Competition from internet suppliers has had a greater effect on contact lens business than the current economic recession, according to new research conducted jointly by Optician and the Association of Contact Lens Manufacturers (ACLM).
One in five practitioners whose practice offers contact lenses said that their contact lens business has decreased since they have been widely available over the internet.
Six in 10 of respondents participating in the survey said that their business is about the same following the widening of contact lens supply but a higher proportion, three quarters, said that their contact lens business remains unaffected by the state of the economy.
The survey also examined changes in contact lens recommendation since similar Optician/ACLM research was conducted in 2003 and 2001. Findings revealed that one in five practitioners still only initiate discussion of contact lenses if the patient asks about them and contact lenses are discussed with presbyopes only occasionally despite the introduction of improved bifocal/multifocal designs.
More than half of all employed practitioners participating in the survey said that there is not enough personal financial incentive for them to recommend contact lenses, and this attitude is most prevalent among contact lens opticians employed by multiples.
Writing in this week's Optician, ACLM secretary general Simon Rodwell said: 'It is disappointing that all the old issues continue to hinder market growth. Our latest survey shows that more emphasis is required on reward to stimulate more chair time.'
He cited other factors such as shortage of time for undergraduate practical training and a lack of awareness of the financial and customer loyalty benefits of contact lens prescribing, as reasons for the slowdown in growth.
? See survey, pages 16-21