AOI complains of unfair prices

Irish practitioners are being forced to pay up to 20 per cent more than their UK counterparts when buying from UK-based suppliers, the Association of Optometrists Ireland (AOI) has claimed.

AOI president Martin O'Brien told Optician this week that the problem had arisen because suppliers had failed to take on board activity in the currency market.

'There have been some massive fluctuations in the exchange rates since last September when most suppliers set their prices for the year. Most companies have their price lists in euros and sterling,' explained O'Brien.

'Irish optometrists are being forced to pay between 18 and 20 per cent more money per item.'