New report from The Vision Council finds rising eye examination rates in Canada

Additionally, a majority of patients (87%) still voice a preference for in-person eyewear purchasing. Image credit: AdobeStock/ElenaVerba

The new Consumer inSights Canada Q1 and Q2 2025 report from The Vision Council has found that while eye examination rates are rising in Canada, a significant portion of patients have gone more than 2 years without an eye examination.¹ The report, which is based on survey responses from over 3000 adults aged 18 or older, offers a comprehensive overview of Canadian consumer behavior and attitudes related to vision correction, eye examinations, managed vision care, and eyewear purchasing, according to a news release.

“From eyewear purchasing preferences to vision insurance usage, this report sheds light on how Canadians are navigating their vision care,” said Alysse Henkel, vice president of Research and inSights at The Vision Council, in the release. “We’re seeing improvements in eye exam rates and continued strong in-person purchasing, with 47 percent of prescription glasses wearers making a purchase in the last year, with most buying from their exam provider. These insights are essential for businesses that want to remain competitive and responsive to the evolving expectations of Canadian consumers.”

Vision insurance coverage was noted in the report as higher among younger and higher-income Canadians, which highlights the impact of socioeconomic factors on access to vision care for those who are uninsured. The report stated that 43% of patients who responded to the survey have vision care insurance, mostly through employer-sponsored plans, the majority of which using their benefits to offset eyewear and contact lens costs.¹

Additionally, a majority of patients (87%) still voice a preference for in-person eyewear purchasing, with 34% of online buyers returning to physical retail locations for their latest purchase. Almost half (47%) of prescription glasses users also purchase eyewear within the last year. For plano sunglasses, 55% spent less than $50. However, contact lens users are more likely to buy online at 29%, with many of those purchases limited to short term supplies.¹

Other findings include 82% of patients using some form of vision correction, with 50% having had an eye examination in the past year.¹

Reference:

1. The Vision Council releases new research highlighting Canadian consumer visiontrends in Q1 and Q2 2025. News release. The Vision Council. August 22, 2025. Accessed August 27, 2025. https://thevisioncouncil.org/blog/vision-council-releases-new-research-highlighting-canadian-consumer-vision-trends-q1-and-q2