Study Reveals Many Canadians Unnecessarily Living With Vision Loss
(firmenpresse) - TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 05/08/12 -- Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this press release.
A study released today by and the as part of indicates that one in seven Canadian adults may be living with some form of vision loss, much of which could be corrected. Meanwhile, other results from the study indicate that more than one-third of Canadians over age 40 could actually have eye disease, despite having normal vision.
"The results are concerning," warned Dr. Barbara Robinson, an optometrist and epidemiologist at the University of Waterloo's School of Optometry and the study's principal investigator. "Firstly, many people aren't seeing as well as they could be due to uncorrected refractive error. In fact, 70 per cent of study participants who had reduced vision could correct the problem by simply wearing the right glasses or contact lenses."
is a condition that occurs when the eye's focusing system isn't working properly, resulting in blurry vision. Refractive errors are usually correctible with glasses or contact lenses.
Dr. Robinson added: "More worrisome, however, is the fact that many - for example, - have no symptoms in the early stages. So if people aren't getting their eyes examined, they probably aren't getting early treatment that could potentially save their sight."
"Vision loss can seriously affect quality of life," commented Dr. Keith Gordon, Vice-President, Research, CNIB. "People with vision loss are more likely to fall, have a higher risk of fractures and other injuries and they may be more likely to limit or stop driving. Vision loss is also an independent risk factor for increased mortality in older persons."
The Canadian Uncorrected Refractive Error Study (CURES) is the first population-based estimate of the prevalence of vision loss and blindness in Canada. A group of 768 Brantford, Ontario residents between the ages of 39 and 94 attended a vision screening by an eye doctor at the local CNIB office. The study found that participants who had a longer time lapse since their last eye exam were more likely to have vision loss.
"This study really drives home the importance of ," said Dr. Lillian Linton, President of the Canadian Association of Optometrists. "We know that 75 per cent of vision loss can be prevented or treated. A complete eye exam from a can detect both sight loss due to uncorrected refractive error and eye diseases that can lead to permanent blindness."
Funding for the CURES pilot study was provided by , , and the , , (Fondation Quebecoise pour la sante visuelle), and the .
CNIB is grateful for the support of its partners who are making a real difference when it comes to educating Canadians about vision health. CNIB would especially like to thank the as National Vision Health Month Partner, and / as Proud Supporters and , and . as National Media Partners.
About CNIB
CNIB is a registered charity, passionately providing community-based support, knowledge and a national voice to ensure Canadians who are blind or partially sighted have the confidence, skills and opportunities to fully participate in life. To learn more, visit or call the toll-free CNIB Helpline at 1-800-563-2642.
To view or download CNIB PSAs, .
To experience what it may be like to see the world with one of the most common eye diseases, download .
To locate an optometrist near you, check out CNIB's .
To view CURES Background & Facts, please visit the following link: .
To view a photo from CNIB's iSimulator app, showing what the world might look like to someone with severe cataracts, please visit the following link: .
Contacts:
CNIB
Erika Bennett
Public Relations Specialist
(416) 486-2500 ext. 8355
Themen in dieser Pressemitteilung:
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 08.05.2012 - 17:54 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 144073
Anzahl Zeichen: 0
contact information:
Town:
TORONTO, ONTARIO
Kategorie:
Healthcare
Diese Pressemitteilung wurde bisher 237 mal aufgerufen.
Die Pressemitteilung mit dem Titel:
"Study Reveals Many Canadians Unnecessarily Living With Vision Loss"
steht unter der journalistisch-redaktionellen Verantwortung von
CNIB (Nachricht senden)
Beachten Sie bitte die weiteren Informationen zum Haftungsauschluß (gemäß TMG - TeleMedianGesetz) und dem Datenschutz (gemäß der DSGVO).
