VisionWatch: Harsh winter affected eye wear sales

According to a survey compiled by VisionWatch, optical and eye wear sales in the eastern U.S. saw a notable negative impact as a result of the inclement weather from December 2013 through March 2014.

In the Washington, D.C., metro area, the federal government closed for 5 days and was delayed for an additional 12. Due to the federal shutdown, many retailers followed suit, and many cities east of the Mississippi River lost several sales days, according to data compiled by VisionWatch, a large-scale continuous research study conducted by the Vision Council.

The eye exam market grew only 1.1% in areas affected by the bad weather, compared to a national average of 4.8%.

Contact lens buying habits saw little change. VisionWatch relates this to the fact that one can buy contact lenses from home.

Over-the-counter reader sales were also down in the Northeast and Southeast, growing only 1.2% vs. 3.9% in the Midwest and Mountain-Pacific region.

Unit sales for plano sunglasses declined 1% in the Northeast and Southeast but rose by 3% in the Midwest and Mountain-Pacific, according to the survey.

VisionWatch explained that many businesses and economic experts are predicting that these difficult winter sales may continue over the next decade with global climate change. Conversely, they said that a strong summer and fall sunglass sales season is expected in the Southeast as the 2014 hurricane forecast is predicted to be mild.