2005 is rapidly turning into the annus horribilis of the contact lens business.
The year began badly as the realisation emerged that the public could buy contact lenses from the internet at below wholesale cost.
This was quickly followed up by deep price cuts at the multiples. The Section 60 changes to the Opticians Act, designed to tighten up the sale of plano contact lenses through outlets like Argos and the Gadget Shop backfired. Suddenly a free for all was signalled with sales opened up to supermarkets and pharmacies.
Hardly have Tescos, Asda et al started selling contact lenses, at bargain basement prices, than yet another bombshell falls.
This time, riding on yet another 'rip-off' opticians ticket, is the news from the Daily Mail (July 26) that £250m a year is being spent unnecessarily on contact lenses. This comes courtesy of the fact, says the Daily Mail, that some daily disposable contact lenses are made of the same materials as longer wear lenses.
Pointing to a court case in the US the Mail says Johnson & Johnson has been forced to pay off customers who have sued because they were led to believe that their daily disposable lenses were made of different materials than other lenses.
It must be said the response from a J&J spokesman is underwhelming. No mention is made, or at least quoted in the Mail, of the cost of solutions, licensing concerns, comfort, reduced infection rates or convenience.
Oh how a strong, single voice fighting optics' corner is needed!
In the meantime have your answer to the 'daily' question ready and hope that the year gets better.