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

The national average for gross revenue at ECP locations increased last week (Sept. 13-19) at a rate of 18 index points, regaining most of the 20 index points this category lost the previous week (Sept. 6-12) due to Labor Day falling on Sept. 6. That leaves gross revenue 3 index points above where it was at this point in time (Week 38) during 2019 and 10 index points below where it was during Week 38 of last year.

BUSINESS METRICS

All optical sales categories increased substantially last week, reversing most of the decline experienced during the previous week. Of the three categories that lost -19 index points last week, exams/refractions recouped 18 index points, frame units regained 16 index points, and lens pairs returned 17 index points. Contact lenses regained 12 of the -16 index points lost during the previous week.

SNAPSHOT

Rebounding optical sales brought all categories to a higher index level (based on an average week in 2019, the index baseline assigned a value of 100 for this Optical Business Tracker), but only one category (gross revenue) matched that of an average week in 2019. All other categories remained below an average week in 2019, ranging from 7 index points below (lens pairs) to 13 index points below (contact lenses).

*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.