Optician-only contact lenses cause headache for largest US online supplier

1-800 Contacts has blamed ‘doctors-only’ contact lenses for a recent downturn in its fortunes in the US.

In its third quarter results, 1-800 reported a loss of $0.6m. Sales grew 7 per cent to $60.9m.

The US internet contact lens supplier’s third quarter results were ‘disappointing’ according to chief executive Jonathan Coon.

Technical problems transferring to a new version of its web site, ‘prescription verification practices of another online seller’ and the ‘growing problem of "doctors-only” lenses’ were all to cited as reasons for the poor performance.

Coon continued to present an account of these issues, offering an interesting insight into the current state of the US contact lens market and how it is affecting internet retailers, the contact lens industry and eye care practitioners. Click here to read an edited version of the press statement on 1-800’s web site.