Despite increase in vision coverage, younger generations less likely to plan next eye exam
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Key takeaways:
- Older generations are more likely to have managed vision care benefits and receive annual eye exams.
- Younger generations reported a preference for corporate locations over independent.
The latest Vision Council Consumer inSights report highlights key generational differences in eye care, with younger generations less likely to receive their next exam within 12 months, despite an increase in vision coverage.
According to a council press release, the second-quarter findings are based on a survey of 12,058 U.S. adults, which examined consumer purchasing habits and attitudes about vision correction, managed vision care, eye exams and eye wear.
“Compared to data tracked since the start of 2022, findings from this latest survey suggest that consumers are still largely receiving the same amount of care, prefer to visit the same types of providers and are willing to spend the same amount of money on their optical products and services,” Alysse Henkel, vice president of research and insights at The Vision Council, said in the release. “Digging deeper, this report explores the differences between younger and older consumers and how they choose to manage their eye health.”
The report noted that Generation X was most likely to have managed vision care benefits (71%), while millennials reported an increase in coverage of five percentage points compared with the first quarter of 2024 (69%).
In addition to differences in managed vision care, younger generations are reporting fewer annual eye exams and are least likely to plan their next exam within the upcoming year. However, both Gen Zers and millennials reported an increase in annual eye exams — by nine and 11 percentage points, respectively — since early 2023. Younger generations also are more likely to choose corporate locations vs. independent ones.
The report also found that 83% of participants use some form of vision correction, and 68% use prescription eye wear. While 21% of participants said that their last eye exam was more than 2 years ago, 62% reported receiving an exam within the past 12 months. Just over one-third (36%) of participants use reading glasses.
“With these findings, members of the industry will be able to better understand their costumers and provide better products and services to ensure lifelong eye health,” Henkel said in the release.
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