Might have to do with what public health care covers? In Germany, they used to cover glasses till 2003, tho you still had to pay for the frame yourself. They a

Might have to do with what public health care covers? In Germany, they used to cover glasses till 2003, tho you still had to pay for the frame yourself. They also covered contacts but only in special cases, so getting those on prescription was quite a bit more of a hassle. 2003 has been a while ago, but I have no doubt that plenty of people still have their prescription glasses from back then around, I do. It's got either something to do with that or there's some societal difference which allows American people more easily to touch their eyes because that's usually one of the main reason people don't wear contacts, at least from my anecdotal experience.