The Los Angeles Latino Eye Study continues to make history, and
change history, in significant ways. Recent data indicates that
people who have even mild vision loss in both eyes begin to experience
a measurable deterioration in their quality of life. Why is this
important to everyone in the U.S.? Primarily, because people should
care about the welfare of others. Also, because millions of dollars
spent now to prevent vision loss saves billions of dollars later
in direct and indirect costs.
In Australia, a study determined that $138 million spent to implement
a vision intervention package would deliver, in the first year,
a net return of $119 million in direct costs and an overall savings
to the country of $665 million in indirect costs. [Source: October
2005 - Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today]
Rohit Varma, M.D., M.P.H.