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Survey: Ethnic minorities value eye health, seek no preventive care
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NEW YORK — Transitions Optical released survey results here at Vision Expo East that show Americans continue to exhibit a poor understanding of the link between ethnicity and eye health risks.
Three out of four respondents to the survey said that seeing their best is important to them; nine out of 10 agreed that seeking regular eye care is a priority; but just four in 10 visited their eye care professional within the past year.
The number was even less for certain ethnic groups, including African Americans and American Indians, the survey said.
Additionally, the survey found that while 75% of Americans worry that their child or an elderly relative they care for will develop vision problems or eye health issues, only 40% of them had taken these family members to an eye doctor within the past year.
“Research has consistently shown that many cultures are family-focused, so it’s not surprising to see this concern over family members’ eye health,” Manuel Solis, multicultural marketing manager for Transitions Optical, said in a press release. “It is disheartening, however, that this concern isn’t always translating into action. These numbers reinforce a great need for the industry to educate all groups about their risks and the importance of seeking regular eye care at all stages in life.”