New research from Alcon, conducted by Wakefield between April 1 and 8, 2026, found a gap between 1,000 parents’ perceptions of the potential benefits of contact lenses and contact lens use among teens and young adults aged 13 to 25 who need vision correction in the United States.

According to the survey, 70% of parents believe contact lenses could benefit their child, but only 23% of people ages 13 to 25 who need vision correction currently wear them. Among the benefits that parents surveyed described, 43% said contact lenses could help their child feel better about their appearance compared with glasses, 30% cited greater convenience, and 30% cited better performance in sports or other activities. Additionally, 81% of parents said age 13 or older is an appropriate time to begin wearing contact lenses.

Additional findings provided by Alcon pointed to potential gaps in parents’ awareness of their children’s vision: 21% of parents said their teen or young adult probably would not tell them if they were having trouble seeing, while half of parents reported being only somewhat confident that they would notice a vision problem. Three in 4 parents said their teens and young adults spend at least 3 hours per day using phones, tablets, or computers, which is a concern for myopia progression, among other conditions. 

The findings also distinguished between vision screenings and comprehensive eye exams: School vision screenings may evaluate only distance vision and may not identify all vision-related issues. A comprehensive eye exam can include assessment of distance and near vision, eye coordination, eye health, and prescription needs, as well as a discussion of contact lenses. 

Alcon identified several signs that could indicate a teen needs an eye exam, including headaches after school or screen use, squinting or closing one eye, avoiding reading or losing their place, sitting close to screens, blurred vision, and challenges with sports or physical coordination. OM