Europeans seem to wear glasses at a much higher rate than Americans. Is there is structural reason for the preference of glasses over contacts?
Eastern European countries were too poor in the 1990s and early 2000s for contact lenses to really catch on like they apparently did in the USA during that time. You could only order contact lenses from a handful of opticians, and contact lens solution was only sold in a few places in the biggest cities. Only a small wealthy demographic bought them.
People have more money now of course, but the impression remains that contact lens are a luxury, not a necessity. Plus, the big rise in salaries in my city happened precisely at a time when spectacles were suddenly in fashion. Distribution of the lenses and lens cleaning products remains poor, and if you need a prescription for astigmatism, you can expect to wait 1–2 months for the special order.