Worrying US Report Shows Increase In Eye Disease Past Age 40
We are aware that the prevalence of eye disease is only likely to increase as we reach middle age, but startling statistics published in a recent report in the United States on vision problems shows a rapid increase in common eye disease of the older population in recent years.
What Does The Report Say?
A report entitled ‘Vision Problems in the US’ was released to the public in recent weeks by Prevent Blindness America which outlines a sharp increase in common eye problems of American citizens over the age of 40, while the National Eye Institute posted equally bleak statistics for those of a certain age.
Around 25 million Americans reported worrying descriptions of poor sight, surprisingly even while wearing glasses or contact lenses, suggesting problems with uncorrected refractive errors or misdiagnosis cases, while general blindness was also reported to have increased.
Since the year 2000, the amount of Americans experiencing a form of vision impairment or blindness rocketed 23 percent, which has impacted greatly on the already crippled medical care service available in the country, with estimated additional costs of $1 billion believe to have been injected into healthcare to cope with the increasing burden on resources.
Common eye problems such as macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy have seen increasing reports of diagnosis, with the issue attributed to life expectancy rises and therefore the greater chance of experiencing eye problems as the nation ages.
A 25 per cent increase to over 2 million of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) sufferers was stated in those over 50, while 40 and older sufferers of cataracts approached the 25 million mark with a 19 percent increase, with the most concerning and dramatic increase being that of reports in diabetic retinopathy, which saw a 89 percent rise, maybe reflecting the rise in obesity levels and diabetic related complications.
What Does This Mean For The Future?
Vision threatening diseases are currently twice as likely in women as men in the US, although both genders are at risk in the future due to increased prevalence of technology placing strain on our eyes, with the younger generations growing up to eye problems as a result of overuse of TV’s and computers, seeing a peak in the future of those viewing an ever blurred world.
Unless the tide can be turned, the National Eye Institute has previously believed that by the year 2030, double the amount in number of current visual impairment reports will be seen, due to life expectancy levels only likely to increase further, placing a greater burden on the economy and health service of a nation that at present can ill afford it.
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