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 increased last week (Aug. 1-7) at a rate of 2 index points. That places gross revenue at a level 11 index points above where it was at this point in time (Week 32) when compared with last year, 6 points above the same period in 2020, and 7 points above 2019.

BUSINESS METRICS

All optical sales categories were up or flat last week when compared with the previous week, ranging from unchanged for exams/refractions to up 5 index points for contact lenses. Each of the other three categories (gross revenue, frame units, and lens pairs) were up 2 points. All categories were also up when comparing last week’s optical sales with the same period last year, ranging from the largest increase of 11 index points for gross revenue to the smallest increases of 4 index points each for frame units and contact lenses. Exams/refractions were up 6, and lens pairs were up 5, when comparing Week 32 of 2022 with the same week in 2021.

SNAPSHOT

With all optical sales either up or flat last week, all categories reach levels above or equal to an average week in 2019 (the index baseline assigned a value of 100 for this Optical Business Tracker). Gross revenue reached the highest level at 115 index points, while frame units matched the 100-point benchmark. Exams/refractions and lens pairs both reached 101 index points, and contact lenses ended the week at 103 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.