Optometry Practices NAICS 621320

Mar 2, 2026 - Countries may Choose To Keep Existing Tariff Deals

• President Trump said in his State of the Union Address that almost all countries and corporations want to keep trade deals already completed in order to avoid the higher tariffs enacted via an executive order issued shortly after the US Supreme Court ruled in late February 2026 that President Trump exceeded his authority when imposing tariffs using a law reserved for a national emergency. Optometry practices are likely to benefit if the cost of goods imported from countries that were hit with tariffs decreases. The executive order implements a new tariff under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act. Section 122 allows the president to institute a "temporary import surcharge" of up to 15% if he finds there are "large and serious United States balance of-payments deficits" or to "prevent an imminent and significant depreciation of the [US] dollar in foreign exchange markets." The tariffs can last for up to 150 days, after which Congress may have to take action to extend them, according to NBC News, and the law is also not clear on whether the administration could restart the tariffs immediately after the 150 days with another executive order.
• US tariffs on Chinese imports could result in increased costs for frames, sunglasses, and other glasses imports like readers, goggles, and blue light glasses, according to the US International Trade Commission. China is currently the largest source of eyeglass frames and mounting (plastic and non-plastic) imports into the US and the second-largest source of non-glass spectacle lenses (with Mexico coming in first). Prices of production equipment including but not limited to lens grinding and coating equipment, lens generators, lens finding machines, lens polishers, and lens edgers are also likely to be impacted by tariffs.

• Optometry practice owners have been selling their practices and retiring at an increasing rate during the past five years, according to Invision Magazine. This has boosted demand for associate Doctors of Optometry to fill the vacant spots. Private practice is not appealing when it’s a choice between going into debt to start your business or accepting a high six-figure salary and a generous package as an employee, according to Invision. Compensation demanded by young optometrists reflects the disparity between low supply and high demand. The average day rate for a part-time optometrist is now above $700 and, in some markets, above $800.
• Optometry practice employment increased slightly and average wages for nonsupervisory employees decreased slightly during the first eight months of 2025, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. US optometry practice sales are forecast to grow at a 6.08% compounded annual rate from 2024 to 2028, faster than the growth of the overall economy, according to Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc.