A study revealed that gradual loss of eyesight can cost you more than other chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
John Wittenborn, lead author of the study and a research scientist at the University of Chicago, and his team concluded that the country is spending about $140 billion for eye and vision disorders annually. This amount is higher than other chronic diseases. They also found out that it the cost had increased by about 63 percent in a span of five years when they compared 2007’s cost from 2012. The cost back in 2007 was only $51.4 billion.
Common eye problems that people complains about are minor sight impairment, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and blindness.
Chief operating officer of Prevent Blindness America Jeff Todd explained in USA Today how eye problems became more expensive than other diseases.
"The longer you live with a vision problem, the more expensive it gets," he says. "Eye disorders are ranked fifth for highest cost, yet we're not getting that attention. No one dies from eye disorders, but they greatly impact quality of life."
The expenses could become a national financial burden as well. The government shoulders about $47.4 billion of the cost while the insurance companies cover $20.8 billion and an additional $1.3 billion for lifetime expenses for those with cases that have progressed to blindness. To better explain it, the cost per person is about $238 per year excluding the cost covered by insurance and the government.
Todd recommended that the government should allocate more funds for preventive eye care and research to minimize the cost in the future. If people will be diagnosed early then the problem will not progress to blindness and other lifetime concerns. .
"Right now we can't restore vision; we can only retain vision that has not been lost, and (preventive care) can really save and prevent people from losing a significant amount of vision and money."
The study was published and funded by Prevent Blindness America, a volunteer eye health and safety organization devoted to fighting blindness and retaining sight.
