News releases

The cost of a pair of glasses is to be cut to a clear £10 on Monday by Tesco.

The price includes a frame and single vision lenses with a scratch resistant coating.

At the moment the cheapest price for a pair of glasses on UK high streets is £25 but many opticians still charge at least £50 and upwards.

To further encourage customers to look after their eyes this Christmas Tesco is also offering free sight test through its 128 opticians’ practices.

In what could be a worrying trend according to retail analysts Business Benchmarks the UK optical market is declining by nine per cent year on year as consumers fear the costs of a visit to the opticians.

Said Tesco opticians’ commercial manager Judith Robinson: “We want people to see in the New Year for less and hope that this lowest ever price will finally tempt all those people who need glasses but fear getting an eye test because they don’t know what they are going to pay.

“It’s estimated by the optical industry that 60 per cent of people living in the UK need glasses.

“However many of them are nervous about visiting an optician because they fear hidden extras that will bump up the price.
“Our cost of £10 will be a flat price with no pressure to buy a second pair of glasses. We want to reassure shoppers the £10 fee is exactly what they will pay.

“We are moving now as more people have eye tests during the late autumn months when the nights draw in than at any other time of the year so we expect a big uptake on our offer.”

The £10 offer runs from Monday Nov 30 until Jan 12 and includes a choice of 12 frames and single vision lenses.

Tesco says that if demand is great enough then it will look at making the £10 price a permanent one.

Added Tesco’s Judith Robinson: “We are using this offer as a trial to see how popular the demand will be and by limiting it we can commit to the high level of service our customers expect.”

Tesco has 128 stores across the UK that offer optician’s services. For details of the nearest store please ring 0845 601 3479.

For more information please contact Mike Baess on 01992 646079
or Tesco Press Office on 01992 644645.

Note to editors:
Independent retail analyst Mintel says the UK optical market is currently worth £2.4 billion a year (Feb 2008).

In their last annual review (December 2008) The Federation of Opthalmic and Dispensing Opticians revealed that the average private spend on spectacles fell by three per cent.

Prices of glasses at other high street opticians are as follows:

Specsavers

Dispensed Glasses made to your prescription £25 entry price Ready readers (ie Glasses off the shelf with same prescription each eye) NOT AVAILABLE

Boots Opticians

Dispensed Glasses made to your prescription £25 entry price Ready readers (ie Glasses off the shelf with same prescription each eye) £14 entry price

Asda Opticians

Dispensed Glasses made to your prescription £50 entry price Ready readers (ie Glasses off the shelf with same prescription each eye) Start from £2 for 2 pairs for Plastic