Use our industry guide to find key background information, market research, import and export guidelines, statistics, legislation, trade bodies and trade publications.
The Business & Industry Guides series is produced by the Library & Information Service for ICAEW members and ACA students.
We can compile tailored key players reports, mailing lists, market reports, benchmarking reports and industry news. Our enquiry team can also research other industry-specific information, such as taxation, for you. Call us on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or email library@icaew.com.
Trends and forecasts
Online articles
The library provides full access to articles from leading business, finance and management journals.
Access to articles is provided subject to suppliers’ terms of use.
Market research
Market research reports focusing on this business sector are available from a number of market research specialists. In most cases these reports are available to fee-paying subscribers or on a pay-as-you-go basis.
SWOT analyses
Online industry profiles and reports available for members and ACA students through the Library & Information Service give an overview of market size, competitive landscape and provide a forecast of market performance.
SWOT analyses examining the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for major companies operating in this sector are available.
Other market research
Some free information is available from the following market research specialists, ranging from industry news to executive summaries of the reports.
Euromonitor
A full listing of reference products and research reports for the eye care industry from Euromonitor, with a range of global, country and company level reports. Each report provides a contents
listing and a useful executive summary reporting on the key trends in each country report.
IBISWorld
Business and industry research specialists offering reports on a wide range of sectors, including medical and dental instrument manufacturing. Report snapshots, table of contents and a sample
report are available. The company also produces global industry research reports.
Mintel
Report from Mintel covering the UK optical goods retailing market. The website includes a summary and the option to view a contents listing.
Industry news
Need to find the latest news on this industry sector? We can carry out industry news searches using a range of trade titles and general business sources through our databases. To discuss your requirements, please contact the enquiry team on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or at library@icaew.com.
Statistics on the UK
NHS Digital
NHS Digital offers a range of statistics which cover general ophthalmic services and consultation tables, including NHS sight tests, vouchers, repairs and replacements, and domiciliary visits.
Global statistics
UN Commodity Trade Statistics Database (Comtrade)
The UN compiles and publishes international import and export statistics in the Commodity Trade Statistics Database (Comtrade), giving figures for goods traded by value, quantity and weight for each country.
Statistics are available for:
- Optical, photo, technical, medical, etc apparatus (90)
UN Industrial Commodity Statistics Database
The UN provides statistics on the quantity of goods produced by country in the Industrial Commodity Statistics Database.
Figures are available for:
- Spectacle lenses of glass or other materials (48)
- Contact lenses (48)
- Frames and mountings for spectacles, goggles or the like (48)
Employment
UK
Average employment costs within this sector are available from Table 14 of the Office for National Statistics publication Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE). Average employment costs are provided for full-time employees, part-time employees and all employees.
The data includes average employment costs for:
- ophthalmic opticians; and
- dispensing opticians.
Other regions
Please see individual country profile pages for links to sources of national statistics.
Legislation and regulation
UK
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has a section on health and social care services, which includes latest regulations affecting this industry.
Import and export
UK
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has a section on health and social care services, which includes latest regulations affecting this industry.
UK business guides
Croner-i Business Focus
Business Focus is a resource that provides practical information on many small business trades and sectors. Its Business Opportunity Profiles offer detailed insights into market conditions, legal issues and the trading environment for a range of businesses. They include:
- Optician's practice
Mini Business Opportunity Profiles are also available and provide a general introduction to more niche business areas, including:
- Online spectacle and contact lens retailer
To find out more about Business Focus, please contact our enquiry team on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or at library@icaew.com.
Atom Content Marketing guides
The Start Up Donut from Atom Content Marketing provides practical information on starting up and running a number of small business types. Guides cover a range of areas including market research, current trends, regulations, products and services, promotion and pricing. They include:
UK key players, ratios and trends
We can produce reports on this sector using selected information from the FAME company database. Reports are available for:
- Retail sale by opticians
Due to the small number of companies in this field we may not be able to produce our normal range of reports or mailing lists. Please contact our enquiry team on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or at library@icaew.com to discuss your requirements.
UK benchmarking
We offer benchmarking reports that can be used to inform your own business strategy or help you identify value-added services to offer to your clients.
Contact the enquiry team directly on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or at library@icaew.com for a report tailored to your own specific requirements.
Trade bodies
The websites of trade bodies in this sector are a useful source of industry overviews, contacts and statistics.
UK
- Association of British Dispensing Opticians
- Association of Contact Lens Manufacturers
- Association of Optometrists (AOP)
- British Association of Behavioural Optometrists (BABO)
- British Contact Lens Association
- British and Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS)
- The College of Optometrists
- Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians (FODO)
- Federation of Manufacturing Opticians
- General Optical Council (GOC)
- Royal College of Ophthalmologists
- Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers
Europe
- European Council of Optometry and Optics
- European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE)
- European Society of Optometrists
The European Council of Optometry and Optics provides contact details and links to its members.
Americas
Asia
Oceania
Global
The World Council of Optometry provides a list of members, organised by country, which features major professional bodies throughout the world.
Trade journals and publications
Trade journals, B2B magazines and specialist consumer magazines are another useful source of news and statistics.
Further reading
Articles and books in the Library collection
To find out how you can borrow books from the Library please see our guide to book loans.
You can obtain copies of articles or extracts of books and reports by post or email through our document supply service.
Can't find what you're looking for?
The ICAEW Library can give you the right information from trustworthy, professional sources that aren't freely available online. Contact us for expert help with your enquiries and research.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information given in this Business & Industry Guide is correct. However, the content of websites changes frequently and users should satisfy themselves that the information they contain is suitable for the purposes for which they wish to use it. We would be grateful to receive notification of any broken links at library@icaew.com.
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