# It seems like everyone in their teens and 20s wears glasses nowadays **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 5, 2015, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-like-everyone-in-their-teens-and-20s-wears-glasses-nowadays/708994 "2015-01-05T01:20:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-like-everyone-in-their-teens-and-20s-wears-glasses-nowadays/708994/1 "2015-01-05T01:20:15Z")
Or maybe I’m just imagining things? And does me commenting on people in their teens and 20s mean I’m officially “of a certain age”? ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-like-everyone-in-their-teens-and-20s-wears-glasses-nowadays/708994/2 "2015-01-05T01:22:01Z")
Non-prescription glasses are a “thing”, I know that much. Forever21 sells them. So maybe they don’t all have bad vision. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-like-everyone-in-their-teens-and-20s-wears-glasses-nowadays/708994/3 "2015-01-05T01:23:47Z")
Wearing prescription glasses is also far less stigmatised, more fashionable than it was in the past. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-like-everyone-in-their-teens-and-20s-wears-glasses-nowadays/708994/4 "2015-01-05T01:25:40Z")
I actually saw a douchebag wearing thick black rimmed glasses, with no freaking lenses. Just the frames. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-like-everyone-in-their-teens-and-20s-wears-glasses-nowadays/708994/5 "2015-01-05T01:38:03Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I actually saw a douchebag wearing thick black rimmed glasses, with no freaking lenses. Just the frames. I bet he was being ironic on purpose, and you just aren’t cool enough to get it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-like-everyone-in-their-teens-and-20s-wears-glasses-nowadays/708994/6 "2015-01-05T01:50:58Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I bet he was being ironic on purpose, and you just aren’t cool enough to get it. 🙂 _D’oh!_ :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Tuxie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee59a6/32.png) [@Tuxie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuxie)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-like-everyone-in-their-teens-and-20s-wears-glasses-nowadays/708994/7 "2015-01-05T01:58:03Z")
Monstro, maybe there is a greater variety of styles now, compared to decades ago? I can imagine that back when there were not very many choices in frame style, it would be hard for glasses not to look dorky. Even these days I see some frames that strongly suggest the wearer is either in prison or the military (since I assume those institutions are only going to pay for the most bare-bones of styles). These days, glasses seem like another accessory such as a hat or scarf. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-like-everyone-in-their-teens-and-20s-wears-glasses-nowadays/708994/8 "2015-01-05T02:03:15Z")
Perhaps today’s youth have finally realized that contact lenses are for psychopaths. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-like-everyone-in-their-teens-and-20s-wears-glasses-nowadays/708994/9 "2015-01-05T02:32:44Z")
Glasses or contacts? I am surprised (and murderously envious) when I meet someone with perfect vision, as that does seem rare(r), but lots of people I assume wear contacts. > [@Tuxie](#): > > I can imagine that back when there were not very many choices in frame style, it would be hard for glasses not to look dorky. Even these days I see some frames that strongly suggest the wearer is either in prison or the military (since I assume those institutions are only going to pay for the most bare-bones of styles). [Birth control glasses](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GI_glasses), so named because nobody will want to make babies with you. 🙂 In that case, less about the cost that the functionality in the military life, I think. You can buy stylish glasses for like $8 online. > [@friedo](#): > > Perhaps today’s youth have finally realized that contact lenses are for psychopaths. Says you. Everyone knows that [only rapists wear certain glasses](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVcyNANK5cY). ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-like-everyone-in-their-teens-and-20s-wears-glasses-nowadays/708994/10 "2015-01-05T02:50:30Z")
Myopia incidence in young people has increased pretty dramatically over the last few decades, so at least part of the reason for an increase in glasses wearers is probably due to more people needing glasses. Though fashion obviously informs at least part of the choice between glasses and contacts/surgery. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-like-everyone-in-their-teens-and-20s-wears-glasses-nowadays/708994/11 "2015-01-05T02:59:57Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Myopia incidence in young people has increased pretty dramatically over the last few decades, so at least part of the reason for an increase in glasses wearers is probably due to more people needing glasses. Though fashion obviously informs at least part of the choice between glasses and contacts/surgery. Why are the young becoming more myopic? Is it because of the ubiquitous nature of screens? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-like-everyone-in-their-teens-and-20s-wears-glasses-nowadays/708994/12 "2015-01-05T03:43:22Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Why are the young becoming more myopic? Is it because of the ubiquitous nature of screens? That might explain some of it, but not all of it. There are many factors., for another thread. Viewing close things won’t hurt vision so much as not facilitate far vision. But it’s not so much technology as it is our horizon is limited. ---
**Author:** ![mind\_the\_gap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@mind\_the\_gap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mind_the_gap)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-like-everyone-in-their-teens-and-20s-wears-glasses-nowadays/708994/13 "2015-01-05T04:30:18Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I actually saw a douchebag wearing thick black rimmed glasses, with no freaking lenses. Just the frames. Years ago I was in Nigeria and saw a man wearing lensless glasses. When I asked why, he said “Because I can see as well with them as without them”. You just can’t argue with logic like that. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![tadtooornamental](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@tadtooornamental](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tadtooornamental)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2015, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-like-everyone-in-their-teens-and-20s-wears-glasses-nowadays/708994/14 "2015-01-06T03:22:22Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > Non-prescription glasses are a “thing”, I know that much. Forever21 sells them. So maybe they don’t all have bad vision. So are non-tinted sunglasses, for that matter. They filter UV rays, but don’t have dark lenses. Seems like it’s missing the point to me, but it could be those you’re seeing as well. ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2015, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-like-everyone-in-their-teens-and-20s-wears-glasses-nowadays/708994/15 "2015-01-06T20:29:35Z")
Many have answered correctly but something I haven’t seen raised is that testing for vision has improved greatly over the last 30 years. Back then, unless your folks had vision insurance, you didn’t get routinely tested. As a teen I was doing my drivers ed class and as part of the class they brought in a vision testing machine. It was just a box with two lenses and the classic eye chart inside. There were two people in the class who failed the eye exam and were told they wouldn’t be able to drive until they got corrective lenses. Two teenagers who didn’t realize they had vision so poor they couldn’t drive until they took drivers ed. :eek: :eek: :eek: How on earth can you go that long with vision that poor and have nobody, including yourself, realize it? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2015, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-like-everyone-in-their-teens-and-20s-wears-glasses-nowadays/708994/16 "2015-01-06T21:16:58Z")
My daughter couldn’t wait to get contacts. I don’t think it’s that prevalent. Her eyesight isn’t great but it’s not a young generation thing. It runs in her mother’s family. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2015, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-like-everyone-in-their-teens-and-20s-wears-glasses-nowadays/708994/17 "2015-01-06T21:17:30Z")
Fake hipsters, pfft! I started wearing glasses in the eighth grade, many, many years ago. I was wearing glasses before glasses were cool. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2015, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-like-everyone-in-their-teens-and-20s-wears-glasses-nowadays/708994/18 "2015-01-06T21:34:51Z")
Buddy Holly glasses are currently very trendy, which I actually find kind of cool (although yeah, fake glasses are really annoying). These things tend to go in cycles. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2015, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-like-everyone-in-their-teens-and-20s-wears-glasses-nowadays/708994/19 "2015-01-06T22:18:16Z")
> [@Pabitel](#): > > How on earth can you go that long with vision that poor and have nobody, including yourself, realize it? For the same reason that 40 year olds can learn they’re color blind. What do you compare to? ---
**Author:** ![agilpro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3e96dc/32.png) [@agilpro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/agilpro)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-like-everyone-in-their-teens-and-20s-wears-glasses-nowadays/708994/20 "2015-01-08T07:52:04Z")
> [@Pabitel](#): > > Many have answered correctly but something I haven’t seen raised is that testing for vision has improved greatly over the last 30 years. Back then, unless your folks had vision insurance, you didn’t get routinely tested. > > As a teen I was doing my drivers ed class and as part of the class they brought in a vision testing machine. It was just a box with two lenses and the classic eye chart inside. There were two people in the class who failed the eye exam and were told they wouldn’t be able to drive until they got corrective lenses. > > Two teenagers who didn’t realize they had vision so poor they couldn’t drive until they took drivers ed. > > :eek: :eek: :eek: > > How on earth can you go that long with vision that poor and have nobody, including yourself, realize it? It happens so slowly you don’t realize it. Many times a teacher is the one who notices that a student can’t see and contacts the school nurse or the parents directly. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-like-everyone-in-their-teens-and-20s-wears-glasses-nowadays/708994.md?page=2)