High-index lens dispensing in the UK was up by an impressive 17.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2007 compared with the same period in 2006, statistics from the FMO's OLMADA (Ophthalmic Lens Manufacturers', Assemblers' and Distributors' Association) have revealed.
AR coatings were up by 9.7 per cent, covering 16 per cent of all lenses compared with the previous year and hard-coated treatments were up by 14.6 per cent, now representing over a quarter of all lenses dispensed. Photochromic lenses also continued to rise in popularity - up 3 per cent in the full year from 2005-2006 and representing 15 per cent of the total market.
Some 14 million spectacle frames were dispensed along with an annual lens demand of 30.6 million. Of these, 69 per cent were single vision, 11 per cent bifocal and 20 per cent were progressive options. Glass lenses fell to less than 1 per cent of the market, the figures revealed.
OLMADA chairman John Conway said: 'The lion's share of independent prescription houses and many international companies' UK lens sales is represented by these figures as OLMADA membership includes the majority of UK suppliers.'
Independent company Business Benchmarks has been collecting data for the FMO since 1991.