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Are Your Eyes Breaking the Bank?
Vision Problems are Costing the U.S. Economy an Estimated $35.4 Billion a Year
As the American population ages, millions have or will have visual impairment including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and refractive errors. According to the December issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology, these vision problems are costing the U.S. economy an estimated $35.4 billion a year.
“Vision disorders that affect adults are a major health problem in the country and pose a major economic burden,” said study author David B. Rein. “It’s a major problem because these diseases affect a lot of people and it’s a major problem because they cost a lot.”
The estimated total cost of $35.4 billion includes $16.2 billion in direct medical costs, $11.1 billion in other direct costs such as nursing home care, government purchase programs and guide dogs, and $8 billion in productivity losses. The breakdown of direct medical costs in terms of specific diseases includes $6.8 billion for cataracts, $5.5 billion for refractive error, $2.9 billion for glaucoma, $575 million for AMD and $493 million for diabetic retinopathy.
“It’s time to pay attention to visual disorders, particularly as the U.S. population ages,” Rein said. “As the population gets older, more and more people are going to be affected by these conditions.”
It is important to schedule regular eye exams to detect and treat problems before vision loss occurs. For more information on AMD, cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy, please visit Eye Health 101 located on the left of the screen.