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 Analyze, 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 decreased last week (March 28-April 3) at a rate of -1 index point. That places gross revenue at a level 7 index points above where it was at this point in time (Week 14) when compared with last year and 13 points above 2019. During 2020, however, pandemic-related, mandated shutdowns brought gross revenue to only 16 index points during Week 14. That’s 100 points below Week 14 of this year.

BUSINESS METRICS

Optical sales categories varied last week, ranging slightly from an increase of 1 index point for frame units to a decrease of -1 index point for gross revenue and exams/refractions. Remaining flat when comparing last week with the previous week (March 21-27) were contact lenses and lens pairs.

SNAPSHOT

With zero to little change in optical sales last week, all but one category reached levels above an average week in 2019 (the index baseline assigned a value of 100 for this Optical Business Tracker). The contact lenses category remains the only one below that benchmark at 97 index points, while those above range from exams/refractions at 101 index points to gross revenue at 116 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.