NEW YORK—National optical sales experienced slight upticks in all categories last week (March 1-7), according to Jobson’s Practice Performance Tracker. Optical sales increases last week ranged from a low of 1 index point for exams/refractions to a high of 3 index points for contact lenses. All other categories (gross revenue, frame units, lens pairs) increased by 2 index points over the course of last week. Coronavirus cases continued their decline last week, according to the CDC COVID Data Tracker. 

Regionally, the Midwest experienced the largest increases in optical sales last week (March 1-7), with most categories (exams/refractions, frame units, lens pairs) increasing at a rate of 3 index points. The highest increase overall was also in the Midwest, where contact lens sales grew by 6 index points. Close behind were contact lens sales in the West, growing at a rate of 5 index points.

The Northeast showed some growth—3 index points for lens pairs and contact lenses, and 1 index point for gross revenue, exams/refractions, and frame units. Optical sales in the South fared the worst last week, ranging from -1 index point for contact lenses to 1 index point for frame units and lens pairs. This sales activity coincides with varying state-by-state increases and decreases in COVID cases, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. 

The Jobson COVID-19 Practice Performance Tracker data is compiled by Jobson Research from GPN/EDGEPro and ABB Analyze data. Another element of the report illustrates Consumer Sentiments about the COVID-19 response and purchasing intentions, with data supplied by The Vision Council.

This index baseline was developed by Jobson Research from total sales from an average 7 days in the first quarter of 2019.

Click here to view the complete Jobson COVID-19 Performance Tracker