April produced positive results with increases in all our key performance measures over last month. With the exception of single vision and bi/trifocal lens sales volumes and turnover per eye examination they are also higher than the same month last year. To complete the positive news annual growth, which compares the last 12 months with the 12 months before, is marginally positive for all our key performance measures apart from sales volume of single vision and bi/trifocal lenses.
Total practice turnover increased by just over 4 per cent to 180 Index points from last month, which is 6 per cent higher than last April and is the highest Index value since the sample changed, at the start of 2013, to only include independent practices. Turnover per eye examination is slightly higher this month at £174, which is just under £3 lower than April 2014.
The number of sight tests increased by 5 per cent from last month and April last year to 108 Index points, which is the highest Index value since February 2013. Seventy-six per cent of eye examinations in April were NHS tests, which is the same as last month and April last year. The dispensing rate has improved by 1 percentage point from last month to 64 per cent, 1 percentage point lower than April last year.
Volume trends
This month our graphs are concentrating on the total volume of spectacles dispensed, lens types, new contact lens fits and contact lens solution sales over the last two 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 almost the same at just over 1 per cent positive annual growth. The sales volume was slightly lower in the months December to March of the last year but higher in the early summer months May to August, making a marginal decrease in the linear trend. The volume of spectacles dispensed has been maintained, over the last 12 months, in line with the 1 per cent annual growth we have seen in the number of eye examinations carried out. April’s figures show an increase of just over 8 per cent from last month to 99 Index points, which is the highest index figure we have seen since February 2013, just over 3 per cent higher than April last year.
The proportion of spectacles dispensed by lens type (Figure 2) shows that in April 70 per cent of spectacles dispensed were single vision lenses, 20 per cent progressive lenses and bi/trifocals accounted for 10 per cent. The monthly snapshot recorded in April 2014 showed a higher percentage of single vision at 71 per cent and a lower percentage of progressive lenses at 19 per cent with the percentage for bi/trifocals unchanged.
The volume of dispensing by lens types (Figure 3) shows the sales through the course of the last 12 months. The trend lines for single vision and progressive lenses are virtually flat but the trend for bi/trifocals is falling slightly. Single vision lenses increased by 12 per cent to 68 Index points from March and this is 1 per cent lower than last April. Bi/trifocal lenses increased by 24 per cent from March to 66 Index points, 9 per cent lower than last April. Progressive lenses showed an increase of 4 per cent over the month to 221 Index points, 5 per cent higher than last April and matching the peak of November 2014.
The sample average of spectacles dispensed as reglazes is 2 percentage points higher than March and 1 percentage point higher than April 2014 at 16 per cent. The results from our sample are diverse and this month range between 0 and 37 per cent.
The percentage of lenses dispensed with a photochromic treatment is 1 percentage point higher than April 2014 and last month at 14 per cent. Anti-reflective coatings were applied to an average of 46 per cent of spectacles during the month, 1 percentage point higher than last month and 3 percentage points higher than April last year.
Contact lenses
New contact lens fits (Figure 4) shows the Index values over the last 12 months have been consistently higher than the same months last year, with significant peaks in February and April of 2015 resulting in a linear trend which is also increasing at a greater rate than the previous 12 months. New fits were up in April by 4 per cent to 126 Index points from March, this is 7 per cent higher than April last year and annual growth is positive at 3 per cent.
Contact lens solution sales (Figure 5) were also higher than the previous 12 months until December of 2014 and March this year reversing the climbing trend. Solution sales for April are 21 per cent higher than last month, now at 100 Index points, which is a 7 per cent increase on last April’s figure and annual growth is positive a 6 per cent.
Summary
- Practice turnover at 180 Index points is the highest value since August 2009
- The number of eye examinations increased by 5 per cent from last month and April 2014 to 108 Index points
- The volume of spectacles dispensed has increased by 1 per cent year-on-year, matching the increase in the number of eye examinations
- New contact lens fits are 7 per cent higher than April last year at 126 Index points, annual growth is positive at 3 per cent
- Solution sales are also 7 per cent higher than April last year at 100 Index points, annual growth is positive at 6 per cent but the trend is decelerating
Please note all figures are adjusted to a 25-working-day month. In April 2015 there were 24 working days.
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