NEW YORK—The national average for gross revenue at ECP locations increased last week, April 18-24, at a rate of 4 index points. That places gross revenue at a level 3 index points above where it was at this point in time (Week 17) when compared with last year and 8 points above 2019. During 2020, however, with pandemic-related, mandated shutdowns in effect, gross revenue was at a level of 18 index points. That’s 91 points below Week 17 of this year, according to Jobson’s most recent Practice Performance Tracker.
 
All optical sales categories increased last week, rebounding from the previous week’s holiday-related declines. When comparing last week with the previous week, increases ranged from 3 index points for contact lenses to 5 index points for frame units and lens pairs.
 
When comparing optical sales with the previous year, categories were varied—frame units and lens pairs were each down -5 index points when comparing Week 17 this year with the same period last year. The other categories were up when comparing Week 17 this year with the same time last year, ranging from 2 index points for exams/refractions to 5 index points for contact lenses.
 
With optical sales up across the board last week, three categories reached levels that were either equal to or above an average week in 2019—the index baseline assigned a value of 100 for this Optical Business Tracker. Gross revenue, frame units, and lens pairs were equal to or above that benchmark, while exams/refractions and contact lenses were below the benchmark.
 
Jobson Optical Research selected 1,500 optical locations that have been operating and reporting their sales to its partners, GPN and ABB Analytics, since 2019. The index has been rebased to an average week in 2019. Going forward, this new index base will be used as an arbitrary benchmark and assigned a value of 100.
 
Click here to view the complete Jobson COVID-19 Performance Tracker