Survey finds majority of US patients delaying eye care despite experiencing poor eyesight, eye health

Versant Health’s fourth annual Vision Wellness Study recently found that as many as 3 in 4 US citizens are disrupted in their daily activities by poor eyesight or eye health; however, over half of surveyed patients stated that they delay or avoid eye care because it doesn’t “feel urgent.”¹ Survey participants cited cost concerns, perceived inevitability, and deprioritization as obstacles to receiving eye care, according to a news release.

“A vision benefit isn’t just an add-on – it can be a cornerstone of comprehensive care,” said Neelam Gor, MD, chief clinical officer at Versant Health, in the release. “Our study highlights how vision benefits can serve as an essential bridge to regular eye care, but only when the coverage is understood and perceived as valuable.”

The survey included 3045 US adults 18 years and older who must share responsibility for health care decisions or “be the primary decision maker in their household,” according to the release. Data were collected from 42 interviews with US consumers, eye care professionals, employee benefits brokers, health plan executives, and HR decision makers in small, midsize, and large businesses. Surveys, interviews, and analysis were conducted by global strategy, insights, and analyticsgroup STRAT7.