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 was unchanged last week (July 18-24) when compared with the previous week. That places gross revenue at a level 5 index points above where it was at this point in time (Week 30) when compared with last year, 4 points above the same time period in 2020, and 8 points above 2019.

BUSINESS METRICS

All optical sales categories were either flat or up 1 index point last week when compared with the previous week. The lens pairs category, in addition to gross revenue, was flat, while exams/refractions, frame units, and contacts lenses were up by 1 index point. When comparing last week’s optical sales with the same period last year, categories were varied. Up were gross revenue (5 points), contact lenses (3 points), and exams/refractions (1 point). Frame units were flat, and lens pairs were down -1 index point.

SNAPSHOT

With optical sales either up slightly or flat last week, one category reached a level above an average week in 2019 (the index baseline assigned a value of 100 for this Optical Business Tracker), while two categories matched that benchmark, and two categories fell 1 index point below it. Gross revenue reached a level of 113 index points during Week 30 of 2022, exams/refractions and contact lenses both reached 100 index points, while frame units and lens pairs reached 99 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.