Moneo writes: Shifting public perception

There often seems to be a flurry of contemporaneous events that indicate the need for change. Over these past few weeks this seems to be the case. Simon Jones’ editor’s comment, A new digital divide, in Optician highlighted the increasing purchase of spectacles via online suppliers. He also highlighted the issue of online refraction potentially becoming commonplace and how providers of such services are already gearing up for this. Regular readers of this column will know this is something that has concerned Moneo for years. We may well be fast approaching the time when optometry must accept that it will no longer be the first port of call for people to find out what their spectacle prescription is or indeed purchase optical products to fill that prescription.