NEW YORK—National optical sales declined across the board last week (Jan. 25-31), according to Jobson’s latest Practice Performance Tracker. Optical sales were down 3 index points for gross revenue, lens pairs, and contact lenses, and down 2 index points for exams/refractions and frame units. This follows increases the previous week, leaving all categories (except contact lenses) at the same level as two weeks ago (Jan. 11-17), which is within 10 index points of mid-March 2019 levels when COVID-influenced declines began.

Contact lenses declined both this week and last, leaving them 13 index points below mid-March 2019.

Regionally, optical sales in the West fared the best, remaining primarily flat or down just 1 index point, except contact lenses, which declined 4 index points. Optical sales in the Midwest experienced the largest declines, ranging from -6 index points for exams/refractions to -8 index points for lens pairs.

The South showed decreases of 1 index point for all categories, except contact lenses, which were down 2 index points. The Northeast performed slightly worse with declines ranging from -6 index points for contact lenses to -2 index points for frame units.

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