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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 The survey findings "are very worrisome," Cockrell said. "We know that many eye and vision problems have no obvious signs or symptoms, so early diagnosis and treatment are critical. This is true beyond just eye care. Health issues of any kind are not things that Americans should ignore."
Survey participants indicated that they worry most about losing their eyesight, with 43 percent putting that at the top of their list of concerns. That compares with 32 percent worried about memory loss and 12 percent concerned about losing the ability to walk.
"The concept of losing vision appears very concrete to people, which may be why people cut back on other doctor visits first," Cockrell said. "But doctors of optometry encourage individuals to consider eye and vision care as an integral part of their overall health, so cutting back on any aspect of health care is not a good idea."
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Delaying health care visits could lead to additional health problems and, in the long run, end up being more expensive.
"The longer patients go between doctor visits, the greater the opportunity for additional health problems that ultimately can be much more expensive than routine checkups and early-stage treatment," Cockrell said. "That is another reason that identifying health problems in the early stages is ideal."
More information
Prevent Blindness America has more about eye exams.
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-- Robert Preidt
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