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  • Vision Loss Is a Costly National Burden

    By Lynda Seminara
    Selected by Stephen D. McLeod, MD, and reviewed by Russell N. Van Gelder, MD, PhD
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    Journal Highlights

    Ophthalmology, April 2022

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    Rein et al. set out to estimate incre­mental direct and indirect costs related to vision loss (VL) in the United States in 2017. They found a nationwide VL burden estimate of $134.2 billion for that year.

    Participants were those who indicat­ed that they were blind or had a prob­lem seeing even with glasses or contact lenses in three large surveys (American Community Survey, Medical Expendi­ture Panel Survey, and National Health Interview Survey). Direct costs included medical, nursing home, and supportive services. Indirect costs included absen­teeism, lost household-related produc­tion, reduced labor-force participation, and informal care.

    The estimated total of $134.2 billion included $98.7 billion in direct costs and $35.5 billion in indirect costs. The largest expenditures were attributed to nursing home services ($41.8 billion), other medical care services ($30.9 bil­lion), and reduced labor-force partici­pation ($16.2 billion). Combined, these three components accounted for 66% of the entire cost burden. Sensitivity analyses indicated that the total burden could be even higher, possibly exceed­ing $215 billion.

    The incremental annual burden for a person with VL was $16,838. For young people (≤18 years), informal care was the costliest component. For those aged 19 to 64 years, reduced labor-force par­ticipation had the greatest impact. The bulk of VL costs for people 65 and older pertained to nursing home care. The youngest age group accounted for just 7% of the total bur­den, and women accounted for 58%.

    Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York had the highest average per-person cost, while Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico had the lowest. The variation by state may help local deci­sion-makers target the best resources to address their state’s unique VL burden, said the authors.

    The original article can be found here.