Eye Health Top Concern For Baby Boomers
Tops Memory Loss, Physical Mobility
OTTAWA, Sept. 24 /CNW/ - Baby boomers are more concerned about losing their vision than they are about losing their memory, physical mobility and other attributes of personal independence as they get older, according to a new survey conducted on behalf of the Canadian Association of Optometrists to kick off Eye Health Month this October.
Although they fear a loss or decline in vision far more than losing their teeth, only 36 per cent of the aging boomers surveyed felt that regular visits to an eye care professional were more important than regular dental check-ups.
This research tells us that Canadians value their vision, yet the
importance of preventative eye care is missing for many of these aging
Canadians. Among all age groups, there is a great need for awareness about the importance of regular eye examinations."
In a national survey of 1,500 Canadians conducted for the CAO by Phase 5Consulting, 89 per cent of Canadians aged 50-64 said that they are somewhat or very concerned about a decline or loss of function in their vision. This compares to 88 per cent who were concerned about loss of physical mobility,86 per cent who were concerned about loss of memory, 83 per cent who were concerned about losing their financial stability, 57 per cent who were concerned about losing their original teeth, and 48 per cent who concerned about a decline or loss in their libido (sex drive).
In spite of near unanimous concern about loss of vision, many are still not seeking the advice of an optometrist for preventative care. Close to one-quarter of aging boomers believe that they would be the first to know if they had an eye problem, and more than 30 per cent were unaware that you could have 20/20 vision and still have an eye disease that only an optometrist could detect. Eye health experts say Canadians avoiding eye tests could be setting themselves up for serious eye disease.
Beyond examining vision and eye health, optometrists also have the
ability to diagnose serious eye diseases like glaucoma, also known as the silent vision thief. Yet 45 per cent of aging baby boomers are not aware that optometrists can detect diseases like glaucoma. More importantly, many boomers are unaware that early detection and treatment can help prevent blindness or control serious eye disease.
Conducted in May and June 2008, the survey reached 1,500 respondents through an online panel containing more than 400,000 Canadians. The overall results were weighted to reflect population proportions based on Statistics Canada data. Results referenced in this release are based on the sub-sample of 452 respondents aged 50-64.
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