Key Takeaways

• An Alcon-commissioned survey found that while 88% of parents believe vision affects academic performance and classroom success, more than one-quarter reported their teen had not received a comprehensive eye exam within the past year or ever
• The survey also found opportunities to increase education about contact lenses and highlighted eye care professional recommendations as a leading factor motivating parents to schedule annual eye exams

As families prepare for the back-to-school season, a new national survey commissioned by Alcon suggests many parents recognize the importance of good vision for academic success but are not consistently ensuring their children receive comprehensive annual eye examinations.

According to the Alcon Student Vision Survey, 88% of US parents believe their teen's vision can affect important aspects of daily life, including academic performance (64%), classroom participation (58%), and confidence in the classroom (56%). Despite that recognition, 27% of parents reported their teen or young adult had either not received a comprehensive eye exam within the past year or had never undergone one.

The survey, conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of Alcon, included responses from 1,000 US parents of teens and young adults between the ages of 13 and 25.

The findings also point to a common misconception about school vision screenings. Among parents who delayed scheduling a comprehensive eye examination, 16% said they did so because their child had passed a school vision screening. While screenings can identify some vision problems, they are not a substitute for comprehensive eye examinations, which evaluate overall eye health and can detect conditions that screenings may miss.

The survey also explored the broader effects of uncorrected vision problems. More than half of parents (53%) reported observing emotional or behavioral impacts in children who have difficulty seeing clearly, including frustration (37%), stress (27%), and reduced confidence (22%). Additionally, 21% of parents expressed concern that their teen might not recognize or communicate potential vision problems.

Results also highlighted an opportunity for greater education about contact lenses. While 42% of teens and young adults wear glasses, only 23% wear contact lenses, despite 70% of parents believing contact lenses could benefit their child. Parents cited improved appearance (43%), increased confidence (42%), greater convenience (30%), and enhanced sports performance (30%) as potential advantages. Four out of five parents (81%) also indicated they believe age 13 or older is appropriate for children to begin wearing contact lenses.

The survey identified physician recommendations as an important driver of eye care utilization. Nearly half of parents (45%) said a recommendation from an eye care professional is their primary motivation for scheduling a comprehensive eye examination.

Additional findings showed that although 66% of parents consider scheduling an eye examination during the back-to-school season to be very or extremely important, only 67% reported their child had received a comprehensive eye examination within the previous year. More than half of parents (58%) acknowledged delaying eye exams, citing reasons such as passing a school vision screening (16%), difficulty finding convenient appointment times (16%), and cost or lack of insurance coverage (15%). Routine annual scheduling was identified by 54% of parents as the most effective strategy for staying current with eye care.

In conjunction with the survey, Alcon announced the release of its Precision Back-to-School campaign, which provides educational resources and practice tools for eye care professionals.