Most Americans not seeking regular vision care, despite recognizing its importance

Most Americans consider vision care a priority, but few take advantage of available resources or seek regular eye exams, a nationwide survey found.

The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive, an independent market research firm, on behalf of Johnson & Johnson's Vision Care Institute. Investigators contacted a nationally representative sample of 3,716 U.S. adults using an online- and telephone-based questionnaire.

The survey found that 94% of respondents considered vision care a high priority. However, 35% had never taken their child to an eye doctor, 25% had not had an eye exam within the past 2 years, and 14% did not have a regular eye care professional, according to a Johnson & Johnson press release.

"[The survey is] a cause for concern because adults and children who are at greater risk for certain eye conditions and diseases are not receiving proper diagnosis and treatment," Derrick Artis, OD, of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc., said in the release.

Researchers also found significant differences among ethnic groups. Although 94% of Asians agreed that vision care is a priority, 36% said they felt they did not need an exam unless they had a vision problem. Asians were also least likely to believe vision correction would significantly improve daily activities, such as driving, reading and working.

Whites were most likely to be able to define common vision problems, such as myopia and presbyopia. But despite most white respondents (71%) stating that annual eye exams are important, 25% said they had not visited an eye care professional within the last 2 years.

Black patients were most likely to consider vision care a high priority, with 50% indicating vision care is as important as other health issues. But these patients were least likely (21%) to have a regular eye care professional.

Hispanics were most concerned about worsening vision, with 27% stating they were strongly concerned over worsening vision, compared to 15% of respondents overall. But Hispanics were least likely to have seen an eye care professional in the past year, according to release.

Other survey findings included the following:

the most common reported vision conditions were myopia (47%), bifocal vision (35%) and astigmatism (31%);
significantly more women than men reported myopia (51% vs. 42%), and myopia was the most common vision condition in children (18%);
78% of respondents used some kind of vision correction, with 67% wearing prescription glasses, 16% wearing contact lenses and 10% wearing reading glasses; and
98% of respondents agreed that ultraviolet radiation could damage their eyes, but about 33% believed sunglasses alone could protect their eyes.