Refractive Errors Common in Adults

Nearly 50 percent of adults (age 20 and older) in the United States have refraction errors in their eyes, according to an article in the Archives of Ophthalmology. Refractive errors affect vision, resulting in less than 20/20 vision. They usually require corrective lenses for correction or improvement.

According to the article, refractive error is the most common condition affecting eye health of the U.S. population. Providing eye care to these adults, including eyeglasses and contact lenses, costs about $3.8 to $7.2 billion dollars per year.

Suggested Reading:

• What It Means to Be Nearsighted
• What It Means to Be Farsighted
• What Is Astigmatism?

_{Source: McKenney, Anna Sophia. Refractive Errors Significantly Affect Adults In United States. Medical News Today, 13 Aug 2008.}