Internet eye wear purchases decreased in 2013, study shows

In a yearly report, the Vision Council Market Research Team released information pertaining to eye wear shopping and purchasing habits on the Internet for 9,587 participants in 2013.

The results showed that the number of people who shopped for and bought eye wear on the Internet decreased in 2013.

"Approximately 23% of people using the Internet to assist in their last purchase of eye wear actually made the purchase directly online," according to the Vision Council 2013 Internet Influence Report compiled as part of the VisionWatch research program.

The study found that Americans were most likely to purchase contact lenses online.

Of the survey panel members, 3% to 4% purchased eyeglasses on the Internet, 2.6% purchased over-the-counter readers, and 5.5% purchased plano sunglasses. About 17.5% purchases contact lenses online.

About 56.9% of people who had recently purchased eye wear used the Internet for tasks such as comparing prices, examining brands, researching retail locations and reviewing customer reviews, according to the study. This number represented an increase, up from 2008 through 2012.

The study also found that wealthy Americans, young Americans, women, as well as those who had recently purchased eye wear from a retail optical location were more likely to utilize the Internet in buying eye wear than other groups of consumers.

Twenty-seven percent of online purchasers said they would probably continue that practice in the future.

"These results are consistent with what was found in previous studies; however, over the years the number of eye wear buyers who will possibly or probably use the Internet to buy eye wear in the future continues to increase."