A
contact lens, or simply
contact, is a thin
lens placed directly on the surface of the
eye. Contact lenses are considered medical devices and can be worn to
correct vision, or for
cosmetic or therapeutic reasons. In 2004, it was estimated that 125 million people (2%) use contact lenses worldwide, including 28 to 38 million in the United States. In 2010, worldwide contact lens market was estimated at $6.1 billion, while the U.S. soft lens market was estimated at $2.1 billion. Multiple scientists estimated that the global market would reach $11.7 billion by 2015. , the average age of contact lens wearers globally was 31 years old, and two thirds of wearers were female.