title: Unmet need for corrective eyeglasses: results from a Los Angeles County Hospital survey.
abstract: To investigate the socioeconomic challenges encountered by patients from Los Angeles County Ophthalmology  Clinic, California, United States, in obtaining prescription eyeglasses. A retrospective survey study. Patients sent for refraction in June 2009 were asked to rate their satisfaction with their eyeglasses. If they did not obtain eyeglasses, they were asked the reason e.g., cost, lost prescription, etc. Fifty-five percent (54/99) of patients who received a prescription did not obtain eyeglasses. The most common reason was cost (67 %). Eighty-eight percent of patients had some form of health insurance; however, 100 % were lacking eyeglasses coverage. The mean visual acuity pre-refraction was 20/80 versus 20/30 post-refraction (p < 0.001). It is well known that refractive error is a major cause of blindness worldwide, which negatively impacts the patient and their community. However, it is infrequently addressed that these conditions persist in parts of the develop  world, including the United States. Los Angeles County Hospital is an example of an environment with many low-income patients in need of refractive correction who are limited mainly by cost in attaining eyeglasses. Furthermore, insurance organizations that cover low-income patients provide minimal or no coverage for prescription eyeglasses.
authors.affiliation: Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. jesse.berrymd@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jesse L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: Lloyd M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Cuzzo
authors.forename: Simon R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Bababeygy
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Quiros
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005139:Eyeglasses / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research; D006306:Health Surveys; D006766:Hospitals, County; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011203:Poverty; D055656:Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult