Information on Aging and Vision

The following information is from The Lighthouse National Survey on Vision Loss and was conducted in 1994 by Louis Harris and Associates for The Lighthouse, Inc. of New York. The study is entitled "The Experience, Attitudes and Knowledge of Middle-Aged and Older Americans".

• Major Findings
• Public Attitudes and Knowledge About Vision Loss
• Health Insurance Coverage for Vision Care & Vision Rehabilitation
• Under-Utilization of Optical Devices, Adaptive Aids, and Rehabilitation Services
• Vision Impairment Impacts Significantly on the Lives of Middle-Aged and Older Americans

Major Findings

1. Vision impairment affects a significant proportion of middle-aged and older Americans. One in six adults (17%), age 45 and older, representing 13.5 million Americans, report some form of vision impairment.

• 53% describe themselves with a "severe" impairment

2. The proportion of adults reporting some form of visual impairment increases dramatically with age.

• 15% adults age 45-64 (7.2 million people)
• 17% adults age 65-74 (3.1 million people)
• 26% adults age 75 + (3.5 million people)

3. Although self-reported vision impairment cuts across all economic & social strata, in general vision impairment is more prevalent among those with fewer social and economic resources.

4. Persons with "severe" vision impairment versus "moderate" vision are more likely to be: - women, poor, unmarried, living alone, non-white, not a high school graduate, in fair or poor health, and lack health insurance

5. Vision impairment has touched the lives of the majority of middle-age and older adults, either through personal experience, or of someone else in their social network.

- overall, 53% of middle-aged and older Americans, representing nearly 42 million people nationwide, have had either a personal experience with vision impairment or know someone with impaired vision.

Public Attitudes and Knowledge About Vision Loss

1. The large majority of middle-aged and older Americans fear blindness more than other physical impairments. Only mental or emotional illness is feared more.

2. The majority of middle-aged and older Americans have limited knowledge of the relationship between vision loss and aging.

3. People with vision impairments, especially those with moderate impairments, hold somewhat negative attitudes towards vision loss.

4. Knowledge about the availability of local vision rehabilitation services is seriously lacking, creating a huge gap between need for services and access to services.

Health Insurance Coverage for Vision Care & Vision Rehabilitation

1. An overwhelming majority of middle-aged and older Americans believe vision care and vision rehabilitation should be covered by health insurance plans.

2. People with severe vision impairments are at a disadvantage in terms of basic health care coverage.

• while 86% of respondents report they are currently covered by health insurance, only 75% of those with a severe vision impairment are covered.

3. Among people with general health care insurance, significant proportions do not have coverage for even basic eye care services while the majority lack, or are unaware of, coverage for vision rehabilitation services or devices.

Under-Utilization of Optical Devices, Adaptive Aids, and Rehabilitation Services

1. Although reported by a minority, utilization of optical devices (magnifiers and telescopes) is the most common intervention reported. The devices tended to be self-prescribed.

2. Other than large print materials, which are used by 21% of people who have impaired vision, other adaptive devices are only used by a small minority. - 4% use talking books, 5% other talking items, 3% long white cane

3. The use of vision rehabilitation services is even less prevalent than the use of optical and adaptive devices.

• Low vision clinical services, rehabilitation training in Activities of Daily Living (ADL's) and recreational services for persons with severe vision problems were reported by 1%
• when asked why these services were not being used, 21% were unfamiliar with low vision clinical services, 19% did not know about recreational services, 16% unaware of training in ADL's

Vision Impairment Impacts Significantly on the Lives of Middle-Aged and Older Americans

1. Half of all people with impaired vision report that their vision problem interferes to some degree with what they want to do in their daily lives.

• 24% some difficulty in managing daily household tasks
• 18% some difficulty getting to places outside the home
• 38% some interference with their leisure activities

2. When asked what type of problems pose the most severe barriers in connection with their vision loss, more than one in four (25%) say their most serious barrier is the inability to read standard sized print, books, newspapers, etc.

3. The impact of visual impairment is even clearer when quality of life issues are discussed. Respondents who are visually impaired, especially those with sever impairments, are more likely to report experiencing problems in a variety of life's arenas.

• half (48%) of those with vision impairment (54% of those with severe impairment) say income is a serious problem, compared to 36% of those with no vision problems.
• 39% report health care is a serious problem (44% with severe impairment) compared to 30% of those with no impairment
• 31% of people with vision impairment report loneliness is a problem, compared to 18% of both moderately and non-impaired
• 28% report employment is a problem, compared to 18% non-impaired

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