Insights into low vision: 41% diagnosed by optometrists
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Key takeaways:
- Patients with low vision were predominantly diagnosed by an optometrist (41%) or an ophthalmologist (31%).
- Doctors are the primary source of information for nearly three-quarters of patients with low vision.
The Vision Council has released new research about the experiences, diagnoses, information sources and treatment options for patients with low vision, as well as the effect of their condition on primary caregivers.
“Through a mixed-method research approach, including two focus groups and a survey of 101 U.S. patients and caregivers, we set out to better understand the patient experience with low vision, especially in terms of how they learn about their condition and how they navigate finding specialists and treatment options,” Alysse Henkel, the council’s vice president of research and insights, said in a Vision Council press release. “By understanding their challenges and needs, the vision community can work towards improving access to specialists, information and awareness of effective treatments, ensuring a better quality of life for those living with low vision.”
According to the report, 90% of patients were diagnosed with low vision by an eye care professional, primarily optometrists (41%) and ophthalmologists (31%). After diagnosis, 64% were referred to another specialist; those diagnosed in the past 3 years had a referral rate of 74% vs. those diagnosed more than a decade ago (44%).
Sixty percent of patients found it easy to find an appropriate doctor to treat low vision, while 22% faced challenges.
When seeking information about low vision, 72% of patients relied on doctors as their primary source, while others used search engines (48%) and websites (34%). Adult patients were more likely to rely on their doctors (79%), while caregivers were more likely to use online communities or search engines (60%).
While more than half of respondents (58%) reported feeling well-informed about low vision products, services and treatments, adult patients aged 65 years and older reported feeling significantly less informed (34%).
Further, although 62% of respondents reported that the term “low vision” accurately described their condition, more than half provided an alternative term when asked if there might be a better option, including “limited vision” or “impaired eyesight.” Among concerns with the term “low vision” are that it is too vague and often confused with minor vision conditions like myopia or more severe conditions like blindness.
A summary of the report is available on the Vision Council’s website, and the full report is complimentary for members.
Reference:
- Focused inSights 2024: Low Vision. https://thevisioncouncil.org/research-reports. Published June 2024. Accessed July 2, 2024.
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