Inflation and sight test fee

Bill Carlyle's letter (optician, Letters March 19) proves the old adage: 'Lies, damned lies and statistics'. The Index of Retail Prices, re-based in January 1987 to 100, shows values as follows: January 1948: 7.6, December 1998: 164.4. A sight test fee of &\#163;0.775 (15s/6d) would, in December 1998 values, be &\#163;16.76. I cannot comment on how far down the river that puts the ophthalmic profession. RN Nesbitt Finance Director, Batemans Opticians