Global eye health research by Johnson & Johnson Vision sheds light on people's views on the importance of eye health and barriers to care. Although people say that they accept that eye examination is important for general health, most of them do not know why and do not take the necessary precautions to protect their eye health.
Johnson & Johnson Vision announced the results of its recent global eye health research. The study reveals a disconnection in patient views on the importance of eye health and how they prioritize it as part of their overall health, barriers to eye care, and changing attitudes towards eye health specific to different regions, generations, and genders.
Most of the respondents (80%) say eye exam is important for their overall health. 68 percent of the participants state that seeing healthy improves the general quality of life and 61 percent stated that healthy eyes make them feel safe.
However, despite this awareness, less than half (46%) of all respondents say they have an annual eye examination, which is the most important step for eye protection.
When asked why they did not have an annual eye examination, the participants shared the following answers:
The most common answer is that their vision levels remain unchanged (32%). This result offers us the opportunity to inform patients that an annual eye examination can protect vision and play an important role in overall health.
The COVID-19 outbreak has increased the importance of health. But it also affected people's motivation and willingness to apply for healthcare services, including eye exams. Less than one-fifth (16%) of respondents say they are unable or unwilling to schedule an eye exam due to the pandemic.
Finally, the cost. The survey reveals that for certain groups, including the younger generation, cost is a much greater barrier. Worldwide, 24 percent of Generation Z and Generation Y say that they can no longer afford to go to an ophthalmologist.
The biggest obstacle in front of eye care that they are committed to change, starting with awareness and access to eye health perception, emphasizing the Johnson & Johnson Vision Professional Training and Development Manager Open Turkey. Dr. “This survey has created new insight into how we can help people prioritize their eyes by having an annual eye exam, and areas where we can take action,” said Banu Arslan.
Survey outputs also show that people do not fully understand what steps are necessary to maintain their quality of vision.
Less than half of the respondents (47%) believe that it can prevent deterioration of their vision or that vision loss is part of aging and they have no control over it (46%). In fact, the prevention and treatment of eye diseases that change the quality of life begins with a single eye examination. Both individuals and eye care professionals can access more information as a result of this examination.
Respondents are unaware of the potential benefits and effects of healthy vision, including that it can affect learning and understanding (39%) or is critical to healthy development in children (25%).
Surprisingly, 69 percent of respondents said they knew eye examination could help diagnose early signs of chronic diseases, although most did not know the full extent and had diabetes (only 25%), cardiovascular diseases (10%) or cancer (9%). He is not aware that he can help his diagnosis.
The survey was conducted online by Fleishman Hillard's in-house research application, TRUE Global Intelligence, among over 18 adults aged 6.000 and over in the United States, Japan, China, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom. This study is part of the "Prioritize Your Eyes" project launched in February 2020 by Johnson & Johnson Vision, a worldwide initiative to raise awareness of the importance of eye health and encourage everyone to have an annual eye exam.
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