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 slightly last week (Sept. 20-26) at a rate of only 1 index point. That leaves gross revenue 2 index points above where it was at this point in time (Week 39) during 2019 and 9 index points below where it was during Week 39 of last year.

BUSINESS METRICS

There was little change in optical sales categories last week, with two categories increasing, two categories decreasing, and one category remaining flat. Contact lenses changed the most, declining at a rate of -3 index points. The other decrease was in the category of lens pairs, which fell at a rate of only -1 index point. Gross revenue and frame units were up 1 index point, while exams/refractions remained flat.

SNAPSHOT

With its increase of 1 index point, gross revenue remains the only category at a level above that of an average week in 2019 (the index baseline assigned a value of 100 for this Optical Business Tracker). All other categories remained below an average week in 2019, with contact lenses furthest from the baseline, leveling off at 84 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.