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 TREND

The national average for gross revenue at ECP locations decreased last week (April 22nd - April 28th) when compared with the previous week at a rate of -2 index points. That places gross revenue at a level 5 index points above where it was at this point in time (Week 17) when compared with last year (2023), 11 points above the same period in 2022, 14 points above 2021, 102 points above 2020 (during COVID), and 19 points above 2019.

BUSINESS METRICS

All optical sales categories were down last week when compared with the previous week, at rates of -2 index points (gross revenue), -3 index points (exams/refractions), -1 index point (frame units), -3 index points (lens pairs), and -1 index point (contact lenses). When comparing last week’s optical sales with the same period last year, the categories were mixed, ranging from the largest decrease of -3 index points for lens pairs, to the greatest increase of 5 index points for gross revenue. The other categories changed by 2 index points for exams/refractions, -2 index points for frame units, and 3 index points for contact lenses.

SNAPSHOT

With all optical sales categories decreasing last week, only one of the categories reached a level 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 120 index points for gross revenue to a low of 90 index points for contact lenses. The other three categories reached 97 index points for exams/refractions, 99 index points for frame units, and 98 index points for lens pairs.

*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.