Letters and Comment

Contact lens prices in perspective

The Association of Contact Lens Manufacturers cannot insulate any individual or business from the realities of internet trading, but we do provide the tools, programmes and promotions to help practitioners compete effectively - and many already do so very successfully.
UK contact lens manufacturers have no leverage whatsoever over the prices and margins set by distributors and retailers within just this country, let alone worldwide. On the contrary, they compete with one another over price and innovation for the opportunity to supply individual practitioners. The 'uneven playing field' has arisen through the advent of the internet itself and affects virtually every part of the high street.
The ACLM has just completed its annual review of manufacturing statistics. From comparing these with the table of prices in optician (May 6), the following points are apparent: