Versant Health’s 4th Annual Vision Wellness Study just dropped, and it lays out a bizarre paradox: While most Americans experience daily disruptions due to poor eye health, they still delay or avoid seeking eye care.
Let’s take a look at the numbers behind the disconnect because you’ll want to be aware.
Key findings
- 75% of U.S. adults report daily disruptions in activities like reading, driving, and using screens due to poor eye health.
- Despite this, 54% of individuals postpone eye care because it doesn’t “feel urgent.”
- Among those who go 2+ years between eye exams, 53% blame cost barriers or lack of vision benefits.
- A significant 90% of respondents indicated that having eye doctor visits fully or partially covered by vision or health benefits is a top motivator for scheduling appointments.
Generational concerns
- Gen Z individuals average 7.2 hours of screen time daily, with 28% exceeding nine hours.
- Vision issues are prevalent among older adults, with 74% of Baby Boomers and 64% of Gen X reporting diagnosed vision problems.
Opportunities for improvement
- 83% want clear, step-by-step explanations of eye exams to encourage appointment scheduling.
- 67% report that vision benefit plans are confusing or poorly explained, making it hard to use them effectively.
- 75% are likely to seek advice about eye health from vision or healthcare carriers.
- Patient education is lacking:
The research findings also revealed significant knowledge gaps related to eyecare and vision benefits that undermine engagement, the announcement stated, with just 55 percent of consumers able to correctly define the difference between a comprehensive eye exam and a simple vision screening. Even fewer understand the full diagnostic capabilities of eye exams … However, the report notes that nearly 9 in 10 people (86 percent) say they are more likely to schedule an eye exam when they understand how comprehensive eye exams can provide early detection for serious medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. (Source: Versant Health’s Vision Wellness Study Examines “America’s Eye Health Challenge”)
This emphasizes what we’ve been hearing with increasing frequency: Vision care is integral to overall health. The current disconnect will have to be addressed.
For a more detailed exploration of the findings, you can access the very readable, 15-page report here: America’s Eye Health Wake-up Call.
Click to enlarge data story infographics.
