At the end of a flat year, the Index results continued to decline, yet there was positive news on contact lenses, with December's results up 9 per cent on November
At the end of a flat year, the Index results continued to decline, yet there was positive news on contact lenses, with December's results up 9 per cent on November
Results for the total number of eye examinations depict the lowest outcome since December 1996. Eye examinations are down 14 per cent from November, down almost 8 per cent from December 2004, and the growth over the year compared to 2004 is negative at -5 per cent. The previous period was -7 per cent.
The proportion of tests that are NHS is 61.2 per cent, lower than the average for the year.
The total volume of dispensing has decreased by 15 per cent this month. On average for the year, dispensing has fallen by 6 per cent compared to figures for 2004, but the decline was greater the previous year at -11 per cent on average.
This year bifocals are the hardest hit, down 9 per cent on average, with single-vision and progressive lenses both down 6 per cent. Lens mix has altered very slightly with bifocals taking 1 per cent less share at 12 per cent instead of 13 per cent seen last December.
Reflection-free coatings are down almost 13 per cent from November's results, and have improved over last December by 2 per cent. This is a very different scenario from last year when there was a decline of 26 per cent over the year, and the fall in December 2004 compared to the previous year was a huge 39 per cent.
The average growth over the year 2005 is still negative but at -10 per cent. The proportion of spectacles dispensed with reflection-free coating has climbed again, and is 44 per cent compared to 41 per cent last December.
Dispensing rate is 65 per cent. Last December it was slightly higher at 66 per cent, and over the year has averaged 67 per cent. Dispensing rate is calculated from total number of eye examinations and total dispensing, and hence does not take into account multiple dispensing.
New contact lens fits have risen by 9 per cent from November, which is not unusual as the trend does tend to peak around Christmas. However, compared to last December the results are down 7 per cent. The annual growth is negative by 1 per cent, an improvement from -2 per cent over 2004, although in 2003 new contact lens fits increased at 5 per cent on average over the year.
Solution sales generally do better at Christmas time. However, this year sales are up by just 2 per cent from November. Figures lag 2004 by 6 per cent, and the annual trend is down 2 per cent.
Total practice turnover results are down by almost 8 per cent from November. Figures are also down by 5 per cent from December 2004. The general decline is being seen in turnover results which show an annual decline of 1.5 per cent.
Spend per eye examination is increasing still. This month the average was 137, higher than average but not unusual at this time of year, the peaks tending to occur in December, and to a lesser degree in the summer.
The average for the year was 132.40, whereas for 2004 the average was 128.11. It was shown last month that higher-value lenses and lens treatments are more pre-dominant.
When comparing your practice with the results it is important to note that all our figures are equated to a 25-day month, so year-on-year, month-on-month we can compare equal time periods. December had 25 working days (excluding Sundays and UK Bank holidays).
New contributors are always welcome. Benefits of participation include customised graphs and comparisons, and contributors are able to make ad hoc enquiries, receiving feedback and results entirely free of charge. There is also the opportunity to benchmark other aspects of practice management or sales against the whole sample. The service is completely confidential.
If a practice would like to contribute to the Index, contact Louise Jarvis on 01622 851726 or email l.jarvis@businessbench
marks.co.uk.
BOXTEXT: Each benchmark is represented on the chart showing average annual percentage changes over 2005 and 2004. Unfortunately, most do show that growth is and has been negative over the two years. However, most measures show that over 2005 the downward trend was less marked than in 2004, which could be the reason for some optimism in the sample this month.
On balance, 24 per cent more practitioners feel that December 2005 was better than December 2004 than those who felt it was worse.
On balance, 78 per cent more respondents feel more optimistic about the coming months than those who don't feel optimistic at all. Sixty-eight per cent, however, feel much the same about the coming months. Almost half were feeling optimistic about results in December despite, as shown here, the results actually being rather worse, with turnover falling over 5 per cent from last December's figures.
Looking again at the graph, bifocal lenses are seen to increase their downward path, as do sales value of contact lens solutions. Turnover per eye examination is seen to be increasing, though by just 4 per cent compared to 11 per cent over 2004.
The proportion of eye examinations which are NHS is increasing gradually; the average for 2005 was 64.4 per cent, 63.7 per cent in 2004, and 62.6 per cent in 2003. Most of the other benchmarks do show some improvement from 2004. However, turnover has fallen heavily to show a change from 4 per cent positive growth in 2004 to -1.5 per cent over 2005.
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Results for the total number of eye examinations depict the lowest outcome since December 1996. Eye examinations are down 14 per cent from November, down almost 8 per cent from December 2004, and the growth over the year compared to 2004 is negative at -5 per cent. The previous period was -7 per cent.
The proportion of tests that are NHS is 61.2 per cent, lower than the average for the year.
The total volume of dispensing has decreased by 15 per cent this month. On average for the year, dispensing has fallen by 6 per cent compared to figures for 2004, but the decline was greater the previous year at -11 per cent on average.
This year bifocals are the hardest hit, down 9 per cent on average, with single-vision and progressive lenses both down 6 per cent. Lens mix has altered very slightly with bifocals taking 1 per cent less share at 12 per cent instead of 13 per cent seen last December.
Reflection-free coatings are down almost 13 per cent from November's results, and have improved over last December by 2 per cent. This is a very different scenario from last year when there was a decline of 26 per cent over the year, and the fall in December 2004 compared to the previous year was a huge 39 per cent.
The average growth over the year 2005 is still negative but at -10 per cent. The proportion of spectacles dispensed with reflection-free coating has climbed again, and is 44 per cent compared to 41 per cent last December.
Dispensing rate is 65 per cent. Last December it was slightly higher at 66 per cent, and over the year has averaged 67 per cent. Dispensing rate is calculated from total number of eye examinations and total dispensing, and hence does not take into account multiple dispensing.
New contact lens fits have risen by 9 per cent from November, which is not unusual as the trend does tend to peak around Christmas. However, compared to last December the results are down 7 per cent. The annual growth is negative by 1 per cent, an improvement from -2 per cent over 2004, although in 2003 new contact lens fits increased at 5 per cent on average over the year.
Solution sales generally do better at Christmas time. However, this year sales are up by just 2 per cent from November. Figures lag 2004 by 6 per cent, and the annual trend is down 2 per cent.
Total practice turnover results are down by almost 8 per cent from November. Figures are also down by 5 per cent from December 2004. The general decline is being seen in turnover results which show an annual decline of 1.5 per cent.
Spend per eye examination is increasing still. This month the average was 137, higher than average but not unusual at this time of year, the peaks tending to occur in December, and to a lesser degree in the summer.
The average for the year was 132.40, whereas for 2004 the average was 128.11. It was shown last month that higher-value lenses and lens treatments are more pre-dominant.
When comparing your practice with the results it is important to note that all our figures are equated to a 25-day month, so year-on-year, month-on-month we can compare equal time periods. December had 25 working days (excluding Sundays and UK Bank holidays).
New contributors are always welcome. Benefits of participation include customised graphs and comparisons, and contributors are able to make ad hoc enquiries, receiving feedback and results entirely free of charge. There is also the opportunity to benchmark other aspects of practice management or sales against the whole sample. The service is completely confidential.
If a practice would like to contribute to the Index, contact Louise Jarvis on 01622 851726 or email l.jarvis@businessbench
marks.co.uk.
BOXTEXT: Each benchmark is represented on the chart showing average annual percentage changes over 2005 and 2004. Unfortunately, most do show that growth is and has been negative over the two years. However, most measures show that over 2005 the downward trend was less marked than in 2004, which could be the reason for some optimism in the sample this month.
On balance, 24 per cent more practitioners feel that December 2005 was better than December 2004 than those who felt it was worse.
On balance, 78 per cent more respondents feel more optimistic about the coming months than those who don't feel optimistic at all. Sixty-eight per cent, however, feel much the same about the coming months. Almost half were feeling optimistic about results in December despite, as shown here, the results actually being rather worse, with turnover falling over 5 per cent from last December's figures.
Looking again at the graph, bifocal lenses are seen to increase their downward path, as do sales value of contact lens solutions. Turnover per eye examination is seen to be increasing, though by just 4 per cent compared to 11 per cent over 2004.
The proportion of eye examinations which are NHS is increasing gradually; the average for 2005 was 64.4 per cent, 63.7 per cent in 2004, and 62.6 per cent in 2003. Most of the other benchmarks do show some improvement from 2004. However, turnover has fallen heavily to show a change from 4 per cent positive growth in 2004 to -1.5 per cent over 2005.