Abstract

In 2006 we used the NHANES national survey data to estimate the extent of visual impairment in the United States due to uncorrected refractive error (JAMA 2006;295:2158-2163). We subsequently followed up with an analysis of the cost of refractive correction in the United States realizing that many people already have refractive correction (e.g. eyeglasses or contacts lenses) and others need new or better refractive correction (e.g. a new pair of eyeglasses or a new contact lens prescription) to allow them to see well. Conservatively, the annual direct cost of correcting visual impairment is $4 billion per year, of which $1 billion represents the cost required to provide an initial set of glasses to those in need.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Intramural Research (Z01)
Project #
1Z01EY000402-06
Application #
7594078
Study Section
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$129,807
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
U.S. National Eye Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
State
Country
United States
Zip Code

  Publications

Zebardast, Nazlee; Friedman, David S; Vitale, Susan (2017) The Prevalence and Demographic Associations of Presenting Near-Vision Impairment Among Adults Living in the United States. Am J Ophthalmol 174:134-144
Ko, Fang; Vitale, Susan; Chou, Chiu-Fang et al. (2012) Prevalence of nonrefractive visual impairment in US adults and associated risk factors, 1999-2002 and 2005-2008. JAMA 308:2361-8
Willis, Jeffrey R; Jefferys, Joan L; Vitale, Susan et al. (2012) Visual impairment, uncorrected refractive error, and accelerometer-defined physical activity in the United States. Arch Ophthalmol 130:329-35
Zhang, Xinzhi; Saaddine, Jinan B; Chou, Chiu-Fang et al. (2010) Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in the United States, 2005-2008. JAMA 304:649-56
Vitale, Susan; Sperduto, Robert D; Ferris 3rd, Frederick L (2009) Increased prevalence of myopia in the United States between 1971-1972 and 1999-2004. Arch Ophthalmol 127:1632-9
Brown, Jamin S; Flitcroft, D Ian; Ying, Gui-shuang et al. (2009) In vivo human choroidal thickness measurements: evidence for diurnal fluctuations. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 50:5-12
Vitale, Susan; Cotch, Mary Frances; Sperduto, Robert D (2006) Prevalence of visual impairment in the United States. JAMA 295:2158-63
Vitale, Susan; Cotch, Mary Frances; Sperduto, Robert et al. (2006) Costs of refractive correction of distance vision impairment in the United States, 1999-2002. Ophthalmology 113:2163-70