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 (Sept. 12-18) at a rate of 17 index points, regaining much but not all of the decline of -21 index points it experienced the week prior due to the Labor Day holiday. That places gross revenue at a level 10 points above where it was at this point in time (Week 38) when compared with last year, equal to the same period in 2020, 13 points above 2019.

BUSINESS METRICS

All optical sales categories were up last week when compared with the previous week, regaining much but not all of the declines experienced during the Labor Day holiday week prior. Increases last week ranged from a high of 17 index points for both gross revenue and exams/refractions to a low of 10 index points for contact lenses. When comparing last week’s optical sales with the same period last year, all categories were up, ranging from the largest increase of 10 index points for gross revenue to the smallest increase of 1 index point for lens pairs.

SNAPSHOT

Although all optical sales increased last week when compared with the previous week, still only one category reached a level above an average week in 2019 (the index baseline assigned a value of 100 for this Optical Business Tracker). Gross revenue reached a level of 110 index points. All other categories were below the baseline of 100, ranging from 96 index points for exams/refractions to 89 index points for 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.