OREANDA-NEWS Russian suppliers and distributors of contact lenses and optics for the manufacture of glasses noted an increase in prices by 30-40%. Among the reasons are Western sanctions, which led to the withdrawal of foreign companies from the Russian market and the fall of the ruble. The sphere was strongly influenced due to the fact that a significant part of the material is not produced in Russia, but is imported from abroad.

Distributors began to predict an increase in the prices of glasses and lenses with an increase in the dollar and euro. The director of the Interoptica network, Evgeny Veselov, told Izvestia that the cost of the goods increased by 30-40%, but was distributed unevenly. The frames will still cost at the old prices — many managed to buy them before the depreciation of the ruble. But lenses for them are purchased on the stream, and therefore have risen in price at times.

He stressed that the ruble exchange rate will certainly affect new supplies of frames, but as soon as the ruble rises, suppliers will adjust prices.

Now many people sacrifice profits by making a minimum margin, because they understand that the consumer is not ready to see new prices for glasses and lenses. This was told by the owner of the Harrycoopers optics salon chain, Mahmud Tamimdarov.

The businessman noted that the percentage of materials manufactured in Russia is very small. Basically, optics and components are imported from abroad, and if they produce something on the territory of the Russian Federation, then from imported materials.

A source close to Johnson & Johnson, the largest company on the market, noted that contact lenses and lenses for glasses of foreign production in Russia account for 99.9% and 95% of sales, respectively. There have been attempts to create Russian analogues, but they have not been successful, and therefore rapid import substitution should not be expected, he is sure.