare genetic retinal disorders. This strategic initiative underscores Théa’s deepening commitment to precision medicine in ophthalmology.
• In April 2025, KAIST Develops Groundbreaking Therapeutic That Regenerates Retinal Nerves and Restores Vision. In a significant breakthrough for the global ophthalmology sector, researchers at KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) have developed a first-in-class therapeutic agent capable of restoring vision by regenerating damaged retinal nerves a feat previously considered biologically unattainable.
• In March 2025- FDA Grants Approval for First-in-Class Encapsulated Cell Therapy Targeting Degenerative Retinal Disorders. In a landmark regulatory development, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first encapsulated cell therapy for the treatment of degenerative eye diseases, signaling a transformative step forward in regenerative ophthalmology.
• In February 2025, Roche announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Susvimo® (ranibizumab injection) 100 mg/mL for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) a major cause of vision impairment among adults with diabetes, impacting over 29 million patients globally.   

Key Market Players

• Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
• Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.
• Graybug Vision, Inc.
• Shire plc (Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited)
• Bayer AG
• AbbVie Inc.
• Genentech (F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd)
• Kubota Vision Inc.
• Pfizer, Inc.
• Bausch + Lomb

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Retinal Disorder Treatment Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Retinal Disorder Treatment Market, By Product:

o   Macular Degeneration

o   Diabetic Retinopathy

o   Others

• Retinal Disorder Treatment Market, By Dosage Form:

o   Gels

o   Eye Solutions

o   Capsules & Tablets

o   Eye Drops

o   Ointments

• Retinal Disorder Treatment Market, By Distribution Channel:

o   Hospital Pharmacy

o   Online Pharmacy

o   Retail Pharmacy

• Retinal Disorder Treatment Market, By Region:

o   North America

§  United States

§  Canada

§  Mexico

o   Europe

§  France

§  United Kingdom

§  Italy

§  Germany

§  Spain

o   Asia-Pacific

§  China

§  India

§  Japan

§  Australia

§  South Korea

o   South America

§  Brazil

§  Argentina

§  Colombia

o   Middle East & Africa

§  South Africa

§  Saudi Arabia

§  UAE

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Retinal Disorder Treatment Market.

Available Customizations:

Global Retinal Disorder Treatment market report with the given market data, TechSci Research offers customizations according to a company's specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

Company Information

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).