Ophthalmology PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

Ophthalmology PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

The ophthalmology PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) market is expected to record a CAGR of 8% over the forecast period.

COVID-19 had a significant impact on the overall healthcare industry during the initial phases due to delayed ophthalmic consultations and reduced patient visits. For instance, as per the article published in February 2021 in PubMed, ophthalmologists were most in danger when performing gonioscopy, direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy, and slit-lamp examinations because most of the time, ophthalmologists tend to be closer to their patients. When PACS was utilized, the scanned images of the patient's eye or the related areas were archived, and the doctor could easily assess the condition without a close checkup. Furthermore, the article published in August 2021 in PubMed stated that the COVID-19 pandemic had been a critical test for the clinical practice, professional education, and mental health components of the ophthalmic care system. When PACS implemented Post-COVID in medical care associations, they were able to securely store and share clinically relevant reports and digital images online. The ophthalmology PACS was used to handle the picture data and remove the need for manual data documentation, storage, and retrieval. Thus, in the coming years, the market is anticipated to witness growth due to the rise in the implementation of PACS in ophthalmology care.

Eye disease is a global health concern that negatively impacts individuals' physical and mental health. The increasing prevalence of eye diseases is increasing the demand for ophthalmic PACS globally. When there is a high prevalence of ophthalmic patients, the ophthalmology PACS allows the physician to handle the picture data and removes the need for manual data documentation, storage, and retrieval. The PACS system ensures availability across a wide range of modalities, enabling the doctor to obtain data from several sources in a single report. In many developed and developing countries, eye conditions have emerged as potential threats to eyesight. For instance, as per the 2021 update from the BrightFocus Foundation, more than 3 million Americans are living with glaucoma, and 2.7 million of those aged 40 and older are affected by its most common form, open-angle glaucoma.

Furthermore, per the article published in April 2022 in PubMed, periodic screening (annual or biannual screening in the first five years) was better than nonperiodic screening in the middle-to-advanced age group in the first five years in detecting instances of diabetic retinopathy (DR), but not in younger patients. Moreover, as per the 2022 update from the National Eye Institute, between 2010 and 2050, the estimated number of people who have had cataracts is likely to double from 24.4 million to 50 million. Hence, the rising burden of eye-related disorders and increased screening and diagnosis of the same are projected to have a great impact on the growth of the market studied.

Thus, due to the rise in eye diseases and the increase in acceptance of teleophthalmology, the ophthalmology PACS (picture archiving and communication system) market is likely to grow over the forecast period. However, high implementation and maintenance costs restrain market growth.

The integration of medical images as part of the patient record has always been a critical component of documentation and information that supports clinical decisions. PACS integration with Radiology Information Systems (RIS) ensures improved workflow within the organization, eliminating redundant data entry and data maintenance. Integrated PACS has many benefits, including reliability, reducing the complexity of managing and storing patient data, and increasing accuracy. These PACS can be linked to electronic health record (EHR) systems to provide access to the patient's file containing diagnostic information. Thus, increased benefits from the integrated PACS are likely to augment the market during the forecast period.

Increased research and development, the high prevalence of eye diseases, and technological and product advancements in the segment are anticipated to boost market growth soon. For instance, as per the article published in May 2022 in PubMed, the survey showed that all systems scored highly in information display items and in reducing patient identification errors in investigation filing and retrieval during consultation compared to paper. Moreover, the overall feedback for PACS among ophthalmologists was positive, and when the PACS are integrated with HER or any other cloud-based system, they are found to be beneficial. Furthermore, increased government initiatives in the field of eyecare boost the market growth. For instance, World Glaucoma Week is celebrated every year from March 6 to 12 to raise awareness about glaucoma. In 2022, the objective of the initiative was "the world is bright, save your sight," and its goal was to alert people to have regular check-ups and to have an early diagnosis of glaucoma. Thus, as awareness regarding eye diseases like glaucoma increases, the utilization of ophthalmic consultation also increases, thereby boosting the growth of integrated PACS systems over the forecast period. Furthermore, the number of eye disease complications is expected to drive segment growth since the ophthalmologist tends to utilize the integrated PACS system for better workflow. For instance, as per the World Glaucoma Association's 2022 update based on prevalence studies, the prevalence of glaucoma is expected to be 111.8 million in 2040.

Thus, due to an increase in eye diseases and an increase in ophthalmologists' acceptance of integrated PACS systems, the studied segment is expected to grow in the ophthalmology PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) Market over the forecast period.

North America is anticipated to observe growth in the ophthalmology PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) market over the forecast period. The United States is one of the major revenue contributors, owing to an increasing number of ophthalmic patients. For instance, as per the 2021 update from National Glaucoma Research, more than three million Americans were living with glaucoma, 2.7 million of whom were aged 40 and older and were affected by its most common form, open-angle glaucoma. Additionally, as per the same source, glaucoma costs the United States economy USD 2.86 billion yearly in direct costs and productivity losses.

An increase in government initiatives, research, developments, and implementation of digital healthcare systems boosts market growth over the forecast period. For instance, as per the news published in June 2022 in the Journal of the National Eye Institute (NEI), researchers from the NEI have identified a new disease that affects the macula, a small part of the light-sensing retina needed for sharp, central vision. Scientists reported their findings on the novel macular dystrophy, which is yet to be named. Hence, these types of research increase the adoption of PACS in ophthalmology, thereby boosting the market's growth.

Furthermore, product launches, collaborations, and acquisitions in ophthalmology PACS in North America are anticipated to boost market growth over the forecast period. For instance, on July 21, 2021, Canada-based Intelerad Medical Systems, a medical image management company, entered into a partnership agreement with LifeBridge Health, a healthcare company, to provide cloud-based medical imaging managed services. The partnership aims to enhance workflow and productivity and ensure the protection of patients' data.

Thus, due to the rise in eye diseases and the increase in demand for PACS systems in the region, North America is anticipated to witness growth in the ophthalmology PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) market over the forecast period.

The ophthalmology PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) market is moderately competitive in nature. The key players adopted various strategic plans like mergers, acquisitions, and product launches to increase their product availability across the globe. The global players in the ophthalmology PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) market are Agfa-Gevaert N.V., Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, IBM Corporation, Medical Standard Co., Ltd., Sonomed Escalon, VersaSuite, and Visbion Limited.

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