In a sign that eye care businesses are resuming something that looks more “normal,” the highest percentage yet of respondents to the Jobson Optical Research Coronavirus ECP Study said that they are allowing walk-ins. For eye exams, 48 percent of respondents in the June 2021 survey said that they are allowing walk-ins. That is 11 percentage points higher than the May 2021 survey responses. For dispensing and eyewear purchases, fully 79 percent of respondents said that they’re accepting walk-ins. That number is 10 percentage points higher than in May.
Most respondents, 72 percent, in this 24th wave of the survey said their practice has the capacity to serve more patients than they are currently seeing. On average, these respondents said that they could accommodate 26 percent more patients. Of the 28 percent who said that they could not serve more patients now, lack of staff is the leading limiting factor.
Over the past four months, this survey has asked respondents for year-over-year comparisons. Practices are seeing significant increases in key metrics in June 2021 vs. June 2020, and the vast majority are close to key metrics from June 2019.
Personally, respondents seem more comfortable resuming some routines. For example, 45 percent, the highest percentage yet, said that they would be comfortable attending trade shows, and 70 percent said that they are comfortable with the idea of having industry representatives visit their office.
Slightly more respondents in this wave said that they have eased some of their mask-wearing requirements.
Read the full report from Wave 24, which includes attitudes about safety protocols, mask-wearing policies and more.
