Globally, most adults, 70 percent, don’t plan to get their eyes examined this year, despite acknowledging the critical importance of eye health. These new findings come from a comprehensive, large-scale Johnson & Johnson Vision Global Eye Health Survey announced in advance of World Sight Day on October 14, 2021.
This year’s survey, from Johnson & Johnson Vision, a global leader in eye health and part of the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, revealed key insights around the impact of the pandemic on eye health, misbeliefs about vision correction options for aging eyes, the intersection between eye health and beauty, and the high potential for missed early intervention for children with vision correction needs. Serving as the cornerstone of J&J Vision’s Prioritize Your Eyes campaign, the survey was launched in advance of World Sight Day in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of getting an annual eye exam, both for adults and children alike.
According to the survey, 86 percent of the world’s adult population fear losing their sight above any other sense. It is likely for this reason that globally, 88 percent of people view eye health maintenance a priority for their overall health. Counter to this statistic, however, is that only 52 percent of respondents say they get annual eye exams. In addition to vision correction and lifestyle support, an eye exam may help detect over 270 medical conditions—from diabetes to heart disease.
The survey reveals more than one-third believe their vision has deteriorated since the start of the pandemic. However, despite this reported awareness, 70 percent of all respondents said they don’t plan to schedule an eye exam in the year ahead—the single most important step to protect your eyes.
Survey results show that although three-in-four (75%) parents indicate they believe it is more important for their child to receive an eye exam than it is for them—and the majority (61%) of parents indicate they’re concerned about their children being diagnosed as nearsighted (myopic)—only one-quarter (27%) plan to schedule an annual eye exam for their children. Myopia is sometimes called 'nearsightedness’ but it is much more. It is a chronic and progressive disease that poses the biggest eye health threat of the 21st Century. Half of the world’s population is projected to be myopic by 2050 with nearly one billion people expected to have high myopia. Children under 12 who are diagnosed with myopia are at greater risk of developing high myopia which may lead to sight-threatening disease later in life.
Astonishingly one-in-four respondents (27%) indicated they’re more concerned about how their eyes look than the health of their eyes. And, nearly 30 percent of respondents indicated they would change the color of their eyes for a day if they could.
For those with aging eyes, three in ten (29%) worry wearing glasses will make them look old or impacts their self-confidence (30%), yet only 37% of respondents know contact lenses are available as an alternative to multifocal glasses as they age. People don’t realize they don’t have to sacrifice aesthetics to improve their vision.
72% of respondents who had a cataract surgery said if they’d have known how much better their vision would be after cataract surgery, they would have done it sooner. And, 56% didn’t realize how bad their vision was until after surgery.
With 94 million people affected by cataracts worldwide the survey revealed that people may be delaying cataract treatment due to misbeliefs about the procedure. Less than half of all respondents (46%) realized cataract surgery is outpatient and only 31% realized the procedure can take less than 10 minutes to perform.
Full news release: www.jjvision.com/press-release/amidst-covid-19-pandemic-early-intervention-remains-obstacle-overall-eye-health