Optical Medical Imaging Devices (Global Market)

The main articles are:

• Medical Equipment (Global Market)
• Medical Imaging Machines (Global Market)

2025: Global Medical Optical Imaging Market Size Reaches $2.05 Billion

At the end of 2024, costs in the global medical optical imaging market reached $2.05 billion. More than 40% of global spending was in the North American region. Such data are provided in a Fortune Business Insights study, the results of which were published on November 12, 2025.

Optical imaging is a non-invasive research and diagnostic method that uses light to capture images of the body's internal structures. Due to significant sensitivity and high resolution, such technologies allow the detection of abnormalities and pathologies (for example, tumors or inflammatory processes) at the earliest stages, when they are still invisible in other diagnostic methods. Many optical imaging systems allow you to observe the treatment process and evaluate its effectiveness over time, which is important in the treatment of chronic diseases. Another advantage of this type of diagnosis is the absence of radiation load. Plus, the technology provides high information content: for example, optical coherence tomography (OKTAS) allows you to obtain detailed transverse sections of various structures of the eye (cornea, optic disk, retina, etc.).

One of the main drivers of the market, the authors of the study name the growing prevalence of chronic diseases, including malignant, formations cardiovascular diseases, eye pathologies, etc. According to data, in World Health Organization (WHO) 2022, approximately 20 million new cases of cancer and 9.7 million deaths caused by it were reported globally. By 2050, the number of new cancer diagnoses is expected to reach 35 million, which will correspond to an increase of 77% compared to 2022. At the same time, cardiovascular diseases, according to WHO, are one of the main causes of death around the world: about 17.9 million people die from such ailments every year. Against this background, there is a growing demand for all kinds of diagnostic procedures, including optical imaging. The expansion of the sector is also facilitated by an aging population: older people are more susceptible to various diseases, which creates an additional burden on the system, and health care therefore leads to increased sales of imaging devices.

Technological advances, including the introduction of artificial intelligence, are having a positive impact on the industry. Neural networks can handle vast amounts of medical information with high efficiency, identifying latent pathologies, improving the accuracy of diagnosis, and minimizing human error. There is a growing adoption of multimodal imaging platforms combining optical, ultrasound and fluorescent techniques for complex diagnostics.

Analysts segment the market into hardware and software. In 2024, the lion's share of revenue - more than 80% - was provided by the first of these areas. In terms of application, oncology, ophthalmology, cardiology, neurology, etc., are distinguished. The oncology segment dominates with a share of 40.6%. From a geographical point of view, North America leads, which accounted for 45.4% of expenses, or $0.93 billion. Major industry players on a global scale are:

• Abbott;
• Canon Medical Systems;
• Topcon;
• Carl Zeiss AG;
• Danaher;
• Heidelberg Engineering;
• Visionix;
• MILabs B.V.

In 2025, the medical optical imaging market size is expected to reach $2.12 billion. Fortune Business Insights analysts believe that in the future, the CAGR will be 7.2%. Thus, by 2032, costs may increase to $3.45 billion.^[1]

2024: Global Optical Medical Imaging Devices Market Size Grew 11.3% to $2.26 Billion for the Year

In 2024, costs in the global market for optical devices for medical imaging reached $2.26 billion. For comparison, a year earlier, expenses in this area were estimated at $2.03 billion. Thus, growth was recorded at 11.3%. This is stated in a review by Towards Healthcare, which Zdrav.Expert reviewed in mid-July 2025.

Optical imaging is a non-invasive medical diagnostic technique based on the use of light and the special properties of photons to image organs, tissues, cells and even molecules. Depending on the technology used, visible, ultraviolet or infrared radiation may be involved. This eliminates the effect on the patient of harmful ionizing radiation, in particular X-ray radiation.

Among the key optical imaging technologies, the study authors name optical coherence tomography (OKTAS), photoacoustic imaging, Raman spectroscopy and ultra-high resolution microscopy. The study says that in 2024 the largest share of revenue was provided by the OKTAS segment: this is a modern method for studying the tissues of the visual organs, which allows you to obtain transverse ultra-thin sections of various structures of the eye - the cornea, optic disk, retina, etc. When carrying out diagnostics, optical radiation of the near infrared range is used. The technology is contactless, painless and highly informative. The development of the OKTAS sector, as noted in the study, is facilitated by the growing prevalence of eye diseases, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, etc.

However, high growth rates are observed in the field of photoacoustic imaging, which is widely used for breast examination, melanoma diagnosis, brain research, etc. The method is suitable for continuous and multiple imaging of lesions for the purpose of long-term monitoring of disease progression or treatment outcomes.

Technological advances have a significant impact on the industry. New generation systems allow you to receive detailed images with high brightness and contrast values. Artificial intelligence and machine learning tools are being introduced. Such algorithms are capable of analyzing medical images with high accuracy, speeding up results and minimizing human error.

Analysts also highlight a number of restraining factors. The main problem is the limited capabilities of optical imaging techniques associated with insufficient depth of radiation penetration into tissues. Another limitation is the significant level of noise caused by light absorption and tissue autofluorescence.

Towards Healthcare analysts believe that going forward, the Compound Percentage CAGR in the market in question will be 11.24%. As a result, in 2025, the cost of optical imaging equipment will reach $2.51 billion, and by 2034 it will rise to about $6.55 billion. The main drivers will remain technological progress and demand for non-invasive methods of diagnosing various diseases. Globally, significant players are named:

• Abbott Laboratories;
• Canon Medical Systems;
• Carl Zeiss AG;
• Cylite;
• Headwall Photonics;
• Heidelberg Engineering;
• Topcon;
• Leica Microsystems;
• Meditec AG;
• PerkinElmer;
• Philips.^[2]

2016: Market growth forecast to $2.19 billion by 2020

In September 2016, Transparency Market Research, an analytical company, released some research results from the global optical medical imaging systems market. Sales of these solutions were predicted to grow twice.

According to Transparency Market Research forecasts, by the end of 2020, the costs of healthcare institutions for the purchase of optical imaging systems will amount to $2.19 billion against $1.06 billion in 2013, and the average annual growth rate from 2014 to 2020 will be measured at about 10.8%.

Optical medical imaging market predicted double growth

The greatest dynamics, according to the researchers, will be demonstrated by the segment of systems for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer: sales are predicted to increase by an average of 15.1% from 2014 to 2020.

The study says the optical medical imaging equipment market will grow amid the continued spread of skin, tooth, eye and other organ diseases. Civilization diseases such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus are becoming an increasing problem, which is also fueling the demand for optical devices used to process medical images.

Another factor contributing to the growth of the market in question, analysts cite an increase in the number of people in age who show more dental and dermatological abnormalities.

The following companies consider the leading manufacturers of optical medical imaging systems at Transparency Market Research:

• St. Jude Medical;
• Carl Zeiss;
• Michelson Diagnostics;
• Topcon Medical Systems;
• Bioptigen;
• Heidelberg Engineering.

The largest market for such equipment in 2013 was North America, which accounted for more than 46% of sales.^[3]

2015: Grand View Research Data

In July 2016, analysts at Grand View Research released brief research results from the global optical medical imaging systems market. The largest marketing region for this hardware and software is North America.

According to experts, in 2015, sales of optical imaging systems used for health purposes amounted to $1.1 billion. Approximately 35% of this volume was in the North American market, which was facilitated by a well-developed research infrastructure, the availability of qualified specialists and the high pace of implementation of technically advanced devices. In addition, numerous government initiatives in this area are affecting.

"'North American Optical Imaging Market Development Forecast 2013-2024

Data from Grand View Research, 2016

At the same time, the Asia-Pacific region will demonstrate the highest dynamics of increasing sales of optical imaging solutions (by an average of 13% annually from 2016 to 2024) due to factors such as low research costs, lax regulatory principles and increased government support. In 2014, the Chinese government invested $112 billion in research and development in the health sector.

The following companies are called the largest manufacturers of optical medical imaging systems by analysts:

• St. Jude Medical;
• PerkinElmer;
• Philips;
• Carl Zeiss Meditec;
• Topcon Corporation;
• Bioptigen;
• Canon;
• Heidelberg Engineering;
• Optovue;
• Headwall Photonics.

The study notes that the intensifying competition from medium and small market participants has an impact on the shares of leaders. In order to maintain their position, the latter are constantly developing new technologies and are striving to launch truly innovative products.

Depending on technology, the optical imaging market is divided into hyperspectral systems, optical coherence tomography solutions, near infrared spectroscopy, and photoacoustic tomography. The largest share (about 60% in 2015) was occupied by the coherence tomography segment. It is also expected to be the fastest growing thanks to the introduction of technology for intravascular diagnostic imaging.^[4]

2013: Transparency Market Research Data

According to Transparency Market Research estimates, in 2013, the cost of healthcare institutions to purchase optical imaging systems reached $1.06 billion.

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