UK Opticians (retailers)
Encyclopedia
In the United Kingdom
, businesses that sell prescription spectacles and contact lenses are referred to as 'opticians', after the profession of that name (see UK Opticians). Total revenue for opticians in the UK was £2.4 billion in 2006 from the two thirds of British citizens requiring glasses
or contact lenses.
Once a customer has paid for an eye test, the optician is obliged to present the resulting optical prescription to them, allowing the customer to purchase spectacles at the optician of his choice. Such opticians include retailers employing optometrists, and dispensing opticians; healthcare professionals who are not able to conduct eye tests, but specialise in lenses and wave optics and manufacture that sell spectacles.
Although opticians charge for eye tests, certain groups can receive free eye tests, such as those with free NHS eye-tests, or students at some stores. Individuals who qualify for free NHS eye tests sometimes also qualify for subsidized spectacles or other treatment. Eye tests are free to all residents of Scotland.
government led by Margaret Thatcher
in the 1980s. De-regulation was enacted through two key measures:
Opening the door to advertising led to a change from an industry dominated by independents and small chains to one dominated by a few large chains. As of 2007, 70% of the market is concentrated in just four retailers: Specsavers
, Boots The Chemist, Dollond and Aitchison, and Vision Express
, with Specsavers alone having a 30% share.
De-regulation was motivated by the belief that increased competition would lead to improved value for consumers. However, 62% of the retail price of spectacles was calculated to be profit (before promotional and related costs) by a Financial Times
columnist.
High fixed costs, economies of scale, and TV advertising make the establishing of an effective new competitor on the high street problematic, restricting competition. Specsavers was the UK's 46th largest purchaser of UK TV ads in 2006, spending £27 million.
(NICE) raising concerns about the long-term safety of the widely used Lasik
method in 2004.
However, the industry has staged a recovery and resumed growth, going from 95 clinics in the UK in 2006 to 105 clinics in 2007. In 2006, NICE stated that laser eye surgery was safe and effective when carried out on suitably selected patients. This was the first official endorsement of this form of treatment in the UK.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, businesses that sell prescription spectacles and contact lenses are referred to as 'opticians', after the profession of that name (see UK Opticians). Total revenue for opticians in the UK was £2.4 billion in 2006 from the two thirds of British citizens requiring glasses
Glasses
Glasses, also known as eyeglasses , spectacles or simply specs , are frames bearing lenses worn in front of the eyes. They are normally used for vision correction or eye protection. Safety glasses are a kind of eye protection against flying debris or against visible and near visible light or...
or contact lenses.
The eye test
UK law requires that spectacles and contact lenses be made to according to an eye test, which must have been administered by a qualified optometrist or ophthalmologist. 17.5 million such tests are carried out every year in the UK. However, although an eye test is a requirement, no standard test is defined; with test duration, quality and cost varying considerably.Once a customer has paid for an eye test, the optician is obliged to present the resulting optical prescription to them, allowing the customer to purchase spectacles at the optician of his choice. Such opticians include retailers employing optometrists, and dispensing opticians; healthcare professionals who are not able to conduct eye tests, but specialise in lenses and wave optics and manufacture that sell spectacles.
Although opticians charge for eye tests, certain groups can receive free eye tests, such as those with free NHS eye-tests, or students at some stores. Individuals who qualify for free NHS eye tests sometimes also qualify for subsidized spectacles or other treatment. Eye tests are free to all residents of Scotland.
Deregulation and dominance
The key event in the structure of the modern opticians retail sector was de-regulation of the industry by the ConservativeConservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
government led by Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
in the 1980s. De-regulation was enacted through two key measures:
- Ending the monopoly of optometrists over the supply of spectacles, allowing spectacles to be sold by dispensing opticians, supermarkets, etc.
- Allowing advertising, including prices.
Opening the door to advertising led to a change from an industry dominated by independents and small chains to one dominated by a few large chains. As of 2007, 70% of the market is concentrated in just four retailers: Specsavers
Specsavers
Specsavers Optical Group Ltd is the biggest optical retailer in the UK and Ireland. It is also the biggest of the four major opticians that control 70% of the British market for spectacles and contact lenses, with Specsavers having a 39% share of the market...
, Boots The Chemist, Dollond and Aitchison, and Vision Express
Vision Express
Vision Express is one of the four major opticians that control 70% of the British market for spectacles and contact lenses.The company opened its first store in 1988 at the MetroCentre. After buying out LensCrafters' UK base, they further increased their number of stores. They had over 220 stores...
, with Specsavers alone having a 30% share.
De-regulation was motivated by the belief that increased competition would lead to improved value for consumers. However, 62% of the retail price of spectacles was calculated to be profit (before promotional and related costs) by a Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
columnist.
High fixed costs, economies of scale, and TV advertising make the establishing of an effective new competitor on the high street problematic, restricting competition. Specsavers was the UK's 46th largest purchaser of UK TV ads in 2006, spending £27 million.
Corrective laser eye surgery
Laser eye surgery in the UK is provided by specialist clinics; not by high street opticians. Laser eye surgery has had a troubled history in the UK, with allegations of a poor safety record in the press in 2003 leading to a reduction in patient numbers, and National Institute for Health and Clinical ExcellenceNational Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is a special health authority of the English National Health Service , serving both English NHS and the Welsh NHS...
(NICE) raising concerns about the long-term safety of the widely used Lasik
LASIK
LASIK or Lasik , commonly referred to simply as laser eye surgery, is a type of refractive surgery for correcting myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism...
method in 2004.
However, the industry has staged a recovery and resumed growth, going from 95 clinics in the UK in 2006 to 105 clinics in 2007. In 2006, NICE stated that laser eye surgery was safe and effective when carried out on suitably selected patients. This was the first official endorsement of this form of treatment in the UK.