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How Many People Wear Glasses?
Published on July 17th, 2025
At least 4 billion people across the globe wear prescription glasses according to the Vision Council of America. In recent times, children have started to wear glasses earlier, which is often attributed to the prevalence and early exposure towards digital devices. This continued, and increased trend of people needing glasses shows the necessity and demand for eyewear globally. Read on to discover how many people wear glasses in different countries, the influence of gender and the future projections of eyewear usage.
What Percentage of People Wear Glasses Worldwide?
Around 57% of people, or 4 billion people wear prescription glasses worldwide according to the World Economic Forum. However, this is not reflective of the true need for glasses worldwide. 36% of people with a distance vision impairment due to a refractive error have not received proper eye care intervention, according to WHO. Read below for a table presenting the percentage of people needing prescription glasses in various countries, according to Eye Health Central.
| Country/Region | % of People Wearing Glasses |
|---|---|
| Japan | 73.9% |
| United States | 64.3% |
| Belgium | 70% |
| Switzerland | 67.7% |
| Germany | 63.5% |
| United Kingdom | 59% |
| India | 29% |
| South Africa | 14.6% |
| Netherlands | 50% |
What Drives The Increase In Global Glasses Usage?
The factors that drive the increase in global glasses usage include growing cases of myopia, lessened time outdoors and an increase in screen usage. Read more about these reasons for increases in global glasses usage below.
- Growing Cases of Myopia: There are growing cases of myopia with a projection of almost 5 billion people suffering from myopia by 2050, according to the Myopia Institute. Those with myopia, referring to those who cannot see objects at a far distance, require glasses for vision correction.
- Lessened Time Outdoors: Lessened time outdoors can have negative effects for eye health. Particularly for young children, it is important to spend time outdoors as numerous studies have shown it lessens the likelihood of myopia.
- Increase in Screen Usage: An increase in screen usage among many age demographics can have negative effects on the eye, such as potential myopia progression, dry eye and digital eyestrain.
How Prevalent Is Glasses Use In Australia?
Prescription glasses use in Australia is prevalent, with 66% of the population wearing glasses according to The 2020 Vision Index. Optometrists in Australia are where people can go to get eye tests from, and are prescribed prescription glasses.
How Prevalent Is Glasses Use In The United States?
Glasses usage in the United States is prevalent, with 63.7% of adult Americans wearing prescription eyewear, according to The Vision Council.
What Are Common Eye Conditions That Need Glasses?
The common eye conditions that need glasses are myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia. Read more about these common eye conditions that need glasses.
- Myopia: Myopia is a refractive error where the eye does not bend light properly, resulting in close objects looking clear but far objects looking blurry.
- Hyperopia: Hyperopia is a common eye condition that may cause you to have blurry close-up vision.
- Astigmatism: Astigmatism is when vision is mildly or severely blurry. Both your ability to see both close up and far away are affected.
- Presbyopia: Presbyopia is a gradual, age-related condition leading to the loss of the eyes' ability to focus on nearby objects. It can start to occur in your early to mid 40's.
Does Gender Influence The Possibility Of Wearing Glasses?
Gender can influence the possibility of wearing glasses, and more specifically, the need for them. Myopia is the highest in males age 11-40 years according to a study published in The Professional Medical Journal. However, women are more likely to have hyperopia, according to a study published in the National Library of Medicine. Globally, more women than men have impaired vision due to cataracts, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and dry eye disease according to the Assil Gaur Eye Institute. This is due to hormonal changes later in life, namely during menopause which can lead to these eye conditions, according to Good Vision For Life. A lack of access to healthcare is another key factor as almost 90% of women who are blind live in poverty and are not able to access eye health services according to the Fred Hollows Foundation. Aesthetically, men's glasses are typically larger and broader, while women's glasses are often smaller to accommodate common size differences in face shapes.
What Age Do People Usually Start Wearing Glasses?
There is no clear age where people usually start wearing prescription glasses. People can start wearing glasses as a child, around 6-12 years old. In Australia, around one in six children from ages 10 to 14 wear eyewear to correct vision problems according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Many who are in their early 40s will need reading glasses, if they start to experience signs of presbyopia, which requires reading glasses according to the American Optometric Association.
What Percentage of People Need Vision Correction?
The percentage of people that need vision correction such as glasses or contact lenses are about 75% of adults according to The Vision Council. This makes those with perfect vision less common than one may think.
How Many People Have Unmet Vision Correction Needs?
At least 1 billion globally with a near or distance vision issue have had their vision needs unmet or have eye problems that could have been prevented, according to WHO. A key reason is because many people do not have timely access to quality eye care, which means treatment is unable to occur.
What Does The Eyewear Market Look Like?
The global eyewear market looks like it is expected to reach US$ 177.4 billion by 2031, according to Market Research. This growth is attributed to the increased use of screens and increased myopia levels in many countries. The adoption of e-commerce platforms to sell eyewear is also a big change in the eyewear market, allowing eyewear to be purchased online in an increasingly digital world.
Which Countries Have The Highest Glasses-Wearing Rates?
The countries that have the highest prescription glasses-wearing rate are Japan, Belgium and Switzerland. Read below for a table of the top five countries that wear glasses according to data presented in Eye Health Central.
| Country/Region | % of People Wearing Glasses |
|---|---|
| Japan | 73.9% |
| Belgium | 70% |
| Switzerland | 67.7% |
| United States | 64.3% |
| Germany | 63.5% |
How Will Glasses Usage Change By 2050?
Glasses usage change by 2050 will see a projection of 4.8 billion people, approximately 49.8% of the world's population needing glasses according to the Brien Holden Vision Institute. Myopia is also more likely to be more prevalent in developed economies, which will increase demand for prescription glasses.
Are Reading Glasses Only Prevalent Among Older Age Groups?
Reading glasses are more prevalent among older age groups. This is because presbyopia can start to occur around in the 40's and worsen when the 60's are reached. Presbyopia is when the eyes gradually lose the ability to focus on nearby objects, which makes reading glasses necessary for people in older age groups. However, young people can also need reading glasses if they have hyperopia.
