The Contact Lens Institute published its upcoming See Tomorrow study, “Shifting Focus: Generational Perspectives of Contact Lenses & Eye Care. The study data revealed that Gen Z (ages 15-28), Millennials (ages 29-44), and Gen X (ages 45-60) wear contact lenses for very different reasons.
CLI surveyed 1,308 vision-corrected respondents in the United States and Canada across these three generations. When presented with 12 potential motivations for contact lens wear, respondents showed varying preferences.
Gen Z indicated personal appearance (52%), freedom from glasses (47%), and a lack of visual obstruction (40%) as their top three factors.
Gen Z and Millennials shared key similarities and subtle differences
Gen Z indicated personal appearance (52%), freedom from glasses (47%), and a lack of visual obstruction (40%) as their top three factors. Similarly, the highest scoring factors among Millennials were with personal appearance (50%) and freedom from glasses (48%).
Millennials’ next most common responses were better comfort (48%) and ease of use (48%). Conversely, only 38% of Gen Z indicated better comfort and 35% answered ease of use.
When asked to about eight categories of contact lens advancements, Gen Z and Millennials showed comparable levels of interest. Survey respondents were “extremely” or “very” interested in UV absorption/protection (Gen Z: 52%, Millennials: 55%), reusable contact lenses (Gen Z: 49%, Millennials: 50%), torics (Gen Z: 49%, Millennials: 49%), and contact lenses for digital device use (Gen Z: 47%, Millennials: 49%).
In addition, the survey showed that 8% more Millennials wear contact lenses than Gen Z.
Another key difference was reflected in Gen Z and Millennials’ expections for eye care practice availability. While they expect faster non-emergency responses from eye care practices compared to Gen X, they also desire non-traditional office hours. Results showed that approximately 50% of patients ages 15-44 believe that their eye doctor or staff should be available for care and questions during evening hours (5-9 pm).
Gen X Differs From Younger Generations
The top three contact lens wear factors for Gen X were freedom from glasses (54%), a lack of visual obstruction (53%), and better comfort (41%).
Regarding contact lens advancements, Gen X respondents showed less interest overall, with responses lower by double digits compared to the younger generations. Notably, Gen X were less interested in multifocal contact lenses for presbyopia, with 36% reporting being extremely or very interested compared to 41% of Millennials.
In addition, while all contact lens patients indicated they were more loyal to their eye care professionals compared to eyeglass wearers, this was especially true among Gen X (77% contact lenses vs. 54% glasses).
“It’s clear that contact lens wearing motivations can differ by age. Understanding what influences Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X should help the eye care community better attract new contact lens patients and more effectively retain current patients through targeted communication and education,” said Stan Rogaski, CLI executive director.
Takeaways for all generations
Along with these findings, “optimal vision” ranked only middle of the pack among all three generations. These results suggest that ECPs may want to emphasize the lifestyle benefits of contact lenses alongside their optical advantages.
In addition, while patients of all ages are presented with a plethora of digital information sources, respondents said that their eye care team (ophthalmologists, optometrists, opticians, and staff) remain their most trusted experts. These results far outpaced other options such as artificial intelligence and social media platforms.