Survey reveals one in eight avoid eye exam

Two-thirds of adults in Britain wear vision correction but one in eight of all consumers have never had their eyes tested because they do not see the need or have never had a problem. Almost all those who have visited an optician are satisfied with the service they receive.

These are the key findings of a major survey of consumer attitudes to eye care, conducted by market research company NOP last month on behalf of the College of Optometrists and optician. NOP carried out 921 face-to-face interviews with consumers aged 15+ years, at random locations around Britain.

Almost nine out of 10 interviewed had had their eyes tested and two out of three were currently wearing vision correction. Seven per cent of the total sample were wearing contact lenses, in line with latest industry figures (News, April 1), and only 5 per cent had ready-reading glasses, bought off the shelf.

More than nine out of 10 spectacle wearers purchased their last pair of glasses from an optician and none of those interviewed had bought these over the internet. Only 2 per cent of contact lens wearers had bought their last lenses via the internet.

When asked how frequently they should have their eyes tested, 'every year' was the time interval consumers most often cited, although among those who had visited an optician, the largest proportion said they normally had their eyes tested every two years.

There is evidence that the association between eye tests and spectacle dispensing remains strong. A high proportion of spectacle wearers had had an eye test when they last bought glasses and every two years was the most popular purchasing cycle. Yet just over half of spectacle wearers said they currently used only one pair of glasses and the average was just 1.5 pairs.

The survey also explored consumer motivation in visiting an optician. Changes in their eyesight was the main motivating factor, cited by two out of three adults. Special offers on glasses and on the eye test were much less likely to prompt a visit to the optician, mentioned by only 15 per cent of this group.

There was good news for the profession when overall satisfaction with the service they provide was investigated. Almost all were satisfied with the service at their last visit and more than seven out of 10 were 'very satisfied'. But consumers were less satisfied with prices and with the choice of frames available.