BY THE NUMBERS
Low Vision Statistics
BOOMER BASICS
Boomers are health conscious, right? So they get the connection between regular vision exams and vision loss, yes? Not exactly.
In fact, according to an online survey conducted for Lighthouse International by Harris Interactive, 62 percent of boomers aren't worried that they could become visually impaired or experience vision loss. That's nearly 47 million people, many of whom are your patients—or should be.
| EYE EXAMS |
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| Most boomers surveyed indicate they do not get regular eye exams. ■ ANNUAL CHECKUPS: Only 46 percent of survey respondents report scheduling annual exams. ■ ETHNIC MIX: 49 percent of whites, but only 37 percent of blacks and Hispanics, say they get their eyes examined every year. |
GOOD NEWS?
If there is good news in some of these numbers, it's that 82 percent of the boomers surveyed report they would "seek services from a vision service agency for themselves or a loved one" if they learned they had a low vision condition. The challenge? Getting them diagnosed before it's too late.
| VISION LOSS EPIDEMIC |
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| The statistics here don't even take into account what the Lighthouse refers to as "the vision loss epidemic." According to Bruce Rosenthal, OD, chief of low vision programs for Lighthouse International, "Certain populations are at more risk [than others]. Caucasians are more likely to develop age-related macular degeneration, and African Americans and Hispanics are at very high risk for developing diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma." Here are a few key facts about the prevalence of these conditions. ■ DIABETES: Some 20 million Americans already suffer from diabetes, and those numbers are rising rapidly. ■ AMD: While six million people already have age-related macular degeneration, an even bigger challenge is that another 13 million to 15 million are pre-symptomatic for AMD and most probably don't know it. |
| EVERYDAY CHALLENGES |
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| Many boomers aren't worried about vision loss or becoming visually impaired—and that's despite the fact than some of them already report problems with their vision. Some of the difficulties members of this group experience include: ■ 12 percent report problems reading even with glasses or contacts. ■ 14 percent say that they have at least "some" difficulty performing basic, day-to-day functions such as cooking, bathing, shaving, or simply going outside of the home. |
For more information on this survey and other research on low vision, go to www.lighthouse.org.
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