Sept. 23, 2015
Nearly eight out of 10 Hispanic Americans are experiencing vision problems that can negatively impact their health and everyday lives, yet few are taking steps to protect and enhance their vision – with just four out of 10 saying they visited their eye doctor within the past year, according to new research by Wakefield for Transitions Optical, Inc.
This is unfortunate, Transitions notes, considering that Hispanics are more likely to develop several eye health issues – including macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataract and pterygium – as well as serious overall health issues, like diabetes and hypertension, which can affect their vision. Despite their higher risks, the survey found that half of Hispanic Americans don’t know that their ethnicity could put them at an increased risk. Additionally, while the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can contribute to, or worsen, several eye health issues, nearly half of Hispanics incorrectly believe that they only need to protect their eyes from UV rays during the spring and summer months. In fact, Hispanics are the most likely demographic group to believe that year-round UV eye protection isn’t necessary (46 percent of Hispanics vs. 36 percent of the general population).
“We know that Hispanics both think about and value their eye health, because our research has shown that they are more likely than any other demographic group to worry about developing vision problems and eye health issues in the future. Yet, there is a huge disconnect in the number of Hispanics who are actually taking preventive measures to protect their long-term eye health,” says Patience Cook, director, North America marketing, Transitions Optical. “Many vision problems and eye health issues can be better managed or avoided with early detection and treatment, so having routine, comprehensive eye exams is really important.”
Poor vision affects quality of life for many Hispanics
According to the survey, Hispanics are affected by a wide range of vision problems, with top complaints including trouble seeing up close or far away, trouble seeing at night and blurry vision. Eight out of 10 Hispanics also report experiencing visual disturbances as a result of bright light or glare, such as squinting, eyestrain or fatigue and headaches.
These problems are not only affecting their vision, but are also impacting their daily lives. Hispanics are more likely than the general population to say that vision problems are interfering with their ability to enjoy hobbies and leisure activities (52 percent vs. 45 percent), and are also more likely to say that vision problems are hurting their productivity at work (57 percent vs. 50 percent). Hispanic men are even more likely (63 percent) to say that their vision problems are affecting their workplace productivity and ability to enjoy hobbies.
“While vision problems related to light and glare are extremely common, they are fortunately among the easiest to address through the right eyewear,” says Cook. “Transitions lenses, for example, offer glare protection by adapting to changing lighting conditions, and block 100 percent of harmful UV rays.”
To help raise awareness about the importance of regular eyecare for at-risk, diverse populations, Transitions Optical offers educational resources through its Transitions Cultural Connections initiative. Several materials, including a “What to Expect: Hispanic Eyes” brochure – in English and Spanish – are available free-of-charge at MyMulticulturalToolkit.com.
