A full 58% of ECPs report their bottom line is in the black over 2022—with 25% up 10% to 20%—and most point to contact lenses (16%), premium products (15%), and accessories (15%) as the top three areas of opportunity on the business side of practice today.

Want more critical intelligence to help fuel your practice success?

Our exclusive 2023 EB Annual Regional Market Trends Report unpacks these stats—and much more crucial information for eyecare professionals across the country. This year, nearly 700 ECPs responded to our survey—428 optometrists and 249 opticians.

The results are presented for the nation as a whole—and also broken down by U.S. Census Bureau regions—Northeast, West, South, Midwest—to assess how practices are faring (and what is trending for them on the retail side of the business) from coast to coast. Here, a few more key takeaways—for the full wealth of success-inducing information, dig into this important feature starting on page 36.

How stressed are ECPs? On a national level, eyecare professionals report their stress level at 6.1 on a scale of 1 to 10; this is up from 5.7 in 2022. The most-stressed region? ECPs in the West report a stress level of 6.5, higher than any other U.S. Census Bureau region.

Frame Purchases in 2023. Nationwide, 52% of ECPs plan to increase their frame purchases this year, while 42% plan to cut back and 7% have no plan to change buying patterns.

Lens Purchases in 2023. Nationwide, 54% of ECPs plan to increase their spectacle lens purchases this year, while 41% plan to cut back and 6% have no plan to change buying patterns.

Contact Lens Purchases in 2023. Nationwide, 49% of ECPs plan to increase their contact lens purchases this year, while 45% plan to cut back and 5% have no plan to change buying patterns.

We hope you enjoy the issue!

Erinn Morgan,
Editor-in-Chief + Editorial Director
Director of Social Media, Vision