No LASIK - No Money, No Health Care

Glasses, contacts and LASIK surgery all help many people see clearly, but a study suggests millions of Americans are not getting the help they need to improve their poor eyesight.

"The good news is that 94 percent of Americans ages 12 and older see well enough to pass the visual acuity test required by most states to get a driver's license," said Mary Frances Cotch, of the National Eye Institute.

However, the bad news was 14 million Americans -- or 1 in 15 -- have impaired vision. Eleven million of them could correct the problem with glasses or contacts. Those with the highest rates of vision problems include racial minorities, the poor, people with diabetes and the uninsured.

"Our findings suggest that lack of access to health care and insufficient financial resources may prevent some people from getting the corrective lenses they need so they can see well," Cotch said.

The researchers say that public health programs should address vision needs and that all Americans should get regular eye exams.

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