HOYA puts independents front and centre with new investment and dedicated support

Made in the UK

HOYA has been supporting independent practices from Wrexham, north Wales, for over 40 years.

From its advanced, modern facility, HOYA manufactures lenses, applies coatings, edges, glazes and distributes. It’s also from the UK that Hoya supports thousands of independent practices.

HOYA delivers its bespoke practice marketing in the UK, distributes point-of-sale from the UK, and designs and delivers its training here. In fact, over 70% of Hoya lens orders from UK practices are made in the UK.

For HOYA, that’s important – and not just because it gives independent practices much faster, more reliable deliveries. It’s important because it means the company really understands the UK market, because it is an integral part of it.

 

Substantial Investment

But for HOYA, there’s always scope to do more.

That’s why we’re now in the process of investing over £3.5 million over the coming years – all of it going towards making more high-quality lens products, more efficiently, right here in the UK.

Support for independent practices is a vital part of this investment plan.

More specifically, that means:

• An expanded customer support team, with more buddies supporting more practices
• Support centre upgrades that will improve collaboration and provide a modern, well-designed environment, where team members can perform at their best
• Major investment in manufacturing, set to bring production of HOYA’s latest flagship coating Hi-Vision Meiryo into the UK for the first time. Plus, significant energy and water reductions that will help make Wrexham efficient and sustainable well into the future
• A brand-new, state-of-the-art training hub where independent customers can learn about the latest products and techniques.

Hi-Vision Meiryo – HOYA’s most advanced premium lens coating ever

Supporting independent practices is about more than great service – eyecare professionals need great quality, ground-breaking products that will truly ‘wow’ their patients.

Hi-Vision Meiryo is about just that.

Launched in the UK at 100% Optical in March, Hi-Vision Meiryo is the result of more than 60 years of continuous coating research. The outcome is truly exceptional:

• 56% lower reflectance compared to competitor’s best coating.¹
• Up to 2.5x better scratch resistance compared to other coatings on the market.²
• Maintains 'easy clean' features up to 5x longer than other available lens coatings.³

In addition to all this, patients will benefit from 100% UV protection with extra protection on the back surface⁴ plus outstanding water-repellence, anti-static and enhanced contrast.

 

The right product for patients, and for independents

Hi-Vision Meiryo is the perfect example of a product that was designed from the ground up.

In 2019, HOYA commissioned a detailed piece of consumer research through VisionWatch. It found that the top three benefits patients expect from a coating are:

1. The ability to see more clearly
2. Improved scratch resistance
3. Full UV protection.

The top two complaints were about lenses that:

1. Scratched too easily
2. Were hard to keep clean.

So that’s what HOYA focused on.

HOYA created a coating that not only met all these patient demands and concerns, it did so exceptionally well. They knew that Meiryo had to out-perform anything that had gone before, and anything else on the market. So that’s what it does.

As a business proposition, Meiryo makes sense too.

HOYA has worked hard to keep the cost price of Meiryo as low as possible – making sure it delivers a consistent and strong margin for independent ECPs.

And when it comes to Meiryo’s supply chain, they’re going even further.

A multi-million pound investment means that as of October 2024, Hi-Vision Meiryo will be manufactured entirely in the UK.

That means less time in transit, so independent customers can benefit from fast-track delivery. It’s also a big demonstration of HOYA's commitment to UK manufacturing, not just now, but well into the future.

A dedication to independents

Independent practices are the lifeblood of the UK optics industry, and that’s why they’re at the heart of HOYA's business.

Everything HOYA does is focused on making life easier for independent practices and the hard-working professionals who own and run them.

Through a commitment to exceptional service and well-targeted, highly innovative products, HOYA is working every day to make a positive and lasting impact on this exciting industry.

For more information about HOYA products and services, including Hi-Vision Meiryo, contact your local Hoya representative, visit the HOYA website, or call 0844 873 1110.

 

---

 

References

1. Hoya data on file. Product assessment report – Hi-Vision Meiryo. 05/2023. The reflection has been calculated based on the reflection values measured in the Luminous reflectance Rv evaluation
2. Hoya data on file. Product assessment report – Hi-Vision Meiryo. 05/2023. Compared to several competitor coatings including major competitor’s best coatings. Passed 2.5kg SWSC test when most competitive lenses tested did not pass 1kg in the SWSC
3. Hoya data on file. Product assessment report – Hi-Vision Meiryo. 05/2023. Hi-Vision Meiryo maintains Hydrophobic performance more than 5X that of major competitor
4. Hoya data on file. 1.50 UV approved claims. 09/22. Claim based on internal assessment according to ISO 8980-3:2022 and is applicable to Hoya branded plastic lenses except 1.50 standard lenses. The following Hoya lenses meet the strictest AS/NZS 1067.1:2016 standard for 100% protection: 1.50 UV, 1.53, 1.59 CBF, 1.60, 1.67, and 1.74.