Sociodemographic differences in access to vision care among adults in the United States, 1974-1975

Access to refractive care is examined by comparing uncorrected and corrected (with eyeglasses or contact lenses) distance visual acuity across eight race-sex-economic status groups. Of those with less than 20/20 uncorrected distance visual acuity, the age-adjusted proportion using corrective lenses is examined across these sociodemographic groups to assess unmet need in vision care. Measurements of distance visual acuity were obtained for 2,828 adults aged 25-74 years from the national probability sample selected for the 1974-1975 National Health and Nutrition Examination Augmentation Survey. Questionnaire responses were collected on usual correction. Individuals were classified by race, sex, and economic status. Weighted least squares categoric data analysis showed that blacks, males, and nonpoor persons have a higher proportion with 20/20 uncorrected distance vision than whites, females, and poor persons. Individuals who are white, male, and nonpoor are more likely to have 20/20 corrected distance vision than their counterparts.