A week of news – supermarket optometry

And so Tesco Opticians reaches the 200 mark worldwide, with the vast majority of its practices (178) in the UK.
Boots Opticians has 655 practices on these shores, Specsavers around 600 and Vision Express 330. But each will be feeling the dragons of supermarket retail breathing down their neck.
Along with Asda, Tesco has taken supermarket optometry to the next level.
The independents, meanwhile, are wondering which way to turn and have little answer to the promise of free eye tests, late opening hours and even Clubcard points.
Aware that it will be impossible to fight fire with fire, optometrists at Independents Day this month vowed they would instead focus on added value, latest technology and customer service.
This would be wise, because Tesco’s commitment to free eye tests has never been stronger.
The retailer told Optician news desk this week that eye test numbers were up 40% since becoming free for everyone in March 2010.
Although it would not confirm whether this translated to higher lens or frame sales, the primary goal at Tesco is getting more people through the door.
Whether these shoppers take glasses, kindles or champagne to the checkout doesn’t really matter.
While it is hard to imagine optical services actually being a loss leader for Tesco, the company could not confirm the profitability of free eye tests either way this week.
‘We do not traditionally comment on sales due to commercial sensitivity,’ a spokesperson said.
Another notable development in this week’s news was the two year imprisonment of Dr Aloke Basu for causing death by dangerous driving.
The case of the glaucoma-suffering GP – who knocked down an elderly pedestrian in 2010 – will resonate with road safety charities campaigning for regular drivers’ vision testing.
Action is needed, but a parliamentary debate on the drivers’ vision will not be resumed until October at the earliest. Even then – and despite this week’s tragic case – early proposals suggest the current number plate test method is more likely to be made easier than more difficult.