What Your Eyes Can Really See
Buck Consultants
Jill Neilson
With recent health care reform legislation, awareness of preventive health care is more important than ever. And, while most people understand the importance of going to their regular doctor on a routine basis, many don't realize that getting an eye exam on a routine basis is just as important - and not just for those who wear glasses or contact lenses.
The reason eye exams are so important is that they don't just detect eye diseases (like cataracts and glaucoma); eye exams also help detect signs of serious health conditions including diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension. In fact, a recent study conducted by Human Capital Management Services Group (HCMS), a national human capital consulting firm, found that VSP eye doctors detected signs of certain chronic conditions before any other health care provider recorded the condition -- 20 percent of the time for diabetes, 65 percent of the time for high cholesterol, and 30 percent of the time for hypertension.
Eye doctors are able to detect these serious health conditions before other health care providers because, unlike other parts of the body, eyes offer a unique view of your blood vessels. Notable changes in the eye such as vessel leakage, retinal swelling and fatty deposits on the retina are all indicators of serious health conditions, which can be identified during a thorough eye examination.
Because you may not notice symptoms of serious health conditions, early detection of issues through an eye exam is extremely valuable. It could potentially save your life, since early detection often increases your chances of reducing your health risk. In the HCMS study mentioned above, early detection of health issues as a result of an eye exam had several benefits, including the following:
- Fewer health complications and co-morbidities.
- Lower health care costs in terms of emergency room visits, inpatient hospital visits, and medical and prescription drug expenses.
- A reduced need for short- or long-term disability or workers' compensation.
- Increased productivity at work such as lower termination rates, lower absenteeism and lower turnover.
It is important to understand that a "vision screening" you receive outside of an eye doctor's office is not the same thing as a thorough eye exam you receive at an optometrist's or ophthalmologist's office. So, if you've only been getting screenings, it's time to go for a thorough exam.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that eye exams are for everyone -- including your children. Just as routine eye exams are as important as routine visits to the doctor for adults, eye exams are just as important as pediatrician visits for children. Eye exams are recommended as early as six months of age for children.
More Evidence on Why You Should Go For Regular Eye Exams
Statistics show a clear need for routine eye exams. Consider these facts:
- Vision disorders are the second most prevalent health problem in the country, affecting more than 120 million people.
- Diabetic retinopathy can occur up to seven years before diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, and up to 21 percent of people with type 2 diabetes have retinopathy when they are first diagnosed with diabetes. This means an eye exam could lead to an earlier diagnosis for people who do not know they have the disease.
- Nearly one-third of Americans over the age of 40 have a vision problem.
- The number of blind or visually impaired Americans is expected to double by the year 2020.
- Blindness or vision problems are among the top 10 disabilities among adults aged 18 years and older.
Source: VSP
Jill E. Neilson is a Principal and the manager of Buck Consultants' Health and Productivity consulting practice in San Francisco. She leads the team serving the San Juan Unified School District by negotiating benefit design and cost issues with the insurers. Mark Mathson, a Senior Consultant within Buck Consultants' Communication consulting practice in San Francisco, assisted Jill with the preparation of this article.