MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly RepMMWR Morb Mortal Wkly RepWRMorbidity and Mortality Weekly Report0149-21951545-861XCenters for Disease Control and Prevention341110628191864mm7023a410.15585/mmwr.mm7023a4Quick StatsQuickStats: Percentage* of Children† Aged 2–17 Years Who Wear Glasses or Contact Lenses,§ by Sex and Age Group — National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2019Reported by: Cynthia Reuben, MA, creuben@cdc.gov, 301-458-4458; Nazik Elgaddal, MS.116202111620217023865865https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/All material in the MMWR Series is in the public domain and may be used and reprinted without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.

In 2019, 25.3% of children aged 2–17 years wore glasses or contact lenses, and the percentage increased with age among both boys and girls. Among boys, 3.0% wore glasses among those aged 2–5 years, 20.0% among those aged 6–11 years, and 35.3% among those aged 12–17 years. Among girls, the corresponding percentages are 3.1, 26.4, and 48.2. The percentage was higher among girls than boys overall and among those aged 6–11 years and 12–17 years, but not in the youngest age group.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 2019. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm

With 95% confidence intervals indicated with error bars.

Children are defined here as children and adolescents (i.e., persons aged 2–17 years).

Based on the survey response of “yes” to the question, “Does (child’s name) wear eyeglasses or contact lenses?”

Estimates are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population.