New Data Reveals: 1 in 3 Aussies With Poor Vision Admit to Reduced Physical Health and Wellbeing

Over one in three Australians with sight problems may be the unhealthy and unhappy poor cousins of those with 20-20 vision, according to new research released by Australia’s leading network of eye clinics, PersonalEYES. After surveying over 780 Australians who have, or have had vision issues, 35 per cent of respondents admitted to reducing their exercise and some cut back on social activities due to poor sight.

One in three (32%) women have had to reduce their exercise, while 38% of men cut back physical activity due to sight problems. More alarming still, close to three in four (73%) contact lens wearers said they exercised less because of sight problems before getting help with their vision.

Dr Chandra Bala, eye surgeon with PersonalEYES says, “You don’t imagine that poor vision will have such an impact across so many aspects of a person’s life, but this study proves sight issues effect overall physical and mental wellbeing.”

The study also found that Australians with poor sight may go out less to see friends, with one in five (20%) women reducing their social activities because of sight issues and 13% of men curbing their social lives because of sight problems. Physical and mental wellbeing among the thirty-something age group is the hardest hit by poor vision – sight issues forced 45% of these Australians to reduce their exercise and one in five cut back on social activities.

Sight issues take a toll across the board with close to one in 10 (9%) men reporting they had to change jobs due to their sight problems, while 6% of women changed jobs because of their eye problems.

Dr Bala says, “We also found that one in 10 (11%) respondents had ongoing health problems such as headaches and sore eyes due to their vision issues. So while poor sight causes practical, social and work related issues, it also causes daily symptoms that Australians are forced to manage.”

All age groups also reported that they were forced to do less computer work or paperwork due to vision problems with one in three (36%) cutting back on these activities which were seen as important.

“Because sight problems have such far reaching effects, we encourage Australians to seek solutions to vision problems. In some cases, glasses will work perfectly well, in others surgery can give excellent outcomes. In all cases, in my clinical experience, we often see our patients’ general health and wellbeing improving when their vision problems are treated,” Dr Bala says.

For interviews with Dr Chandra Bala and more information, please contact:
Eve Hanks | 0414 589 537 | 02 9279 3330 | e: [email protected]

About PersonalEYES

PersonalEYES is Australia’s leading network of eye care clinics, with 12 surgery centres in NSW and ACT. Specialists in corrective eye surgery, personalEYES was established by internationally recognised refractive surgeon Dr Kerrie Meades, the first female ophthalmologist to perform LASIK eye surgery in Australia, and has remained at the forefront of eye care technology and procedures in Australia.

In addition, personalEYES’Donate Glasses program in the Solomon Islands has helped thousands of vision-impaired people through the donation of pre-loved glasses. Visit www.personaleyes.com.au