Lack of awareness in eye sight leads to major eye problems: says study

An eye-opening statistics shows that almost 70 percent of people worldover are fearful about losing eye sight. According to the “Barometer of Global Eye Health,” a global survey by Bausch + Lomb shows that less than one third of them take the basic steps to preserve eye sight.

Developed in concert with eye care experts around the world and validated by 147 eye health professionals from 26 different countries, Bausch + Lomb’s study, conducted with its research partner KRC Research, surveyed 11,000 consumers across Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Russia, Spain, U.K., and the U.S.

This first-of-its-kind public opinion poll sheds new light on the state of consumer awareness, attitudes and behaviors related to eye health. While 80 percent of visual impairment is preventable if detected and treated early enough, according to the findings not enough people are getting regular eye exams and their reasons for doing so vary wildly. “For some, the eyes might be the windows to the soul. But for healthcare professionals, the eyes are the windows to one’s overall health,” said Cal Roberts, M.D., Bausch + Lomb’s chief medical officer. “Bausch + Lomb and its partners in the medical community know first-hand that getting regular examinations not only helps preserve one’s vision but also can provide early detection of other serious diseases.”

Unfortunately one of the reasons not enough people are getting regular eye exams is predicted to be the lack of awareness about the connection between eye health and overall health. The eyes are the one organ where the health of a person’s veins and arteries can be easily seen, allowing eye care professionals to detect signs of more than 150 diseases, such as diabetes, high-cholesterol and hypertension, years before a patient displays other symptoms.

Through this benchmark survey, Bausch + Lomb hopes to inform and educate millions of consumers around the world about the importance of seeing an eye doctor on a regular basis to avoid serious eye diseases including cataracts, macular degeneration and glaucoma, and to increase the chances of early detection of other chronic conditions.

“It’s critical that we expose and correct these misconceptions. While the majority of visual impairments are preventable when caught and treated early, clearly people around the globe are not seeing the importance of basic vision care and annual eye exams,” Dr. Roberts added.