A recent study from Michigan Medicine shows that more than one in four adults over the age of 71 in the United States have problems with their vision—even while wearing their usual glasses, contact lenses, or other visual aids. This means that a large number of older adults may be living with undiagnosed or untreated vision issues.
The study highlights a serious concern because poor vision can have wide-reaching effects on a person’s health and safety.
When older adults can’t see well, they’re more likely to become depressed, develop dementia, fall and injure themselves, get into car accidents, or even face a higher risk of death. These are not just small problems—they affect daily life and long-term well-being.
Researchers also looked at what factors were connected to visual impairment. They found that vision problems were more common in people who were older, had lower levels of education, or earned less money.
In addition, near vision problems and difficulties seeing contrast (which helps you tell the difference between objects and their backgrounds) were more common among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic individuals than among non-Hispanic white individuals. This points to health differences that may be caused by social and economic inequalities.
The study also reminds us how expensive it is to deal with vision loss. Back in 2017, the total cost of caring for older Americans with vision problems and blindness was more than $134 billion each year.
Despite the high cost, many older adults still don’t get the help they need—sometimes, all they require is an updated pair of glasses. However, paying for new glasses or seeing an eye doctor isn’t easy for everyone, especially for people with limited incomes.
One big reason for this is that Medicare, the main health insurance for older adults in the U.S., only pays for eyeglasses after cataract surgery. That leaves many people having to pay out of pocket for vision care, which they may not be able to afford. This can lead to untreated vision problems that could have been easily fixed.
The researchers say that their study could help public health officials figure out how to better support older adults who are at risk of vision loss. The updated information from this study can help guide future efforts to monitor vision health and develop programs aimed at helping the people who need it most.
Taking care of your eyes is an important part of staying healthy as you age. If you have high blood pressure or diabetes, it’s especially important to get regular eye exams, as these conditions can lead to vision problems.
Other studies also suggest that certain habits—like eating well, protecting your eyes from sun damage, and staying active—can help keep your vision strong. There is even some early research suggesting that vitamin B3 may help treat certain common eye diseases that cause blindness.
The study was led by Dr. Olivia J. Killeen and was published in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology. It sends a clear message: vision health in older adults is a growing issue, but with more awareness and better support, many people could avoid unnecessary suffering.
If you care about eye health, please read studies about how vitamin B may help fight vision loss, and MIND diet may reduce risk of vision loss disease.
For more information about eye disease, please see recent studies about how to protect your eyes from glaucoma, and results showing this eye surgery may reduce dementia risk.
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