Eye and Vision Health for Tomorrow

Abstract

n 2016, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) published the landmark report Making Eye Health a Population Health Imperative: Vision for Tomorrow. 1 This report defines eye and vision health problems as a growing population health concern for the nation: "Vision loss and impairment qualify as public health problems in that they (1) affect a large number of people; (2) impose large morbidity, quality-of-life, and cost burdens; (3) are increasing in severity and are predicted to continue increasing; (4) are perceived by the public to be a threat; and (5) are feasibly addressed by community or public health-level interventions. Yet, as a chronic condition, vision impairment remains notably absent from many public health agendas and community programs….Vision is often regarded as a given-until it is not." 1(pp1,9) The NASEM report contains 9 recommendations to improve vision and health equity in the United States. These recommendations are described as "visionary…meant to set in motion a variety of broad-based actions that can contribute to the prioritization of eye and vision health at national, state, and local levels." 1(p455) This approach "has the benefit of encouraging coordinated actions that can sustain a larger movement." 1(p455) In this article, we describe the subsequent steps that have been taken since the report's publication and the road map that has been developed to facilitate the execution of the aspirational goals articulated in this report.

Embedding and Sustaining a Focus on Function in Specialty Research and Care

“…Studies are assessing sensory impairments as modifiable aspects of cognitive impairment to elevate sensory health within patients' own and national health priorities. 40,54,55 A key next step for researchers will include assessing barriers, facilitators, and processes for integrating sensory assessments and aides within clinical practice overall, and cognitive assessments in particular.…”