A recent national survey indicated that glaucoma and AMD affect nearly twice as many Ohioans as previous national estimates. Vision problems disproportionately affect certain racial and ethnic groups, with African Americans four times more likely to have glaucoma than Caucasians, and Caucasians more likely than other racial groups to develop AMD.
Smoking and eye injuries also increase the likelihood of age-related eye disease, and data indicates that vision loss is directly related to increased incidence of depression and poor health image. Awareness of the value of preventive eye care, cost and a lack of insurance are significant barriers to the treatment and prevention of eye disease. Less than half of eligible Ohioans are aware that Medicare will cover medical eye care expenses.