This tracker measures sales trends comparing pre-pandemic, during the pandemic, and post-pandemic.

We selected 1,500 optical locations that have been operating and reporting their sales to our partners, GPN and ABB Analytics, since 2019. We re-based the index to an average week in 2019. This new index base will be used as an arbitrary benchmark and assigned a value of 100.

GROSS REVENUE 3-YEAR TREND

Last week experienced substantial declines in optical sales on a nationwide level as a result of Independence Day, which was celebrated with a Federal holiday on Monday, July 5, rather than on the more traditional July 4. As a result, the Independence Day holiday fell within Week 28 of this year (but within Week 27 of the previous two years). This placed the national average for gross revenue at ECP locations far below where it stood last year during the pandemic as well as in 2019.

BUSINESS METRICS

All categories of optical sales decreased last week (July 5-11) when compared with the previous week (June 28-July 4), ranging from a decline of -11 index points for contact lens sales to a decline of -16 index points for gross revenue. Frame units and lens pairs both declined by -14 index points, while exams/refractions declined by -12 index points. Because these decreased optical sales were due to the Federal Independence Day holiday, they are likely to quickly recover.

SNAPSHOT

Last week, all categories of optical sales fell far below an average week in 2019 (the index baseline assigned a value of 100 for this Optical Business Tracker). Gross revenue fell to a level of 89 index points, maintaining its position above all other categories, while contact lens sales remain at the lowest level of 81 index points.

*The index baseline was developed by Jobson Research from total sales from an average week in 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 1,500 independent eye care practices.

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

you may also reach out to GPN/EDGEPro and ABB Analyze directly.