Trends and disparities in access and utilization to eye care among U.S. adults aged ≥18 years, National Health Interview Survey, 1999 to 2013

Objectives.To estimate trends and disparities in access to and utilization to eye care.

Methods.We used data from the 1999-2013 National Health Interview Survey for 1,015,783 adults aged ≥18 years. We measured access and utilization by self-report of seeing an eye doctor in the past year, inability to afford eyeglasses, and having eye insurance last year.  We used linear tests for trend to examine the changes in prevalence over these years. We assessed the change in racial disparity adjusting for age, sex, and education.

Results. From 1999-2013, the prevalence of adults who reported seeing an eye doctor in the last year increased an average of 1.5% per year from 28.3% to 35.0%. The prevalence of people having eye care insurance in the last year increased an average of 7.2% per year from 25.8% to 53.7%, and the prevalence of adults who reported inability to afford eyeglasses increased an average of 3.0% per year, from 5.0% to 7.3% (p<0.001 for all). Seeing an eye doctor in the past year increased between among Whites (35.6% to 42.3%), Blacks (25.0% to 32.0%), Hispanics (19.1% to 26.5%), and Asians (28.2% to 35.5%) (P<0.001 for all increases). However, the change in racial disparities was not significant (P= 0.47).

Conclusions. The prevalence of seeing an eye doctor and having eye care insurance has increased; however, the rate of those unable to afford eyeglasses also increased over these years. Seeing an eye doctor in the past year increased among all racial groups but the disparity did not change.