Baby boomers worry about losing vision

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Almost as many baby boomers say they worry about losing their vision as having heart disease or cancer, a U.S. survey indicates.

A survey by the Ocular Nutrition Society, supported by an educational grant by Bausch + Lomb, indicated 55 percent of baby boomers surveyed worry about vision loss. Sixty percent said they worry about heart disease and 65 percent say they worry about cancer.

Yet fewer than half of survey respondents said they typically have an eye exam at least once a year as recommended.

Almost 60 percent of respondents said they were not aware of the role of omega 3 fatty acids in eye health; 66 percent were not aware of the role of lutein -- found in eggs -- in promoting eye health; and 89 percent were not aware of the role of zeaxanthin -- the pigment that gives paprika, made from bell peppers, corn, saffron and other plants their color -- in eye health.

"As this generation ages, many will be affected by some type of eye concern which could impact their daily lives," Jeffrey Anshel, president of the Ocular Nutrition Society, said in a statement. "If people are at risk for heart disease they typically make lifestyle modifications. This survey found that people are as concerned about their eyes but do not know the simple steps they need to incorporate into their daily lives to take care of them."

The telephone survey of 1,001 U.S. adults ages was 45-65, was conducted by KRC Research. No further survey details were provided.