Primary Care Providers Could Play Major Role in Promoting Vision Care for Older Adults

A study from the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation suggests primary care providers could play a key role in promoting vision care for adults age 50 and older, especially for those most in need of eye exams and those most sensitive to the cost, reports News-Medical . Overall, 18 percent of survey respondents said they had not had a professional eye exam in three years or more, or were unsure when they had their last exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. A quarter of respondents cited cost as the main factor discouraging them from receiving vision care, and almost as many cited lack of insurance coverage. The most common reason was they had no vision problems. Meanwhile, about 25 percent reported being diagnosed with either cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetes-related eye disease. U-M Professor Joshua Ehrlich says primary care providers are important partners with eye care specialists in advising high-risk adults about when to get an exam. The poll may in fact underestimate the population of people over 50 who have not received sufficient vision screening or care, since it could have been difficult for those with poor vision to complete the survey.