EDITOR’S LETTER

Stat Stories

This annual Sports Eyewear issue of EB is jam-packed with information you can use to build muscle in the athletic arena.

And, where better to get new need-to-know numbers for other areas of your business than at Vision Expo? Here are just a few of the stats from sessions held last month in New York.

• ON-THE-JOB: “Corrected vision can increase employee performance by as much as 20%.” (Vision Impact Institute)

• EVALUATION. The future of the lane will be different, with no chair or stand and possibly a virtual reality-type device for evaluation. “We will see this happen in our careers.” (Howard Purcell, Essilor)

• UP-TO-DATE: “40% of consumers visit an optical shop without a current Rx.” (20/20 NOW)

• POTENTIAL: Revenues from Rx’s by O.D.s have grown from $500 million in 2005 to $1 billion in 2011, and have a $2 billion potential in 2016. (Julian Gangolli, Allergan)

• UP: Over the last two years, consumer usage has increased the most for the computer eyeglass and over-the-counter reader categories. (The Vision Council)

• OPPORTUNITY. The optical industry has a $7 billion opportunity from business left on the table due to lack of patient conversion. (Holly Rush, Luxottica Wholesale North America)

What else is happening? To find out, don’t miss next month’s up-close look at products and programs that took center stage in New York.

{TREND WATCH}
EYE ON EXAMS

Here are a few of the stats about eye exams presented by The Vision Council’s Steve Kodey and Ron Krefman, O.D., during a Vision Council Statistics Committee presentation at Vision Expo East.

POPULATION
“During the 12 months ending December 2014, 44.7% of the U.S. adult population received an eye exam.”

PURCHASING
“Eyewear purchase incidence after eye exams increased more in 2014 (+2.3%) than any year since 2007.”

FREQUENCY
“The average American goes 31.3 months without an eye exam. The Northwestern states have the longest intervals.”

DRIVERS
“Preventive reasons and reminders are key drivers for motivating annual exams.”

EXCUSES
“Exploring reasons for not getting an exam…the most significant female excuse is cost; male, not needed.”

P.S. Check out this month’s “video on demand” link on p. 49. It’s a short clip about sports-related eye injuries, featuring an ophthalmologist and a young sports enthusiast. To watch, download and launch the actable app, scan the page, and, voila, the video will begin.

Stephanie K. De Long
Editorial Director