Surgical Lights Market

Market Overview

The global surgical lights market size was valued at USD 3,179.09 million in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 4,624.84 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 4.03% during the forecast period (2023–2031).

Highlights

• Halogen dominates the type segment
• Cardiac Surgery dominates the application segment
• Hospitals dominate the end-user segment
• North America is the highest shareholder in the global market

Surgical lights, often called operating or surgical lighting, are typically used in ambulatory surgery centers and hospital operating rooms. However, they can also be utilized in other locations across the facility to offer high-quality lighting for treatments. They provide a variety of qualities, such as little heating over extended periods, shadow-free illumination, and pure white light, which enables the staff to carry out surgical treatments effectively. In a healthcare facility, there are numerous kinds of operating lights that are utilized for specific procedures. Various manufacturers offer surgical lights in single- and dual-head configurations and various brightness ranges (up to 160,000 Lux).

Surgical lights are employed to offer the best lighting possible in surgery suites. These lamps irradiate the surgical site for the best visualization of tiny, low-contrast objects at various incisions and body cavities depths. Additionally, these lights do not emit much heat, so they may run for extended periods. Typical conventional surgical lights are bright gas-filled lamps that contain a certain amount of halogen in an inert gas at a pressure of more than 3 atmospheres (atm). A few gas-discharge xenon-halogen lamps emit light by passing a brief electric current through a gas. Aside from that, LED surgical lights are made of pods or modules, essentially tiny semiconductors emitting a certain spectrum of light when stimulated by an electrical circuit.

Market Dynamics

Global Surgical Lights Market Drivers:

Significant Increase in Surgical Procedures

Surgical lights are mostly used in hospitals and operating rooms, where most procedures are performed. Orthopedic, cardiac, and neurovascular surgical procedures are becoming more common. For instance, 377,763 cardiovascular procedures were conducted in North America in 2014. Further, the aging of populations worldwide has accelerated surgical operations, supporting market expansion. Therefore, the growth of the surgical lights market is influenced by the increase in surgical procedures.

Technological Developments in Surgical Lights

Surgical lights have undergone ongoing technological developments during the past few years. The transition of lighting from halogen to LED is a key driver driving this market. The market for operating lights has seen a significant increase in demand for these products due to the transition from halogen to LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology. To provide cutting-edge working lights on the market, several industry participants always concentrate on R&D. For instance, in 2019 BihlerMed, a major supplier of medical illumination technology and products, collaborated with View Medical to launch the ground-breaking SurgiLight surgical lighting system. The product features an ergonomic, flexible shaft that fixes in place after adjustment, enabling more agile and precise light source positioning.

Additionally, the gradual shift from halogen to LED technology is gaining momentum, particularly in developing countries like China, India, and Brazil, where healthcare facilities are now concentrating on replacing halogen lights with LED lights. The market is expected to develop due to the overall cost advantages of LED lights and their increased efficiency during surgical procedures over the forecast period. LED technology has developed tremendously in many operating rooms worldwide and become indispensable to daily life. LED lights also provide several advantages, including lower energy usage, reduced heat production, a longer bulb life, and various dimming options. These elements should accelerate market expansion soon.

Global Surgical Lights Market Restraint:

High Cost of LED Lights

The high cost of LED lights severely constrains the market for surgical lighting. Many healthcare facilities are still deterred by the cost of initial installation and ongoing maintenance, even though LED lights have several advantages, including increased visibility, a longer lifespan, and energy efficiency. Financial difficulties may arise due to the increased initial outlay needed for LED surgical lighting, especially for smaller clinics and institutions with tighter budgets. As a result, these institutions might stick with outdated technology or choose traditional lighting options, preventing the general use of LED surgical lights and limiting their potential advantages regarding improved surgical precision and patient safety.

The adoption of LED lights in the surgical light market may be accelerated by efforts to address the cost barrier through technological improvements, cost-cutting measures, and enhanced market competitiveness. In addition, the LED surgical light bulb is significantly more expensive than halogen bulbs. LED lights are expensive when furnishing a new setting or facility on a tighter budget, even though they provide long-term value. Routine inspections are also necessary to check the performance of LEDs and ensure that all LED bulbs deliver the right amount of light for the demands of operating rooms. Such factors restrain market growth.

Global Surgical Lights Market Opportunities:

Growth Prospects in Emerging Economies

Due to improvements in healthcare infrastructure and rising demand for better healthcare, the emerging economies of Asia-Pacific and LAMEA regions present significant possibilities for the surgical lights market. The need for surgical lights is also increased by the prevalence of numerous disorders that call for surgery. Furthermore, the rapid expansion of healthcare reforms in developing countries will present lucrative market expansion opportunities. The growth of the market is supported by an increase in investments in healthcare facilities, including hospitals and ambulatory settings, as well as others in developing nations like India, China, and Brazil.

Regional Analysis

Based on region, the global market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

North America Dominates the Global Market

North America is the most significant global surgical lights market shareholder and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 3.8% over the forecast period. The prevalence of ailments, including heart diseases and gynecological diseases, is one of the factors driving the overall growth of the North American market. The key draws in this area are technological developments and well-established competence in specific therapies for diseases like cancer and neurological problems. Likewise, the main element that draws the greatest number of medical tourists to North America is their perception of the excellent quality of the medical care provided here, particularly in the United States. Furthermore, North America rules the world market regarding cutting-edge technology and medical service competence. It is often believed that North America offers higher-quality healthcare than the rest of the globe.

Europe is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 4.5% over the forecast period. It is anticipated to grow steadily during the projection period due to well-established healthcare systems, increased government focus on developing healthcare infrastructure, and rising healthcare spending. European countries like France and Germany offer specialized medical treatments supported by cutting-edge technology, attracting many patients seeking brain and spinal procedures, valve replacements, and heart bypass surgery. Additionally, Europe is renowned for its tight oversight of medical procedures. The procedure for any device's approval is drawn-out and meticulous. Specialized services are available in Europe at far lower prices than North America. In terms of healthcare research, the region is one of the most developed areas. This draws several medical tourists to Europe, which increases the need for surgical lights in this region.

The Asia-Pacific market is expected to witness a surging demand during the forecast period owing to the increased spending power of consumers. Rising government initiatives to improve the healthcare sector and a surge in leading manufacturers' attention to geographic expansion in developing Asia-Pacific nations to seize high-growth market opportunities are major drivers of the growth of the surgical lights market in the region. Additionally, among the international community of healthcare providers, medical professionals from Asia have established themselves as authorities. This has helped build trust in the services offered in the area among international medical tourists. In Asia-Pacific, China and India are the most populous countries. Increased demand for healthcare infrastructure, an increase in the number of hospitals in emerging countries, a wave of healthcare reforms, and advancements in medical technology all contribute to its expansion. In addition, due to their large populations and a rapid rise in several disorders like cardiac, neurological, and ENT difficulties, India and China are predicted to have the largest CAGR growth during the projection period.

In LAMEA, the market is growing thanks to the greater attention paid to improving the healthcare infrastructure there. As the research community becomes more aware of the value of surgical lights and more advanced surgical lights become available in this region, LAMEA is progressively developing into a profitable operating room equipment industry, including surgical lights. The bulk of LAMEA nations, including Saudi Arabia and Brazil, exhibit a constant and ongoing increase in their investment in research and technology as a percentage of GDP. Additionally, it is consistent with the investment trends and objectives established by these nations' public and private sectors.

Additionally, the number of people aged 65 and up in Latin America is projected to grow rapidly and reach 100.5 million by 2025. The increasing occurrence of illnesses in this category, such as cardiac diseases, which may require surgery, drives the demand for surgical lights. Due to the rise in demand for quick and creative treatment methods in the healthcare sector, there should also be attractive chances for market expansion over the projected period. LAMEA is also a valuable market for research and healthcare. This area has experienced the highest economic growth during the past 20 years. Economic changes have improved people's lives while opening several opportunities for the life science, healthcare, and research industries.

Segmental Analysis

The global surgical lights market is bifurcated into type and application.

Based on type, the global market is bifurcated into halogen and LED lights. 

The halogen segment dominates the global market and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 3.81% over the forecast period. Halogen lights predominated the market since they were inexpensive to produce and often used. A halogen lamp operates similarly to most homes' common incandescent bulbs. A tungsten filament is at the center of a quartz encasement that contains halogen gas. Once power is applied to the filament, it begins to glow. As more electricity is applied, the light's luminosities rise, and its hue shifts from yellow to white. The more light illuminates something, the clearer the human eye can see it.

Halogen bulbs are frequently used in hospitals and other ambulatory settings because they cost less than LED lights. The primary drivers of halogen bulbs market expansion are the ease of disposal, affordability, brightness, moderate reliability, and long history of usage in surgical lights. For instance, Philips is a top producer of halogen surgical lights. A contributing factor to halogen market growth is soon the expansion of hospitals and ambulatory settings in developing economies.

Based on application, the global market is bifurcated into cardiac surgery, gynecological surgery, neurosurgery, ENT surgery, and others.

The cardiac surgery segment owns the global market and is predicted to exhibit a CAGR of 4.8% over the forecast period. Numerous types of heart procedures are carried out using surgical lights. Due to the rise in cardiovascular illnesses, more cardiac procedures have been performed in recent years. For instance, the WHO reported that cardiovascular disease is the top cause of mortality worldwide, claiming an estimated 17.9 million lives annually. Therefore, a large increase in cardiac disorder incidence is projected to fuel market expansion soon.

Based on end-user, the global market is bifurcated into hospitals, centers, procedure rooms, and others.

The hospital segment is the highest contributor to the market and is predicted to exhibit a CAGR of 4.2% over the forecast period. The primary drivers of the market expansion for surgical lights are the increasing number of hospitals in emerging nations and the rising adoption of modern LED surgical lights. The hospital operations rooms segment is anticipated to hold the biggest market share, attributed to the growing number of modern hospitals worldwide. According to data released by the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) in 2018, about 40% of tier-1 hospitals in India were in 2015. This number is anticipated to rise due to public and private funding, favorable government policies, and the impending introduction of subsidized hospital rates and exemptions from taxes and duties on imported medical systems and drugs.

Recent Developments

• January 2023- Digital surgery innovator Activ Surgical completed its first AI-enabled case with its ActivSightTM Intelligent Light (ActiveSight) product, which aims to improve visualization and offer real-time, on-demand surgical insights in the operating room. The modern robotic and laparoscopic systems can easily attach to the adaptable ActivSight module, which also easily interfaces with common displays.
• May 2022- Baxter, a pioneer in global medical technology, witnessed revenues rise since buying Hillrom, a producer of medical devices. The recently acquired Hillrom companies provide Surgical Solutions, Front Line Care, and Patient Support Systems.