April produced positive results with increases in all key performance measures over last month and the same month last year. The last time we were able to report such positive news was over a year ago in February 2013. Annual growth though, which compares the past 12 months with the 12 months before that, is negative for all our key performance measures apart from sales volume of progressive lenses, total turnover and turnover per eye examination.
Total practice turnover increased by just over 2 per cent to 173 Index points from last month, which is 1 per cent higher than last April and is the highest Index value since May of last year. Turnover per eye examination is almost £5 higher this month at £179, which is just over £1 higher than April 2013.
The number of sight tests increased slightly from last month and April last year to 103 Index points. Seventy-four per cent of eye examinations carried out during April were NHS tests, which is more than 1 percentage point lower than last month. The dispensing rate has improved by 1 percentage point from last month to 65 per cent, 1 percentage point lower than April last year.
This month our graphs concentrate on the total volume of spectacles dispensed, lens types, new contact lens fits and contact lens solution sales over three years from April to April. The linear trend-lines show the current trend, taking into account the range of data included in the appropriate series line, rather than any historic values.
Total spectacles dispensed (Figure 1), which is a function of the sample average figure, shows that the series lines for the last two years follow each other closely and the volume for each of those years is practically the same at less than -0.5 per cent annual growth. The sales volume was slightly lower in the months April to July of the last year but higher in the later summer months August to October, making a marginal improvement in the linear trend. The volume of spectacles dispensed has been maintained over the last 12 months, even though the number of eye examinations carried out has decreased. April’s figures show an increase of just over 5 per cent from last month to 97 Index points, just over 2 per cent higher than April last year.
The proportions of spectacles dispensed by lens type (Figure 2) shows that in April 71 per cent of spectacles dispensed were single-vision lenses, 19 per cent progressive lenses and bi/trifocals accounted for 10 per cent. The monthly snapshot recorded in April 2013 showed exactly the same percentages as April this year.
The volume of dispensing by lens type (Figure 3) shows the sales through the course of the past 12 months. The sales of bi/trifocals fell severely over the last quarter of 2013 but have recovered strongly over the last four months to reach a peak this month, resulting in a slightly falling linear trend. In the same quarter of 2013, progressive lens sales were relatively strong and also peaked this month, resulting in a climbing trend. Single-vision lenses increased by 8 per cent to 70 Index points from March and this is 2 per cent higher than last April. Bi/trifocal lenses also increased by 9 per cent from March to 74 Index points, 10 per cent higher than last April. Progressive lenses showed an increase of 2 per cent over the month to 212 Index points, 1 per cent higher than last April.
The sample average of spectacles dispensed as re-glazes is 1 percentage point less than March and last April at 14 per cent. The results from our sample are diverse and range from 0 to 48 per cent.
The percentage of lenses dispensed with a photochromic treatment is the same as last month at 13 per cent, which is 1 percentage point higher than April 2013. Anti-reflective coatings were applied to an average of 43 per cent of spectacles during the month, 1 percentage point lower than last month, but the same percentage as April last year.
Contact lenses
The data for new contact lens fits (Figure 4) shows the Index values over three years have fallen, but the December 2013 peak was matched in February and April this year, resulting in a slightly increasing linear trend. New fits were up in April by 2 per cent to 118 Index points from March and for the first time since December 2012 the year-on-year monthly comparison was marginally higher.
Contact lens solution sales (Figure 5) were lower than the two previous years up to December but sales in the last four months exceeded those of the last two years and the falling linear trend of last two years has been reversed. Solution sales for April are 2 per cent higher than last month, now at 93 Index points, which is a 12 per cent increase on last April’s figure.
Summary
• Practice turnover at 173 Index points is the highest value since May 2013
• 74 per cent of eye examinations carried out during April were NHS tests
• The volume of spectacles dispensed has been maintained, over the last 12 months, even though the number of eye examinations carried out has decreased
• Bi/tri-focal lenses increased by 9 per cent from March to 74 Index points, 10 per cent higher than last April
• Contact lens new fits were up in April by 2 per cent to 118 Index points and the linear trend is positive
• Solution sales 2 per cent higher than last month at 93 Index points, which is 12 per cent higher than April 2013
Please note all figures shown are adjusted to a 25-working-day month. In April 2014 there were 24 working days.