Characteristics of persons with corrective lenses, United States -1971

This report from the Health Interview Survey presents data on the use of corrective lenses for persons 3 years of age and over. Estimates are derived from a survey during 1971 of the civilian, noninstitutionalized population of the United States. Corrective lenses include eyeglasses and contact lenses. The term "corrective Ienses" is limited to visual aids worn to correct or improve vision and therefore excludes sunglasses worn only to filter light, safety glasses worn only for protection of the eyes, hand magnifying glasses, and other such devices. However, if the safety glasses are worn also for correction or improvement of vision, they are considered corrective lenses, as are prescription glasses. This report analyzes use of corrective Ienses by various demographic characteristics. An earlier report from the Health Interview Survey presented data on corrective lenses based on the July 1965-June 1966 survey. It contained information on age at which persons first obtained corrective lenses, type of prescription, usage, and the source of the optical examination if the individual was examined during the 2-year period prior to interview ("Characteristics of Persons with Corrective Lenses: United States, July 1965-June 1966," Vital and Health Statistics, Series 10, Number 53). A later section of the present report compares demographic differences in the proportion of the population with corrective lenses for the two time periods.