Improving the Nation's Vision Health. A Coordinated Public Health Approach

摘要

Blindness and vision impairment are major public health problems causing a substantial human and economic toll on individuals and society including significant suffering, disability, loss of productivity, and diminished quality of life for millions of people. More than 3.4 million (3%) Americans 40 years and older are either blind or are visually impaired and millions more are at risk for developing vision impairment and blindness. Vision impairment often affects peoples ability to drive, read, learn, watch television, or simply attend to common household or personal tasks. Reduced vision among mature adults has been shown to result in social isolation, increased risk of falling and resultant hip fractures, depression, family stress, and ultimately a greater tendency to be disabled or to die prematurely. Despite this recognition and a wide spectrum of organizations committed to improving vision health numerous challenges continue to encumber efforts to increase the use of and availability of evidence-based, cost-effective interventions to prevent vision loss. There remains an urgent need to improve coordination between the public health capacity for addressing vision health and other public health programs. Given that the prevalence of age-related eye diseases is expected to double over the next three decades, it is essential that opportunities for enhanced vision health be fully explored and implemented.