National Eyewear Day

Categories:: Special Interest
Tags:: Fashion Lifestyle
Where:: United States
Date change rule:: Every June 6
Holiday emoji:: 👓

National Eyewear Day frames our attention every June 6, celebrating the transformative power of glasses. From essential vision correction to a bold fashion statement, eyewear has evolved dramatically. Explore the latest trends, find your perfect pair, and appreciate how glasses enhance both sight and style.

Deals
Platforms
Social
Brands
Hero
Timeline
Businesses
FAQs
Importance
Celebrate

Expected National Eyewear Day Deals

National Eyewear Day often brings clear-cut deals from optical retailers. While we await official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows brands like LensCrafters, Warby Parker, and Zenni Optical frequently offer discounts on frames, lenses, and eye exams. Look for special bundles from Target Optical and America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses, along with online-exclusive savings from EyeBuyDirect. Independent opticians may also feature promotions on designer frames or specialty lenses. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as June 6 approaches.

Platform Guide for National Eyewear Day

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalEyewearDay. Share your favorite frames, new styles, or a ‘before and after’ eyewear transformation.

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalEyewearDay. Create a video showcasing your eyewear collection, styling tips, or a fun ‘glasses glow-up’ challenge.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalEyewearDay. Post a photo of your favorite glasses and ask friends to share theirs.

National Eyewear Day Hero

Benjamin Franklin

While not the inventor of glasses, American polymath Benjamin Franklin is credited with inventing bifocals in the late 18th century. Frustrated with constantly switching between two pairs of glasses, he cut the lenses of two different spectacles in half and fitted them into a single frame. This innovation significantly improved vision for those with presbyopia, allowing them to see both near and far with one pair of glasses.

National Eyewear Day timeline

1914

Take the bus

Optometrists felt people with impaired vision should be prohibited from driving cars.

1960s

Easy on the eyes

Soft contact lenses are made of soft, flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea.

1981

Medicare expanded

Congress expands Medicare to include coverage for certain types of optometry.

1998

Laser technology

Oklahoma became the first state to approve use of laser technology for optometrists.

2012

Glasses and IQ

Researchers actually determined that people who wear glasses may actually be smarter.

How Businesses Can Celebrate National Eyewear Day

Local optical shops, fashion boutiques, and even optometrist offices can celebrate National Eyewear Day with flair. Host an open house showcasing new frame collections, offer a discount on blue-light filtering lenses, or partner with a local stylist for an eyewear fashion consultation event. Encourage customers to share their ‘new look’ on social media using #NationalEyewearDay, offering a prize for the most stylish post. Consider a ‘buy one, get one’ deal on non-prescription fashion frames to attract new clientele.

National Eyewear Day FAQs

When is National Eyewear Day?

In 2027, National Eyewear Day will be observed on Sunday, June 6. This annual celebration encourages us to appreciate the blend of function and fashion that eyewear offers.

How many Americans wear glasses?

Estimates suggest that over 160 million Americans rely on prescription glasses or contact lenses. National Eyewear Day serves as a reminder of the widespread need for vision care and the evolving styles available.

What is the global eyewear market worth?

With continuous innovation in lens technology and fashion trends, the global eyewear market is expected to exceed $200 billion by the early 2030s. This growth underscores the industry’s dynamic nature and its importance to consumers.

Who invented eyeglasses?

While the precise inventor is unknown, the concept of wearable vision aids first appeared in Pisa, Italy, around 1286. Early eyeglasses were convex lenses used to correct presbyopia, primarily benefiting monks and scribes who needed to read fine print.

National Eyewear Day Activities

Get your eyes tested
Properly prescribed lenses can improve your overall health. Take time on National Eyewear Day to find a local optometrist who can determine if your eyes could use some assistance.
Show them off
It's all about your attitude. Your might even inspire your perfect-vision friends to pick up a pair.
Donate
Many charities, including Lion's Club International, accepts eyewear donations. Give new life to your old frames.

Celebs & Their Visionary Eyewear

Karlie Kloss
Kloss looks extra glam in tortoiseshell glasses. Of course, being a supermodel doesn't hurt.
Elton John
Sir Elton has one of the wildest glasses collections on record and can be seen again in the summer 2019 movie "Rocketman."
Zooey Deschanel
"New Girl" Jess Day's not-quite-perfectly-square frames have set the prime time standard for cool eyewear.
Andy Samberg
"Brooklyn Nine-Nine" star (and "SNL" standout) Andy Samberg frequently shows up wearing glasses during guest appearances on TV.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
This actor already personifies a "smart guy" look, but the glasses push him to a whole new level.

Why We Love National Eyewear Day

20/20
Eyewear allows us to see better — whether it's a book, a screen, or road signs. Without eyewear, for some of us, life would be but a blur.
We see better...longer
Our eyes have muscles, and the more we have to stretch them in order to see – think squinting – the more long-term damage we're doing. Glasses (contacts, too!) can help preserve our eye health for years to come.
Cool for kids
Glasses for children have evolved into fun shapes, sizes, and colors too. That's a big help to overcome any perceived stigma at a young age. Parents don't have to try so hard to get kids to wear them.