April 29, 2009 – Among people aged 43 to 62, one in four visits their optometrist annually. And one in ten has never been there. This is what a recent survey of 1,000 Canadians aged 43 to 62, by the firm Ipsos Reid reveals.1.
The vast majority of respondents (92%) believe that it is “very important” to have a clear vision. However, almost half of people say they “don’t need an eye exam”. About a third of respondents consider the cost of an eye exam to be too high.
These results reflect quite well the situation experienced in the offices of optometrists, according to Dr Gilbert Fortier, optometrist. “Often people wait until there is a significant decrease in vision or pain before seeing a doctor. But, if a person has received a particle in the eye and has not slept for two nights, the cost and the lack of time invoked in the survey are no longer reasons not to consult an optometrist ”, notes the Dr Fortier.
Sneaky eye diseases
The role of the eye exam aims, among other things, to detect diseases inside the eye, which are more devious: cataracts, glaucoma, problems related to diabetes, retinal detachment, age-related macular degeneration. “There is very little painful sensation inside the eye. These eye diseases, even in severe stages, and many other problems will not cause pain in the person, ”he explains.
In Canada, age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in people aged 50 and over. It is possible to slow the progression of eye diseases that accompany aging, including having an eye exam every year, says Dr.r Fortier.
Respond to this news in our blog Eye health: can you see it?
Carole Boulé – PasseportSanté.net
1. This survey was funded by Transition Optical, a manufacturer of transition lenses. The margin of error is plus or minus 3%, 19 times out of 20.
