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Study Finds Most Visually Impaired Canadians Could Solve Their Sight Issues with Contact Lenses

by Tim Fletcher 28. June 2012 07:42

A recent study has found that approximately one in seven adult Canadians may be living with vision loss.

The study, referred to as the Canadian Uncorrected Refractive Error Study (CURES), was carried out by CNIB and the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry. According to Dr Barbara Robinson, an epidemiologist at UW’s School of Optometry and the lead investigator of the study, CURES was the first study to provide population-based data on the incidence of visual impairment in the country.

The expert added that three quarters of the individuals who participated in the study and had vision problems could quickly solve them by wearing appropriate contact lenses or glasses.

These results were not very surprising to Dr Keith Gordon, the vice president of research at CNIB, as similar data were obtained in the United States and Australia, where most vision issues were easy to solve with contact lenses or spectacles and resulted from the fact that patients rarely visit their eye care practitioners.

Gordon added that researchers failed to explain the reasons for the attitude patients have towards eye care, which is quite worrying.

Tags: Canadians, Canadian Uncorrected Refractive Error Study, CURES, CNIB, University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry, Dr Barbara Robinson, Dr Keith Gordon