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Nationwide Survey Indicates African-Americans Not Prioritizing Eye Care
According to a recent national survey, African-Americans are not making vision care a priority for themselves or their children, reports Derrick L. Artis, O.D. Many health and vision problems disproportionately affect African-Americans. Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among African-Americans, and is five times more common in African-Americans than in European-derived populations. Because of this, it is particularly important for African-Americans to have regular eye exams.
More than 3,700 adults of varying ethnic backgrounds (African-Americans, Hispanics, Asian-Americans, and Caucasians) expressed their attitudes toward, perceptions of, and experiences with vision care in the nationwide Americans’ Attitudes and Perceptions About Vision Care survey, which was conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of The Vision Care Institute of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
More than nine out of 10 African-American respondents (93 percent) agreed that maintaining proper vision is an important priority to them. Yet, 21 percent said they do not have a regular eye care professional and one-quarter (24 percent) said it has been more than two years since their last eye exam. Almost one-third (30 percent) of African-American parents surveyed reported that their child has never seen an eye care professional.
National Glaucoma Awareness Month in January is a reminder to schedule an eye exam for yourself and your child. Some vision conditions, like glaucoma, have no symptoms until the disease is advanced. Visiting your local eye care professional and having a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once every two years can reveal risk factors, slow disease progression and save vision.
Source: HealthNewsDigest.com