Vision Council Highlights Eye Strain Care Gaps Amid Stabilizing Eyewear Market

The Vision Council’s Consumer inSights Q2 2026 report indicates a stabilizing eyewear market among more than 12,000 surveyed U.S. adults. Spending is broadly distributed across value, mid-range, and premium tiers, with purchases under $100 dipping slightly while those over $200 grew, reflecting deliberate consumer behavior rather than distress. Key findings include widening out-of-pocket cost gaps between managed vision care users and non-users, strong FSA/HSA utilization, steady plano sunglasses trends, and continued contact lens purchasing at corporate and chain locations. The report offers three years of trended data and is available through The Vision Council’s Research Download Center.

The Vision Council released "Focused inSights 2026," a report based on an online survey of 1,089 U.S. adults conducted April 13–30, 2026. Findings indicate 78% experienced eye fatigue after screen use in the past three months, yet 39% of symptomatic respondents never raised issues with healthcare professionals. Awareness gaps persist, with 63% unfamiliar with digital eye strain and half unaware of dry eye disease. Eye doctors are the primary information source (40%) and most influential factor in treatment product selection (38%). The report was shared at Academy 2026 Anaheim (Sept. 30–Oct. 3). Full access is complimentary for Vision Council members; non-members may purchase it. Survey results carry a margin of error of approximately 3%.

The Vision Council released "Focused inSights 2026," a report based on an online survey of 1,089 U.S. adults conducted April 13–30, 2026. The study found that 78% of respondents experienced eye fatigue after screen use in the past three months, yet 39% of those with symptoms never raised them with a healthcare professional. Additionally, 63% were unfamiliar with digital eye strain, and half knew little about dry eye disease. Among patients seeking help, eye doctors are the top information source (40%) and their recommendations are the most critical factor in product selection (38%). Kris Stevens, Vice President of Research at The Vision Council, emphasized the importance of initiating conversations during existing exams. Results carry a margin of error of approximately 3%.

The Vision Council released its Focused inSights 2026 report, revealing that while 78% of surveyed U.S. adults experienced eye fatigue after screen use in the past three months, 39% never discussed these symptoms with a healthcare professional. Based on a national survey of 1,089 adults, the findings indicate low awareness, with 63% unfamiliar with digital eye strain and half unaware of dry eye disease. Despite this, eyecare providers remain the top information source for 40% of respondents and the most influential factor in product selection for 38%. Kris Stevens, Vice President of Research, emphasized starting conversations during existing exams. The report was shared at Academy 2026 Anaheim (Sept. 30–Oct. 3), where panel members receive free access to the $3,000-valued document alongside educational toolkits.

The Vision Council released "Focused inSights 2026," a report based on an online survey of 1,089 U.S. adults conducted April 13–30, 2026. Findings indicate 78% experienced eye fatigue after screen use in the past three months, yet 39% of symptomatic respondents never raised issues with healthcare professionals. Awareness gaps persist, with 63% unfamiliar with digital eye strain and half lacking knowledge of dry eye disease. Eye doctors serve as top information sources (40%) and primary influencers for treatment product choices (38%). The report was shared at Academy 2026 Anaheim (Sept. 30–Oct. 3). Eyecare providers joining The Vision Council’s research panel receive free access to the full report, valued at $3,000. Non-members may purchase it directly.

The Vision Council released "Focused inSights 2026," a report based on an April 2026 survey of 1,089 U.S. adults, revealing that 39% of respondents with eye strain or dry eye symptoms have never consulted a healthcare professional. The data indicates significant awareness gaps: 63% of participants had never heard of digital eye strain or knew only its name, while half reported similar unfamiliarity with dry eye disease. Despite this, eyecare providers remain the primary influence; 40% of respondents cited eye doctors as their top information source, and 38% identified doctor recommendations as the most critical factor when selecting treatment products. Kris Stevens, Vice President of Research at The Vision Council, emphasized that patients trust eye doctors more than other sources, suggesting that initiating conversations during existing exams is the key step to improving care access.

The Vision Council released its "Focused inSights 2026" report, based on a survey of 1,089 US adults, revealing that while eye strain symptoms are common, many individuals do not seek professional care. Data indicates 78% experienced eye fatigue after screen use in the past three months, yet 39% of symptomatic respondents never raised these issues with a health care provider. Additionally, 63% had never heard of digital eye strain or knew only its name, and half reported similar unfamiliarity with dry eye disease. When seeking help, eye doctors were the top information source for 40% of respondents, and their recommendations were the most critical factor for 38% when choosing treatment products. The Council shared these findings at the American Academy of Optometry’s annual meeting in Anaheim from September 30 to October 3, 2026.

The Vision Council released its Q2 2026 Consumer inSights report, based on a survey of 12,137 U.S. adults conducted between April 10 and June 12, 2026. The findings indicate a stabilizing market following cautious spending, with consumers deliberately stretching existing eyewear rather than skipping purchases due to affordability issues. Spending remains distributed across price tiers: the under-$100 segment edged down, while the $200+ tier increased. Key insights include that 16% of recent buyers purchased smart eyewear, and contact lens sales shifted toward corporate and chain locations (62%). FSA/HSA usage is common among those with access, with three-quarters using them for eye exams. The report is complimentary for members and available for purchase by non-members.

The Vision Council released its Market inSights and Provider inSights reports for Q1-Q2 2026, revealing that while the optical industry surpassed $19 billion in value in Q2 2026, this growth was primarily due to higher per-unit pricing. Unit volumes declined across nearly all categories, with exam volume dropping by nearly 2.5 million visits compared to the first half of 2025. Provider sentiment softened significantly; 63% believe the U.S. economy worsened in early 2026, and 61% reported tariffs impacting their practices. Despite these headwinds, 49% of providers now offer smart eyewear, up from 39% a year ago, and 92% carry frames priced at $350 or more.