KN33024

KEY NOTE Opthalmic Goods and Services Market Report : February 2004

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This report covers: ophthalmlic goods, spectacles, contact lenses, ophthalmic services, sight tests, privately funded sight tests, imports, exports, entitlement to NHS ophthalmic services, sight test fees, outcome of sight tests, optometry Scotland, optometry Wales, exhibitions, trade shows, National Optometric Conference, online and mail order contact lenses, grocery multiples, laser eye surgery, Eye Laser Association, fight for sight campaign, driving with uncorrected vision, National Eye Week, Health for All Children, fashion contact lenses, global incidence of blindness and impaired vision, Right to Sight, World Sight Day, World Council of Optometry, World Congress on Optometric Globalization, 30-day contact lens ,

Companies covered include: Bausch & Lomb, Boots Opticians, Dollond & Aitchison, Specsavers Optical Superstores, Vision Express UK, DCM Optical Holdings, Optical Express, GC Bateman, Leightons, CLPL, Ultravision, Ronald Brown Group,

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This Key Note Market Report covers the combined markets for ophthalmic goods, which covers spectacles and contact lenses; and ophthalmic services, which includes public-sector general ophthalmic services (GOS) and private sight tests. In 2003, the ophthalmic goods and services market was worth an estimated £3.18bn, an increase of 8% on 2002.

In 2002/2003, the volume of sight tests decreased, which, if this trend continues, will have an adverse effect on independent opticians in particular, given the vulnerability of this sector. Over the past 5 years (1999 to 2003), value growth in the spectacles market has been fuelled by the growing popularity of 'designer-label' frames and the trend towards higher-priced lenses or lens coatings. Over the past 2 years, volume sales of spectacles have increased at a slower rate, although these have been boosted by multiple ownership of spectacles. In the contact lens market, the trend towards disposable lenses has continued, contributing to overall value growth.

For certain eligible groups, public-sector funding for ophthalmic goods and services is in the form of free sight tests and National Health Service (NHS) vouchers which might pay for, or contribute towards the cost of, spectacles. However, the increasing disparity between the value of NHS vouchers and the cost of spectacles is reflected in the long-term value decline in the proportion of spectacles funded by the public sector.

In 2003, there were over 7,000 opticians' outlets in Great Britain, which ranged from small independent outlets run by a sole practitioner to

large-scale optical superstores. The opticians market continues to be dominated by four leading players — Boots Opticians Ltd, Dollond & Aitchison Ltd, Specsavers Optical Superstores Ltd and Vision Express (UK) Ltd. These multiple opticians account for almost three-quarters of the total market.

In the next 5 years, it is likely that the grocery multiples sector will show increased interest in the opticians market, which will complement their provision of other non-food services, such as in-store pharmacies, photograph processing and dry cleaning. This trend is likely to have an adverse effect on existing multiples and independent opticians. The impact of the Internet in the retail sale of contact lenses is also predicted to rise gradually over the period between 2004 and 2008, as a greater number of contact lens users recognise the price advantages offered by this sector.

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Text © 2004 Key Note

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Last updated by Amanda Porteous July 2004