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 by -1 index point last week (October 24th – October 30th) when compared to the previous week. Despite the decrease, that still places gross revenue at a level 7 index points above where it was at this point in time (Week 44) when compared with last year, 4 points above the same period in 2020, and 13 points above 2019.

BUSINESS METRICS

Optical sales categories were all down or flat last week when compared with the previous week, at rates of -1 index point (gross revenue and lens pairs), 0 index points (exams/refractions and frame units), and -4 index points (contact lenses). When comparing last week’s optical sales with the same period last year, all categories were up besides one, ranging from the highest increase of 7 index points for gross revenue to a decrease of -3 index points for contact lenses. The other categories increased at rates of 5 index points for frame units, 3 points for lens pairs, and 1 point for exams/refractions.

SNAPSHOT

With optical sales categories being mostly down last week, only one category reached levels above an average week in 2019 (the index baseline assigned a value of 100 for this Optical Business Tracker). These ranged from a high of 112 index points for gross revenue to a low of 84 index points for contact lenses. The other three categories reached 98 index points for exams/refractions, 99 index points for lens pairs, and 100 index points for frame units.

*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.