Economic Burden of Vision Loss in Children and Adolescents in the United States.

Abstract

Purpose: To quantify the economic burden of vision loss in U.S. children and adolescents aged 0 to 18 years.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional economic analysis study using publicly available data sources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This study employed a comprehensive data analysis using the American Community Survey, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, American Time Use Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National and State Health Expenditure Accounts, and the National Health Interview Survey. Total costs attributed to vision loss among children were categorized into medical expenses, nursing home care, supportive services, and productivity losses. Data were stratified by state to investigate regional differences in economic burden within the continental United States.

Results: The study found that in 2017, the average economic burden per-child with vision loss in the United States was $15,150 annually, with a total cost of approximately $9.4 billion annually. This compares to a cost of $13,110 per-person affected age 19 to 64 years and $21,560 per-person affected age 65 years or older. The per-affected child cost for males ($15,210) was slightly higher than for females ($15,090) and generally uniform across geographies. Productivity loss due to informal care requirements represented the largest cost driver at 73.2%.

Conclusions: Vision loss in children and adolescents imposes a significant economic burden, particularly through productivity losses due to informal caregiving. The findings underscore the need for targeted public health strategies that consider the regional disparities in economic impact and focus on preventive measures to reduce the long-term economic and social consequences of pediatric vision loss.