The VM Top 50 U.S. Retailers Report ranks the 50 leading companies in optical retailing, based on their revenues during calendar 2004.

The VM Top 50 report is based on a survey of all major U.S. optical retailers, including information reported directly by chains and independent retailers and practitioners, interviews with company executives, published corporate documents, and knowledgeable secondary sources. A detailed questionnaire was sent to more than 150 leading U.S. optical retailers to obtain this information; in addition, those retailers were contacted by telephone to follow up on the questionnaire.

In cases where corporate policy prevented companies from reporting retail volume or other information, various methods were used to reach accurate estimates for those retailers. The history of each chain was carefully analyzed, and knowledgeable, relevant secondary sources were consulted. Averages pertinent to the geographic and market situations of each retailer were also developed to fit its store types in producing these estimates.

U.S. sales figures for The VM Top 50 include revenues from both company-owned and franchised stores (if applicable), managed-vision-care revenues, and shares of doctors or laser-surgery fees. In short, U.S. sales represent all money a company derives from optical products and services in the U.S. and Puerto Rico (however, it does not include revenues from locations operated solely as laser centers). It is also important to keep in mind that sales volumes given on The VM Top 50 list reflect annual net sales, which may differ widely from retailers comparable-store sales for the same year.

In cases where one retailer acquired another during 2004, the acquired company is listed separately if the acquisition occurred during the fourth quarter, since that company's sales for 75 percent of the year are not attributable to the acquiring firm, and the acquired company's ranking is determined by its pre-acquisition sales. If an acquisition took place before the fourth quarter, the acquired retailers sales are combined with those of the acquiring company.

--Cathy Ciccolella, Senior Editor; Ashley Young and Jennifer Zupnick, Marketing Research Analysts