Use of dilated eye examination: Results of the 2002 National Health Interview Survey

Visual impairment from many eye diseases can be prevented with timely diagnosis and treatment. A dilated eye examination is one of the most important diagnostic tools to detect disease and monitor progression. Healthy People 2010 vision objective 28-1 is to increase the use of dilated eye examination at appropriate intervals. For the first time, national survey data on the receipt of dilated eye examinations were collected in a special supplement to the 2002 National Health Interview Survey. Data were obtained from 31,044 adults 18 years and older and analyzed using bivariate and multivariate techniques in the SUDAAN software package. In 2002, 37.9 % of U.S. adults reported having had a dilated eye examination in the past 12 months; 55% had an exam in the past 2 years, and 18.2% of adults reported that they never had a dilated eye exam. Females were more likely then males to have received a dilated eye exam. Among those who had eye exam, Hispanics, persons with less than high school education, and persons without health insurance were the most disadvantaged groups. Persons with diagnosed diabetes were two times as likely to have dilated eye examination as those without diabetes. This study presents the first national survey data on the receipt of dilated eye examinations among adult Americans. The collaborative efforts of primary care providers, eye care providers, public health professionals, and health educators are needed to achieve this national vision objective and increase the use of dilated eye examinations to preserve vision.