Glasses and contact lenses statistics
74% of people in the UK either wear corrective eyewear or have had laser eye surgery to help them see better. More women than men wear corrective eyewear.
69% of people in the UK wear glasses. There has been a rise in the number of people wearing glasses some or all of the time (up from 62% in 2011).
13% of people in the UK wear contact lenses.
5% of people over 40 said they had not been for a sight test for at least 10 years or could not recall when they last went. This rises to 11% of ethnic minorities, a concern as this group is at increased risk of particular eye conditions.
Source of this information
This information is taken from a survey called ‘Britain’s Eye Health in Focus 2012’ published by The College of Optometrists. The survey was conducted by YouGov.