Essilor of America, the makers of Crizal® Alizé(tm), a new anti-reflective eyeglass lens with unsurpassed cleanability and durability, recently asked more than 3,000 men and women about their eyeglass perceptions. Covering everything from sexy, spectacle-sporting celebrities to eyeglass fashion, the survey reveals America's stand on specs.
Star-Struck Spectacles
Britney Spears tops the charts again, but this time it's for being rated the sexiest eyeglass-wearing celebrity among men (44 percent). For women, all eyes were on Richard Gere, who topped their list at 35 percent.
Can't Keep My Eyes Off of You
When asked whether or not glasses affect attractiveness, 73 percent of respondents say it has no impact. Sixty percent of men compared to 62 percent of women flatly disagree with the old expression "boys don't make passes at girls who wear glasses." Sixty-eight percent of Americans with partners who wear glasses say specs don't get in the way of a romantic moment.
The Eyes Have It
Most people, whether they wear glasses or not, share the same positive attitudes toward people wearing glasses. Most commonly, people who wear glasses are perceived to be smart (40 percent) and sophisticated (39 percent).
What You See is What You Get
For men and women, the profession most associated with wearing spectacles is librarians (74 percent), followed by teachers (71 percent), lawyers (56 percent), artists (27 percent) and actors/movie stars (20 percent).
Fashion Dos
The sexiest eyeglass frames, according to both wearers and non-wearers alike, are rimless lenses (49 percent), followed by metal frames (38 percent). Nearly half (46 percent) of the general population would consider wearing glasses as a fashion accessory, even if they didn't need them.
Fashion Faux Pas
According to those surveyed, 40 percent felt neglecting to get a haircut can most ruin a person's appearance, followed by wearing out-of-date clothing (25 percent), wearing out-of-date glasses (22 percent) or sporting unmanicured nails (13 percent). At the bottom of the sexiest frames list are big and bold plastic (seven percent) or sparkly and dramatic eyeglass frames (seven percent).

Fashion Faux Pas
According to those surveyed, 40 percent felt neglecting to get a haircut can most ruin a person's appearance, followed by wearing out-of-date clothing (25 percent), wearing out-of-date glasses (22 percent) or sporting unmanicured nails (13 percent). At the bottom of the sexiest frames list are big and bold plastic (seven percent) or sparkly and dramatic eyeglass frames (seven percent).