When Growth Comes From Trading Up, Not Showing Up - Takeaways - MDSpire

When Growth Comes From Trading Up, Not Showing Up

<i>Eyecare Business</i> and The Vision Council deliver data-driven insights and practical strategies for eyecare practices navigating market shifts, patient behavior, and industry trends in 2026. Here, The Vision Council highlights a shift as overall consumer spending rose despite declines in patient visits and product volume.

  • By

  • Alysse Henkel

  • Alysse Henkel

  • January 1, 2026

  • 4 min

Share

  • 1

    The US optical market reached an estimated $69.5 billion in 2025, reflecting a 4.4% year-over-year growth despite declines in patient visits.

  • 2

    Consumers spent more on optical products, indicating a shift towards value-driven decision-making rather than increasing transaction volume.

  • 3

    Frame unit volume fell by 3% in 2025, while frame value increased by approximately 8%, highlighting a trend of trading up for perceived benefits.

  • 4

    Practices should focus on patient values, presenting curated options and making upgrades tangible to foster confidence and trust.

  • 5

    The 2026 forecast suggests continued cautious spending with an emphasis on value, positioning eyecare providers as translators of value.

Original Source(s)

When Growth Comes From Trading Up, Not Showing Up

  • by Alysse Henkel, Alysse Henkel

  • January 1, 2026

Related Content

No-Fee CE: Specialty Lens Matchmaking 101

This no-fee CE article reviews the multiple factors that a practitioner should consider when fitting specialty contact lenses in order to optimize visual outcomes, patient comfort, and ocular health.

Pilot Study on the Safety of Daily Disposable Contact Lenses with Opaque Non-Refractive Features for Managing Myopia in Children: A Randomized Trial

Why Would Any Staff Member Want Anything Else Other Than Daily Disposables?