The Vision Council Releases Q2 2026 Consumer inSights Report
Alexandria, VA (August 27, 2026) – The Vision Council today released its Consumer inSights Q2 2026 report, drawing on responses from more than 12,000 U.S. adults to map current attitudes and purchasing behavior across vision correction, managed vision care, eye exams, prescription eyewear, reading glasses, and non-prescription sunglasses.
This quarter's findings point to a stabilizing market after several quarters of more cautious, budget-conscious spending. Overall eyewear spending remains broadly distributed across price tiers, with consumers spread across value, mid-range, and higher-spend purchases. The under-$100 tier edged down in Q2, while the $200+ tier increased and the $100–$199 segment held comparable to recent quarters.
“What stands out this quarter is how deliberate consumers are being,” said Kris Stevens, Vice President of Research at The Vision Council. “Many aren't skipping new eyewear because they can't afford it — they're stretching what they already have, or don't need a replacement yet. That's a different dynamic than pure economic pullback, and it's worth watching as the year continues.”
Additional Highlights for Q2 2026:
- Managed vision care coverage remains closely tied to income and education, and Gen Z reports the lowest participation of any generation; the gap in out-of-pocket spending between managed vision care users and non-users also widened this quarter.
- FSA and HSA usage is common among those with access to these accounts — three-quarters of respondents use them for eye exams and two-thirds use them for eyewear purchases.
- 16% of consumers with a recent eyewear purchase report buying smart eyewear.
- Among consumers who have not purchased new eyewear recently, 44% say they have not needed it, while 35% say they are trying to make their current eyewear last longer.
- Contact lens purchases continued shifting toward corporate and chain locations, which made up 62% of purchases, consistent with Q2 2025.
- Value-driven purchasing persisted in reading glasses, with the lowest price tier ($0–$10) ticking up from 37% to 39% quarter-over-quarter.
- Plano sunglasses purchasing channels held largely steady, with online purchasing flat compared to last year and in-person purchasing dipping only slightly.
The Consumer inSights Q2 2026 report is based on a survey of 12,137 U.S. adults aged 18 or older, fielded between April 10 and June 12, 2026. Respondents are representative of the U.S. adult population.
More than three full years of trended data, along with the complete report, are available in The Vision Council’s Research Download Center. This report, a $3,000 value, is available complimentary to members of The Vision Council; non-members may purchase it directly.
For more information about the Consumer inSights report or The Vision Council's research program, visit thevisioncouncil.org.
More about the inSights Research Program
The Vision Council’s inSights Research Program is built on a foundation of rigorous methodology and cutting-edge technology. The inSights Research Program provides a comprehensive perspective on the state of the optical industry through quarterly consumer survey reports; in-depth special reports on eyewear and eyecare products and topics; and an end-of-year market estimate and industry forecast.