Many years ago, after pressure from various quarters, the GOC allowed ophthalmic opticians, as we were then called, to advertise their prices so as to press market forces onto the price of spectacles and services. Unfortunately they did not use this change to simultaneously disassociate the cost of spectacles from the cost of sight testing and in my opinion a golden opportunity was lost. Thus what feels like “the race to the bottom” began.
The industry was gradually squeezed from both sides with the GOC quite rightly requiring higher and higher standards while the sales side was chasing the bottom through increasingly aggressive competition. Equipment requirements are ever rising to keep pace with competitors and the public’s expectations, but it all needs paying for.
The fact of the matter is the business model for many, especially independent, opticians is no longer viable and something has to give. To date I suggest survival has been secured through pushing conversion rates and test numbers (children every 15 minutes, adults every 25, each with a photo to be taken in some places, and no time allocated for paperwork) whilst also reducing wages to what I now consider unacceptably low levels (partly caused by an oversupply of optometrists which is another story in itself). Other professions have seen their remuneration greatly increase over recent years whereas optics has seen such a reduction that I would now advise all intelligent graduates to avoid optics as a ‘profession’ at all costs.
How long before a single optometrist is employed to oversee several optical assistants with auto refractors and finds him or herself merely reviewing pictures and notes taken by others?
Optometrists may even be cut out altogether if spectacle sales are allowed from auto refractor results, or technology develops enough to allow retinal diagnosis, as Google are trying with retinopathy. Meanwhile, MPs try to allow self- adjustable glasses to be sold alongside ready readers, the implication of which for driving doesn’t bear thinking about. Who would insure such drivers?
I have long been saying privately that the ‘writing was on the wall’ for optics caused by big businesses desire for ever higher profit and that something would have to give. I’m sorry to say that the Honey Rose/Vincent Barker situation, although terrible in every way for all sides (my heart goes out to all involved) is a symptom of an industry in crisis.
This dreadful situation should be used by the GOC and optical negotiators to finally grasp the nettle and get the medical side of optics financed to an acceptable level, taking all overheads into account including the lack of NHS pension (why no pension for opticians [OO and DO] when there is for a GP and dentist?). We also need to disassociate the medical from optical sales, because if the present cross subsidy system persists I fear further terminal deterioration in the long run.
The GOC and all optical bodies together need to take a step back and take a long hard look at their strategy over many years that has totally ignored the big picture and allowed this to happen, such that before long they won’t have much of a industry left that can provide the highest standards that they require; rather. we will be left with a big business that sells spectacles. It’s time for a joined-up concerted effort from all to lobby the government for a new way forward for optics. I for one am only a few years off retirement and when I do go I won’t be sorry to get out. I wouldn’t mind betting many feel the same.
A Jarvis (Locum optometrist)
