Poor access to care contributes to hidden burden of eye disease in Black communities

Undetected eye disease is common among African American adults, especially those with diabetes and limited access to eye care, according to a study.

Researchers analyzed data from 6,347 African American participants aged 40 and older who were part of the African American Eye Disease Study (AFEDS). Of those, 3,434 were diagnosed with ≥1 eye condition, such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, or visually significant cataracts, but 766 participants (22%) had no prior knowledge of their diagnosis.

The study found that individuals with diabetes were more than 3 times as likely to have undetected eye disease. Other predictors included never having had an eye exam, poor self-reported vision, and difficulty obtaining glasses.

Reference
Dhablania N, Torres M, Burkemper B, et al; African American Eye Disease Study Group. Burden and Predictors of Undetected Eye Disease in Adult African Americans: African American Eye Disease Study (AFEDS). Am J Ophthalmol. 2025;S0002-9394(25)00368-X. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2025.07.013. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40684968.