Vision problems can affect all of us, with age and gender being just two factors. Did you know that different ethnicities can also play an important role? Research suggests that some ethnic backgrounds are subject to an increased risk of vision problems compared to others.
African Americans
Cataracts
African Americans are more likely than Caucasians to develop cataracts. As a result, they are five times more likely to develop blindness.
Glaucoma
African Americans are also five times more likely than Caucasians to develop glaucoma, and four times more likely to suffer blindness from it as a result. Glaucoma is often characterized by the loss of periphery vision that can progress to complete vision loss without treatment.
Asian Americans
Asian Americans are more likely than the national average to develop angle-closure glaucoma…
Glaucoma
Asian Americans are more likely than the national average to develop angle-closure glaucoma, caused by rapid or sudden increases in pressure inside the eye. Glaucoma is often characterized by the loss of periphery vision that can progress to complete vision loss without treatment. People of Japanese descent are also more prone to a particular type of the disease, called low-tension glaucoma.
Caucasians
While cataracts are more common among African Americans and Hispanics, Caucasians are also at risk. Extended exposure to UV rays from the sun is a risk factor.
Hispanics
Cataracts
Among Hispanics, cataracts are three times more common vs. Caucasians and African Americans. The disease is the leading cause of visual impairment among Hispanic adults. Extended exposure to UV rays is a risk factor.
Glaucoma
Among Hispanics, open-angle glaucoma – caused by rising pressure in the eye – is the most common cause of blindness.
For more information about vision conditions and to learn about their financial impact, it’s encouraged to visit Fit Fwd at davisvision.com/fitfwd. There, you’ll find a wealth of materials that can help encourage a spirit of wellness, including calculators and supporting whitepapers.
Source:
About the Sight On Savings Calculator. (2017, March). Retrieved from Fit Fwd by Davis Vision: http://www.davisvision.com/WhatsMyRisk/
