Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #107092

Michael L. Ganz, MS, PhD¹, Ziming Xuan¹, and David G. Hunter, MD, PhD². (1) Department of Society, Human Development, and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Kresge 615, Boston, MA 02115, 617-432-2383, mganz@hsph.harvard.edu, (2) Dept. of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115

The National Eye Institute has identified priorities for research and action, with the goal of reducing eye health disparities. One key research priority is health services research on the epidemiology and use of services. Data on the number and characteristics of people with eye conditions, along with data on use of and financing of services are needed to raise public awareness of the burden of these disorders. Considering that children are a particularly vulnerable group, it is surprising that very little is known about the distribution of eye conditions and utilization and expenditure patterns for vision-related services. Given that children are at high risk for eye conditions, and that problems arising in childhood can have large impacts on future outcomes, we are investigating these topics specifically for children. Using the nationally representative Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys for the years 1996-2001 we have estimated the prevalence of children with diagnosed eye conditions. An estimated 6.7% of children have a diagnosed eye/vision condition. Excluding conjunctivitis (which is commonly managed by primary care providers), the 5 most common conditions among children with some type of condition are: disorders of the globe (14%), disorders of refraction (20%), visual disturbances (including amblyopia) (4%), contusions of the eye (4%), and other disorders not elsewhere classified (8%). White children, children on Medicaid, and those with other family members with eye/vision conditions are more likely to have a condition. Hispanic children and those in very good or excellent health are less likely to have any condition.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will learn how the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey can be used to identify children with diagnosed eye/vision conditions. Participants will learn about the distribution of those conditions among children in the US.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation