With how much they're already spending on health care, it's no surprise that Americans are willing to forgo their annual eye exam just to save a few bucks.

According Versant Health's Vision Wellness Study, one in three Americans is skipping a visit to the eye doctor due to costs–and it could be doing more harm to their overall health than they realize.

"The fact is that vision care is preventative care, but our study found that two-thirds of people don't realize that their eye doctors can detect chronic conditions," says Kirk Rothrock, CEO at Versant Health. "It's critical for people to understand how eye exams allow for early detection and treatment of potentially serious—and costly—health issues."

According to Versant, an eye doctor can screen for as many as 30 chronic conditions during an annual care visit, including diabetes and hypertension. Based on study results, older adults are more likely to be aware of this benefit of vision exams–81 percent of adults aged 60+ place a high value on their doctor's ability to identify a non-eye issue.

"As people age, they often become more aware of the effect their eyesight has on their quality of life and independence," says Versant Health COO Maynard McAlpin. "But eye health also has a significant impact on children, for whom getting an eye exam can mean the difference in their school performance."

Versant compiled the results of its survey into an infographic exploring Americans' perceptions about vision benefits. Check it out:

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Instant Insights /

Americans skip the eye doctor to save on health care costs

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