Affordable Care Act Has Little Immediate Impact on Optical

ALEXANDRIA, Va.—"Recent developments with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have not had too much of an immediate impact on the optical industry through the first five months of 2014," according to The Vision Council's latest VisionWatch Economic Situation Study: May 2014, which surveyed 5,023 adult consumers about purchasing behavior for optical goods during the first five months of this year.

"However, the long-term prognosis on the impact of the ACA on the eyewear industry is still in doubt with many consumers unable to gauge how changes in insurance coverage will impact their eyewear and eyecare spending and behavior," the report predicts.

The following chart indicates the responses from those surveyed about how the ACA has impacted consumers' eyecare and eyewear purchasing activity.

Source: The Vision Council’s VisionWatch Economic Situation Study: May 2014

Percentages total more than 100 percent because respondents could select more than one answer.