Eye care providers cite tariffs, inflation as major concerns in first half of 2025

New research from The Vision Council cites tariffs and inflation as major concerns for eye care providers.¹ The report, Provider inSights Q1 and Q2 2025, also found that the majority of eye care providers have been feeling the impacts of tariffs on wholesale eyewear prices, according to a news release.

The study that the report is based on was conducted online from June 30 to July 7, 2025, using The Vision Council’s eye care provider research panel.¹

“This survey provides valuable insight into how eye care practices are navigating tariffs, inflation, and other economic challenges,” said Alysse Henkel, vice president of Research and inSights at The Vision Council, in the release. “Many providers are responding by maintaining the status quo—delaying investments, not expanding services, and holding off on introducing new products such as smart eyewear.”

The report provided insight into eye care providers’ expectations and the real-time effects of key economic factors, including tariffs, inflation, staffing, and adoption of new technologies, including telehealth and smart eyewear. Economic pressures were flagged by eye care providers in the report, with more than half (56%) stating that the US economy performed worse in the first half of 2025 compared with the second half of 2024. Additionally, as many as 69% of providers stated that inflation has influenced their business in 2025, with 30% expecting continued inflation impacts through the rest of the year.¹

In terms of tariffs’ impacts, 62% of providers report tariffs having already affected their practices, with 66% expecting continued or worsening impacts through the end of the year. As many as 9 in 10 providers report tariffs having most strongly impacted wholesale eyewear prices, with 8 out of 10 stating that tariffs affect wholesale practice supplies.¹

Hiring challenges also persisted in the first half of 2025 for eye care providers, with 72% reporting such challenges at their practices, with little improvement expected. Staff retention, however, has improved by 8% in comparison with 2024 but is projected to remain steady through the rest of 2025.¹

Additionally, 76% of providers do not currently offer telehealth services, and around 40% of providers offer smart eyewear to their patients.¹

Recent tariff news pertains to reciprocal tariffs for many key trade partners, which went into effect on August 7, ending a temporary pause in enforcement that was first announced in April 2025. The new reciprocal tariff rates were outlined in an executive order published by the White House, vary from country to country, and range from 15% to 41% on imports. Countries other than the European Union, Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan, India, and Brazil incurred a 10% reciprocal tariff. The European Union is slated for a 15% reciprocal tariff as dependent on the existing regular tariff rate associated with a product, with Japan at 15%, Vietnam at 20%, Taiwan at 20%, India at 25%, and Brazil at a 10% reciprocal in addition to a 40% retaliatory tariff. Eyewear products from China remain most impacted overall by tariffs, with 89% of sunglasses, 72% of plastic frames and mountings, and 19% of non-glass lenses imported into the US being from China.²

References:

1. New research from The Vision Council reveals impact of tariffs and inflation on eye care practices. News release. The Vision Council. August 26, 2025. Accessed August 27, 2025. https://thevisioncouncil.org/blog/new-research-vision-council-reveals-impact-tariffs-and-inflation-eyecare-practices

2. The Vision Council supports the optical industry as new reciprocal tariff rates are announced. News release. The Vision Council. August 4, 2025. Accessed August 27, 2025. https://thevisioncouncil.org/blog/vision-council-supports-optical-industry-new-reciprocal-tariff-rates-are-announced