HEBRON, Ky.—Zeiss Vision Care, a leading manufacturer of eyeglass lenses and ophthalmic instruments, has released the results of a nationwide survey of parents, with children aged 18 years old and under in the household, about their concerns, behaviors and spending habits tied to maintaining and protecting their children’s long-term eye health. This survey data confirms that many parents have concerns about how an increasingly digital-centric lifestyle will impact their child’s eyes and acknowledge the importance of protection behaviors.

With families preparing to send their children back to school in August and September, Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month each August is an annual national health observance that is focused on educating parents on best practices for keeping children’s eyes healthy. While vision is important for overall health, it is also critical for helping children learn and succeed in the classroom, Zeiss said. The Zeiss survey found that 88 percent of parents are concerned about the eye health of their children. Early detection of eye health issues can reduce the likelihood of serious eye concerns as children age into adulthood, according to the survey.

Top findings from the Zeiss survey include the following:

  • Parents, even those with younger children, are concerned about the impact of digital strain on their children’s eyes. Eighty-two percent of all parents are at least somewhat concerned about their children experiencing digital eyestrain from using electronics. Parents with young children are concerned about the impacts of screen time on their children’s eyes—95 percent of parents with kids between the ages of 4 and 9 years old are concerned. While 54 percent of parents say their children spend three or more hours outside every day, 63 percent say their children spend three or more hours looking at screens every day.

  • Parents are using a range of behaviors to protect their children’s eyes. Seventy-six percent of parents believe they play a role in enforcing their children’s eye protection behaviors, with 41 percent using screen-time breaks and 58 percent using glasses, including blue light, prescription, sun/UV or photochromatic/transition lenses. Most parents who indicate their children wear glasses say they wear them mostly while using electronics (48 percent), followed by outside (39 percent) or at school (37 percent).

  • Parents understand and appreciate the value of age-specific eyecare. Sixty percent of parents believe that children need age-specific glasses. Parents understand that eye health care is about much more than clear vision, with 57 percent saying they’d spend money on their child’s eye health even if there were no immediate tangible results.

  • There are opportunities for parents to do more to protect their children’s eye health. Sixty-three percent of parents believe their children need to get their eyes checked once per year, yet only 47 percent see an optometrist annually, compared with seeing a primary care physician at 78 percent and a dentist at 71 percent. Though half of parents with children who spend three or more hours of screen time every day say they’re extremely or very concerned about their children experiencing digital eyestrain (48 percent), that doesn’t always translate into action—roughly one-third (31 percent) don’t get their children’s eyes examined every year. Thirty-three percent of parents say that reducing eyestrain would motivate them to purchase glasses for their children.
Zeiss recently introduced Zeiss Single Vision SmartLife Young lenses, designed specifically to meet the needs of children 6 to 19 years old. These lenses take into account the age, anatomy and lifestyle demands unique to children, according to the company.

“The latest research shows that children are living much different lives today than they were even just two decades ago, and they need age-appropriate eyecare solutions to account for time spent outdoors playing, in the classroom learning, and using digital screens for school or fun,” said Jens Boy, president of Zeiss Vision Care North America. “Zeiss SmartLife Young lenses address age-specific needs, such as anatomical and pupil size changes, and provide wider fields of clear vision to help children see better and protect their long-term eye health,” he said.