May 17, 2023 — The Vision Council (TVC) has published its Consumer inSights Report for the first quarter of 2023, identifying several differences in how generations take advantage of optical care and purchasing power within the optical industry.
 
“While certain eye trends span every demographic, today’s report is critical in helping us better understand consumer trends from a cross-generational perspective,” says Alysse Henkel, TVC’s senior director of market research and analytics. “This data will allow our industry to engage key target audiences and encourage individuals to prioritize their eye health—from emphasizing the importance of annual exams to highlighting the need for sunglasses at all ages.”

 
The following are some key takeaways from the report:
 

• Generation X consumers are the least likely to undergo annual exams despite having the highest rate of managed vision care (MVC) coverage; Generation Z has the lowest rates of MVC enrollment.
• The Silent Generation is the most likely to have annual exams.
• More than 1 in 3 respondents without MVC have gone more than two years without an exam.
• When it comes to purchasing eyewear in the last three months, more than 4 of 5 eyewear purchases were made in person; only 1 in 4 frame purchases were made online.
• Reading glasses were most commonly purchased at big-box stores or dollar stores.
• With no significant differences across household income brackets, just over 25% of respondents who regularly wear plano sunglasses reported recently purchasing a pair.

 
The Consumer inSights Q1 2023 Report is available here as a complimentary download for members and for nonmembers to purchase.
 
For more information: thevisioncouncil.org.