Silver Book Fact
Losing eyesight potential for greatest impact on day-to-day life poll finds
Poll finds losing eyesight as potentially having greatest impact on day-to-day life–more than other conditions including loss of limb, memory, hearing, and speech (57% of African Americans polled, 49% of non-Hispanic whites, 43% of Asians, and 38% of Hispanics). When asked what disease or ailment is the worst that could happen to them, blindness ranked first among African Americans, followed by AIDS/HIV. Hispanics and Asians ranked cancer first and blindness second. Alzheimer’s disease ranked first among non-Hispanic whites, followed by blindness.
Scott A, Bressler N, Ffolkes S, et al. Public Attitudes About Eye and Vision Health. JAMA Ophthal. 2016; doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2016.2627. http://archopht.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2540516