All Optical Sales Categories Recover Following Steep Declines Brought on by Severe Weather, Jobson Practice Performance Tracker Says

NEW YORK—All optical sales categories recovered last week (Feb. 22-28) following the previous week’s steep declines resulting from historically severe winter weather, according to Jobson’s Practice Performance Tracker. This restores national optical sales to the levels of four weeks ago (Jan. 25-31) when the most recent month-long optical sales declines began. This also coincides with a six-week downward trend in coronavirus cases in the U.S., according to the CDC COVID Data Tracker. Over the course of last week (Feb. 22-28), all regional optical sales regained losses experienced during the past few weeks.

Click here to view the complete Jobson COVID-19 Performance Tracker

Lincoln Road Advisors Acquires U.S. Vision Optical Business from ACON Investments

GLENDORA, N.J.—Lincoln Road Advisors Inc., an investment company operated by optical industry veteran Eric Bertrand, has acquired the holding company Refac Optical Group, which owns the U.S. Vision optical business, from its majority owner ACON Investments. U.S. Vision operates roughly 375 optical locations in licensed retail spaces at J.C. Penney, Meijer, Boscov’s and Optical Center/AAFES Exchange locations. Bertrand, a former chief executive of OptiCare Health Systems of Connecticut and Vision Center at Meijer, confirmed the acquisition by Lincoln Road to VMAIL earlier today. He is the principal at Lincoln Road, and also manages the digital marketing agency Mod Op. 

After a Challenging Year in 2020, GrandVision Expects ‘Gradual Improvements Toward the Second Half’ of 2021

SCHIPHOL, the Netherlands—GrandVision NV (EURONEXT: GVNV) reported late last week that its full-year 2020 revenue dropped by 12.2 percent at constant exchange rates to €3,481 million (FY19: €4,039 million) with a comparable revenue decline of 14.1 percent. Adjusted EBITA (EBITA before non-recurring items) fell 43.1 percent at constant exchange rates to €266 million (FY19: €475 million), and the retailer’s EBITA margin fell 411 basis points to 7.7 percent.

VM's News Quiz for the Week of Feb 21: ODs Join the Vaccine Effort, Best Airport Ever and Losing an Optical Pioneer

Did you follow the optical news this week? Take VM’s News Quiz to see how much you know. This week's quiz takes a look at how ODs are joining the vaccine effort, the best airport ever and losing an optical pioneer.

March Is Workplace Eye Wellness Month at Prevent Blindness

CHICAGO—Prevent Blindness, the nation's oldest eye health and safety nonprofit organization, has declared March as Workplace Eye Wellness Month. Because one of the many negative effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is the increase in digital screen time for many remote workers, Prevent Blindness is raising awareness of digital eye strain and providing tips on ways to decrease the effects of increased screen time. Symptoms of digital eye strain, also referred to as computer vision syndrome, include tired, burning or itching eyes, dry eyes, blurred vision and/or headache.