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Survey: Twenty percent of most practices consist of patients older than 65
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A new survey shows that 39% of polled practices have patient bases consisting of 20% to 40% of patients older than 65 years, while 37% reported more than 40% of patients are older than 65 years.
The Vision Council 2014 Eye Care Professionals Low Vision Report collected information from ECPs in February 2014 to analyze utilization of low vision products and services.
The survey, which examined the results of 532 participants, also showed that 45.3% of practices offer low vision services or products to patients. Of those practices, 87.6% offer low vision products and 71.8% offer low vision exams.
Participants also shared the most common and least common low vision products that they prescribe to patients. Handheld magnifiers were the most common with 83%, and magnifying spectacles (76.8%) and stand magnifiers (61.4%) came in next. The least common product was reported to be bioptic telescopic lenses, at 30.7%.
Results showed that of the practices that do not offer low vision care to patients, 62.2% find that there are not enough low vision patients in their respective communities. Participants would consider adding low vision services if patient demand increased (44%) or if reimbursement rates increased (34.6%).