NAICS 423460

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal standard for classifying U.S. business establishments to support statistical collection, analysis, and publication. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and adopted in 1997 to replace SIC, NAICS is maintained jointly with Canada and Mexico; the Census Bureau provides the authoritative structure and search for the current 2022 vintage. ¹
NAICS 423460 covers merchant wholesalers of ophthalmic goods. Per the official NAICS description, the industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in wholesaling professional equipment, instruments, and goods sold, prescribed, or used by ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians (for example, ophthalmic frames and lenses, sunglasses, optometric equipment). ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 423460 overview
• G2X — NAICS 423450 related market profile
• G2X — PSC 6540 Optical Instruments and Lenses

What this NAICS covers

• Distribution of ophthalmic frames and lenses to eye-care professionals. ²
• Wholesaling of sunglasses and nonprescription eyewear for professional channels. ²
• Merchant wholesale of optometric and ophthalmic instruments and supplies (e.g., slit lamps, trial lens sets). ²
• Fulfillment and logistics for optical goods sold via professional practices and dispensaries. ²
• Sales to retail optical shops and clinics on a wholesale basis (not retailing). ²
• Related training and marketing services incidental to wholesale of ophthalmic goods. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	423450	Medical, Dental, and Hospital Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers; adjacent wholesale category for non-ophthalmic medical goods. 3
NAICS	339115	Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing; manufacturing of eyeglasses, contact lenses, frames, etc., distinct from wholesale. 4
PSC	6540	Optical Instruments and Lenses; product/service coding commonly paired with ophthalmic goods. 5

Common exclusions and adjacent classifications

• Retail optical stores are classified under NAICS 446130 (Optical Goods Stores), not in 423460. ⁶
• Optical laboratories that grind lenses to prescription as a manufacturing activity are classified in NAICS 339115, with retail lens grinding and dispensing in 446130. ⁴

Frequently asked questions

• What does NAICS 423460 include?
  It includes merchant wholesalers of ophthalmic goods such as frames, lenses, sunglasses, and optometric/ophthalmic instruments and supplies intended for professional use by ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians. ²

• How does 423460 differ from 423450?
  423460 is specific to ophthalmic goods; 423450 covers broader medical, dental, and hospital equipment and supplies wholesaling. Census categorizes ophthalmic wholesalers separately within professional equipment and supplies. ³

• Are optical labs or retail optical stores covered by 423460?
  No. Manufacturing optical labs fall under 339115. Retail optical stores and retail lens grinding/dispensing belong in 446130, not wholesale. ⁴

• Are 6-digit estimates for 423460 routinely published in AWTS?
  Annual Wholesale Trade Survey estimates are primarily published at 2- through 4-digit NAICS levels, with limited 6-digit detail for select industries. Not specified by official sources ⁷.

• What product codes align to ophthalmic wholesale activity?
  Economic Census product data use NAPCS, a demand-based system linked to NAICS. Wholesale-related products begin with “4-” codes; selection depends on the specific goods and services sold within 423460. ⁸

Useful resources

• Census: NAICS overview and 2022 structure/search. ¹
• 2022 Economic Census — NAICS Sector 42 (Wholesale Trade) data tables and methodology notes. ⁹
• NAICS definition for 423460 — “Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers.” ²

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). https://www.census.gov/naics/
2. U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS 2022 — 423460 Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=423460&year=2022&details=423460
3. U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS 2022 — 423450 Medical, Dental, and Hospital Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=423450&year=2022&details=423450
4. U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS 2022 — 339115 Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=339115&year=2022&details=339115
5. PSC Tool. PSC 6540 — Optical Instruments and Lenses. https://psctool.us/psc/6540
6. U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS 2022 — 446130 Optical Goods Stores. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=446130&year=2022&details=446130
7. U.S. Census Bureau. Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS) — Program Overview. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/awts.html
8. U.S. Census Bureau. Economic Census — NAPCS-Based Codes & Understanding Product Classification Systems. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/year/2022/technical-documentation/code-lists/understanding-napcs-redirect.html
9. U.S. Census Bureau. 2022 Economic Census — NAICS Sector 42: Wholesale Trade. https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2022/econ/economic-census/naics-sector-42.html