(PreserveMacForte.com) Vision problems, including but not limited to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), are costing people a pretty penny, reported The National Monitor. The article explained that sight loss not only can have a negative impact of quality of life, but also have a huge impact on how much people have to spend.
According to the article, a study conducted by National Opinion Research Center specialists and published by Prevent Blindness America demonstrates that the price tag for the national yearly eye and vision health costs were approximately $140 billion. This tally, according to the article, is higher than no less than three of the top seven major chronic ailments, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s. The article noted that eye care costs in 2007 were around $51.4 billion, showing that the cost in a mere five years climbed by $80 billion.
The article added that John Wittenborn, author of the study and researcher scientist at the University of Chicago’s research center, was cited as informing USA Today that it appears that many chronic conditions receive more attention than do eye ailments. Wittenborn added that people generally don’t grasp that some of the lower-profile ailments actually make up a large part of “medical costs in” the United States.
According to the article, vision disorders people cope with include slight vision difficulty that can be remedied with glasses or contacts, AMD, glaucoma and blindness.
The article cited Jeff Todd, COO of Prevent Blindness America, as telling USA Today that only some of the increase in money spent on vision problems steps from new treatments and technology. Most of the cost, he explained, comes from the long-term care of elderly people with ailments like glaucoma. Todd said that it people with vision issues will incur more expenses the older they get. Acknowledging that eye disorders don’t get as much attention as they should, he said that they substantially impact quality of life.
According to the article, the Government of the U.S. covers the cost of part of the country’s burden. Specifically, Washington pays around $47.4 billion while insurance entities pay around $20.8 billion for direct medical expenses and an extra $1.3 billion for long-term care purposes. The article added that patients and their families cover the remaining $71.6 billion annually, which means that the cost works out to roughly around $238 per person annually.
Reference: http://natmonitor.com/2013/07/01/vision-related-diseases-cost-140-billion-anually/