Pizzarello L D
Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY.
Ophthalmology. 1987 Sep;94(9):1191-5. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(87)33308-1.
America is aging rapidly. Within the next 30 years, those over 65 years of age will grow to form 17% of the population of the United States; the number of people over 85 will more than double. Currently, the rates of eye disease such as cataract, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma are highest in the older group. The risk of blindness is ten times greater for those over age 65 than for younger individuals. This combination of high rates of disease in the fastest growing segment of the population means that the demand for eye care services will increase dramatically. Undoubtedly, new approaches will appear to deal with the epidemiologic reality.
美国正在迅速老龄化。在未来30年内，65岁以上的人口将增长至占美国总人口的17%；85岁以上的人数将增加一倍多。目前，白内障、黄斑变性、糖尿病视网膜病变和青光眼等眼病的发病率在老年群体中最高。65岁以上人群失明的风险比年轻人高十倍。在人口增长最快的群体中疾病高发的这种情况意味着对眼科护理服务的需求将大幅增加。毫无疑问，将会出现新的方法来应对这一流行病学现实。
