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During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jobson Optical Research is tracking national and regional optical business metrics for the U.S.

This index baseline was developed by Jobson Research from total sales from an average 7 days in the first quarter of 2019.

ECP BUSINESS METRICS

Over a holiday weekend during which the U.S. reached a record four million COVID-19 vaccine doses given in 24 hours, according to the CDC, national optical sales experienced small but significant declines. Over the course of last week ending April 4, optical service/product categories were down on a national basis either -4 index points (frame units and lens pairs) or -5 index points (gross revenue, exams/refractions, and contact lenses). In addition to the impact of last week’s Easter and Passover holidays, the country also experienced concerning increases in COVID-19 cases as well, according to the CDC COVID Data Tracker. New results from the latest Jobson Optical Research Coronavirus ECP Survey (Wave 21) indicate that key practice performance metrics for March 2021 remain below where they were during a “normal” pre-pandemic year in March of 2019 – profitability per patient -5%, number of patients per day -8%, revenue -4%, and optical sales -3%.


REGIONAL BREAKOUT

While most regions reflected national declines in optical sales at rates of -4 and -5 index points, optical sales in the West remained primarily flat (except contact lenses, which declined a negligible -1 index point), and optical sales in the Midwest decreased by greater amounts, at rates of -6 index points for contact lenses, -7 index points for gross revenue, and -8 index points for exams/refractions. All this while different states in all regions experience both ups and downs in their numbers of COVID cases, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

*The index baseline was developed by Jobson Research from total sales from an average seven days in the first quarter of 2019.This index baseline is equivalent to a score of 100. All other time periods going forward are calculated as a percent increase or decrease from the 100 baseline index of that period. This index is intended to show directional and magnitudinal change that the market is experiencing. Actual index scores are arbitrary meaning the baseline of 100 is simply used as a benchmark. Jobson Research shall not be held liable for any use or misuse of the data described and/or contained herein.

Please note that practices that use practice analytic systems tend to skew a bit larger and have higher revenue than practices that do not.

Source: GPN/EDGEPro and ABB Analyze contributed anonymous sales data used to determine gross revenue, exams/refractions, frame units, lens pairs, and contact lens boxes. Data was collected from approximately 3,500 independent eye care practices.

For additional information, you may reach out to GPN/EDGEPro and ABB Analyze directly.

For more information from Jobson Research contact jwaller@jobson.com.

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