When it comes to healthy living, routine preventive care is crucial. Those annual checkups with a health care professional are key to monitoring health conditions and catching problems early.^₁

But many Americans are skipping their annual visits to their physician. While 53% of Americans had their vision checked in the last year,² only 34% of Americans visited a primary care provider.³  So why are Americans avoiding primary care? There are several possible reasons:

• Fear or embarrassment: When asked by a primary care physician about their health or lifestyle choices, many people feel as if they are being criticized or judged. They may refuse tests or screenings to avoid receiving what they might perceive as bad news.⁴
• Scheduling challenges In a recent survey, 32% of U.S. adults mentioned difficulty making an appointment with their primary care provider.⁵
• Unaware of health risks Relatively healthy people may not think they are at risk of specific diseases or conditions until symptoms arise.

The rising importance of eye care

With fewer Americans visiting their primary care provider, the role of optometrists and general ophthalmologists is even more significant. As eye exam technology continues to evolve, the impact of routine vision exams on overall health and preventive care will continue to grow.

Detecting a range of health conditions

During a comprehensive eye exam, an eye care professional can detect a growing list of systemic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and even brain tumors.⁶

Monitoring overall eye health

Beyond looking for vision changes, eye care professionals also monitor overall eye health. That means earlier detection of eye-health specific conditions like diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and glaucoma.⁷

Focused on children’s vision and learning

Eye exams aren’t just important for adults. Poor vision in children can have a material impact on their ability to learn as well as their continued social and emotional development. A children’s eye exam can also detect more serious vision issues like amblyopia or “lazy eye” which is the most common cause of vision loss in kids. Catching amblyopia sooner allows proactive treatment for healthy vision.⁸

Committed to member health

As fewer Americans visit their primary care providers, the role of eye care professionals becomes even more valuable. Now more than ever, we are committed to making essential eye care accessible and convenient for our members. For more information on the importance of eye care professionals, check out our latest whitepaper.

To learn more, speak with your EyeMed representative or visit eyed.com

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1 “Are You Up to Date on Your Preventive Care?”; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; cdc.gov; May 15, 2024.

2 “Eye Doctors: Finding Care in America in 2022”; NVISION; nvisioncenters.com; October, 2022.

3 “34% of Americans have visited a primary care provider in the last year”; Becker’s Physician Leadership; beckersphysicianleadership.com; August 25, 2023.

4 ^“4 reasons People Don’t Go to the Doctor”; Verywell Health; verywelhealthcom; August 29, 2023.

5 “Americans’ Primary Care Experiences and Preferences: 2024 Survey Report”; US News Health; health.usnews.com; April 24, 2024.

6 “20 Surprising Health Problems an Eye Exam Can Catch”; American Academy of Ophthalmology; aao.org; April 24, 2024.

7 “Why Eye Exams Are Important”; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; cdc.gov; May 15, 2024.

8  Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)”; National Eye Institute; nei.nih.gov; November 26, 2024.