Time to protect our business

Over the last few months I have been carefully watching the events of the changes to Section 60 and the impact this has had on the contact lens business.

I, like many, have reviewed my contact lens offering and as a result of decisions by some contact lens manufacturers to supply the supermarkets with their products I have decided to support companies that are supporting me!

Last week I received a mailshot from CooperVision, the content of which astounded me. The letter from Dave Allen, general manager for the UK and Ireland, stated: 'We always have done and continue to operate an optician-only policy'. At this point I stopped reading.

I am sure that most of your readers have seen the products that the likes of Tesco and Asda are offering, which include CooperVision products at heavily discounted prices. In fact, typing CooperVision into Google brings up 'CooperVision at Tesco' before the company website! On top of this, every contact lens website I have visited includes CooperVision products.

I am amazed that a company that has 'set their stall out' and chosen to supply the supermarkets are now looking to pull the wool over our eyes by telling us that they are optician only. I am sorry CooperVision but you are the ones who have decided to go down this route, not us. In return, please don't blame us for looking to protect our business and by doing so not supporting your products.

Mark Darling,
Northampton