[bc]AR COUNCIL ANNOUNCES ANTI-REFLECTIVE LENS SALES HAVE RISEN TO 23%[/bc]
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA -- The AR Council reports that 2001 sales results indicate 23% of all lenses sold in the U.S. were anti-reflective lenses. Their annual sales survey includes both AR Council members and non-members alike. These recent findings represent a 4% increase over 2000 sales results, with every indication that the percentage is continuing to grow throughout 2002. Survey results indicated that AR Council members increased their sales of anti-reflective lenses by more than 2.7 million pairs, which accounts for 64% of the anti-reflective lens market as reported for 2001. “It is apparent as we extrapolate and evaluate the numbers, that AR Council members are focused on growing their individual anti-reflective lens sales . . . and thus have benefited both their customers and their companies,” concluded Lee Anderson, Executive Director. “We are confident that a good portion of their success has resulted from the educational and POP materials which are now available from the AR Council.” continued Anderson.

As a result of our continued efforts to increase the sales of anti-reflective lenses, AR Council’s expanding membership now includes three new members: U.S. Vision, Kaiser Permanente and Precision Optical Laboratory of Gallaway, Tennessee. In an effort to offer our unique educational materials for distribution and provide the ability to network with other professionals in the AR field, AR Council membership dues have been expanded to incorporate varying volume levels within the categories of retailers and laboratories. “We have expanded these categories in order to afford more companies the opportunity to maximize the benefits of AR Council membership,” says Anderson.

“The current survey reflects a 4% cumulative increase over previous results of 19% in 2000. It also belies the results of companies specifically focused on developing AR sales who have experienced successes in the range of 25%, 35% and even up to 90% in some instances. These results reflect the ongoing opportunities anti-reflective lenses offer to the entire ophthalmic community to increase their revenues. There are still 77% of lenses that remain uncoated; the opportunity for growth is unlimited as anti-reflective lens advantages benefit all lens materials including glass, plastic, polycarbonate, mid-index and high-index.” concludes Anderson.

The AR Council is committed to educating and assisting ECP’s on how to sell AR, motivating the consumer to buy, and bringing technological expertise to all AR coaters and lens manufacturers. “To support this ongoing effort, we will respond to member requests by introducing patient brochures in Spanish, continuing our efforts to reach consumers through promotional efforts via newspaper and radio releases across the U.S., as well as producing a new educational handbook focusing on the benefits of including anti-reflective lenses as part of practice management goals for 2003.”

For additional information on AR Council patient brochures, “Guide To AR” educational handbook, or our ABO-approved seminar, please contact the AR Council directly at arcouncil@aol.com or 877.254.4477 for additional information.

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AR Council Annual Meeting
November 20, 2002
3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Indianapolis Marriott Downtown