Last week, we explained that non-refractive vision problems are on the rise in the United States. We also posed you a simple question; when was the last time you had an eye exam? If it has been a while, you are not alone. According to a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey of 11,503 adults aged 40 or over with moderate-to-severe visual impairment, 39.8% skip eye care each year because of the cost or a lack of insurance, while 35% believe they don’t need professional eye care. 4.5%, meanwhile, said they could not get an appointment.
Of those who said they had not received eye care in the past year, those 65 and over (43.8%) were more likely to claim they had no need to go to an eye doctor – optometrist or ophthalmologist – than those 40-60 years old (32.9%)
“The large proportion of persons aged 65 and over reporting no need as their main reason for not seeking care is of concern because this population has the highest prevalence of visual impairment,” the CDC report says. “A possible reason for this is that older adults might regard impairment as a normal part of aging.”
Are you skipping Eye Care?
According to a 2007 survey of 1,000 adults conducted by the American Optometric Association (AOA), nearly half of all adults (47%) worry about vision loss. So why don’t more people seek regular eye care? It could be the difference between healthy vision and severe vision loss. Remember, just because you have not noticed any issues with your sight does not mean there aren’t any issues present. An individual with glaucoma can lose as much as 40% of their vision before even noticing any vision loss. Scary, isn’t it? This is why more than half of the 2.2 million Americans affected by glaucoma are unaware that they even have the eye disease.
The AOA recommends that adults, ages 18-60, have their eyes examined every two years, while adults older than 60 have their eyes examined annually. When was your last eye exam?
Located in Annapolis, Maryland, Anne Arundel Eye Center (AAEC) is a regional leader in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma, cataracts and other eye diseases. Board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles and the eye care specialists at AAEC have helped preserve thousands of patients’ vision. We can help you too. We offer comprehensive ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care.
“I treat my patients the way I want to be treated when I see a doctor,” said Dr. Boles.
If you have any questions about Eye Care and wish to schedule an appointment with the Anne Arundel Eye Center, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrists Dr. Nathan Frank and Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists here at AAEC by calling 410-224-2010 or visiting AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!
For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.
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