Housing insecurity emerges as key factor affecting eye health, study finds

Unstable housing is significantly associated with visual impairment and uncorrected or under-corrected refractive error, according to a new study.

This study underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to support individuals facing unstable housing situations and emphasizes the importance of addressing broader social determinants, such as housing stability, in efforts to improve overall health and well-being.

The study, which included 1165 participants, found a correlation between unstable housing and visual impairment, as well as uncorrected or under-corrected refractive error. Notably, 26.3% of participants facing housing instability experienced visual impairment, while 23.7% exhibited uncorrected or under-corrected refractive errors.

The study also found that 28.9% of participants reported experiencing food insecurity, though no direct association with ocular pathology was identified.

Additionally, the data disclosed that 49.7% of participants had an annual household income of <$20,000, highlighting the socioeconomic challenges faced by many individuals in the study.

Reference
Johnson-Griggs MA, Hicks PM, Lu MC, et al. The Relationship between Unstable Housing, Food Insecurity and Vision Status in the MI-SIGHT Community Eye Disease Screening Program. Ophthalmology. 2023;S0161-6420(23)00668-1. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2023.09.011. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37709171.