Usa: success for lens retailers in Q4 2004

According to Vision Council of America's Ophthalmic Retail Study (Ors, an on-going program utilizing a static sample of 300 chain and independent outlets), 2004 proved a successful year for U.S. lens retailers.

In the fourth quarter, both chain and independent stores experienced 10.9 percent sales growth compared to 2003. Almost 17 million pairs of lenses were sold in the fourth quarter, with chain stores selling 51 percent of lenses and independent stores selling 49 percent.

Fourth quarter sales of polycarbonate lenses were 37.1 percent of the market total and grew by more than 22 percent from fourth quarter 2003 shipments. More than half of all chain retailer lens sales consisted of polycarbonate lenses last quarter.

Several types of lenses continued to grow in the fourth quarter of 2004 from 2003:
- 4.7 million pairs of progressive lenses were sold, an increase of 22.4 percent;
- photochromic lenses encountered more than 20 percent growth;
- close to 3.2 million pairs of anti-reflective coating lenses were sold, an increase of 30 percent.