The Lab Watch

Behind every great eyecare practice, there is a great prescription lab. Putting this optical twist on an old saying is simply a way to acknowledge the fundamental role that labs play in the success of their customers. (The exception, of course, are eyecare practices that operate their own in-house labs.)

Some key findings from this year’s Wholesale Lab Usage Survey underscore the importance with which many eyecare practitioners regard their lab. For example, 44 percent of survey respondents said they expect to do more business with their wholesale lab or labs in the coming year, up from 35 percent in 2020 and 39 percent in 2019. Why the increase? One reason could be the support that their lab has provided during the pandemic, when many eyecare practices were shuttered during lockdowns, but still managed to fill Rx orders for patients. Labs were considered essential businesses in many parts of the country and continued to operate throughout the pandemic, although with reduced staffs. That kind of support tends to strengthen bonds between ECPs and labs, and is often repaid with loyalty in the form of increased business.

We think you’ll find a lot to think about from these highlights from our 2021 report. The complete findings are available from Jobson Optical Research’s Jennifer Waller at [email protected].

–Andrew Karp