Eye Care in the United States: Do We Deliver to High-risk People Who Can Benefit Most From It?

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the levels of self-reported access of eye care services in the nation. METHODS: We analyzed data from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (30 920 adults aged > or =18 years). We estimated the number of US adults at high risk for serious vision loss and assessed factors associated with the use of eye care services. RESULTS: An estimated 61 million adults in the United States were at high risk for serious vision loss (they had diabetes, had vision or eye problems, or were aged > or =65 years); 42.0% of the 78 million adults who had dilated eye examinations in the past 12 months were among this group. Among the high-risk population, the probability of having a dilated eye examination increased with age, education, and income (P