The Economic Impact of Vision: The Toll of Major Adult Eye Disorders on the US economy
AUTHOR:
David B. Rein, PhD
SPONSOR/INSTITUTION:
Vision Health Initiative of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Prevent Blindness America
YEAR PUBLISHED:
2007
PUBLICATION:
Prevent Blindness America
KEY HIGHLIGHTS:
Most of us expect vision problems to wield a monetary blow not only on people living with the condition but also on the U.S. economy. This report reveals, for the first time, the extent to which this is true. The impact is felt particularly by third-party payers and patients’ caregivers.
This report is a companion to a previous publication, Vision Problems in the U.S. (Prevent Blindness America, 2002), which documents the prevalence of sight-threatening eye diseases in Americans aged 40 and older. The Economic Impact of Vision Problems describes the economic burden of the same conditions: age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataract, diabetic retinopathy, primary open-angle glaucoma and refractive error. It also looks at the economic impact of vision problems and blindness.