Launched amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the Optometric Business Tracker (OBT) is a collaboration between GPN Technologies and Eyecare Business that reveals sales and exams data from more than 2,400 practice locations across the country.
We continue to reveal crucial takeaways tracking practice exams and patient payments, plus frame, lens, and contact lens sales, but in a more easily digestible, focused way to address practice information needs heading into a new chapter of the pandemic.
This month’s OBT “Practice Pearl” forecasts short-term expectations for product sales.
Here, we share October practice data reported by GPN on Oct. 31. Due to early reporting, GPN anticipates a slight shift in the reported figures.
Practice Pearl
To estimate near-term growth in key ophthalmic categories, GPN drew data from a representative sample of 2,600 ECPs in the GPN dataset. Monthly unit sales were compared to the same month of the previous year.
GPN found that growth in contact lenses and eye exams was modest and inconsistent over the past 16 months and this pattern is expected to continue with a slight rise. Eyeglass lenses and frames showed average declines in same month of the prior year unit sales over the past 16 months and this pattern is expected to improve to slightly less negative results over the next six months.
| Category | Past 16-month average unit growth | Forecast six-month average unit growth |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts | 1.36% | 2.46% |
| Exams | 0.66% | 0.81% |
| Frames | -2.07% | -1.70% |
| Lenses | -2.45% | -2.39% |
For a detailed look at recent trends and forecast, head to eyethrive.net/forecasting-short-term-expectations-for-product-sales.
Practice Resources
GPN is using its eyeTHRIVE business solutions channel (eyeTHRIVE.net) to offer timely webinars and resources to ECPs. The open-forum webinars feature some of the industry’s most successful O.D.s, practice management consultants, and business owners. eyeTHRIVE members are invited to attend live webinars, view recorded presentations, download useful tools, and participate in live Q&A sessions with industry pros.
- All industry data provided by GPN: gpntechnologies.com.
GET MORE INDUSTRY DATA TRACKING
Visit eyecarebusiness.com/optometric-business-tracker monthly as we reveal the real-time data on countrywide practice sales and exams—provided by GPN.
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