Research
The Economic Burden of Vision Loss and Eye Disorders among the United States Population Younger than 40 Years
The purpose of this study was to determine the economic burden of vision loss and eye disorders in the United States population younger than 40 years in 2012.
This study was based on econometric and statistical analysis of survey, commercial claims, and census data.
The economic burden of vision loss and eye disorders was $27.5 billion in 2012 ($5.9 billion for children and $21.6 billion for adults).
Direct costs were $14.5 billion ($7.3 billion in medical costs for diagnosed disorders, $4.9 billion in refraction correction, $0.5 billion in medical costs for undiagnosed vision loss, and $1.8 billion in other direct costs).
Indirect costs were $13 billion, primarily because of $12.2 billion in productivity losses.
The burden of vision loss and eye disorders in the United States population younger than 40 was substantial.