Vision Problems in the U.S.
Prevalence of Adult Vision Impairment and Age-Related Eye Disease in America
Blindness (PDF)
1,046,920 people in America age 40 and older are blind
Legal blindness is typically defined as visual acuity with best correction in the better eye worse than or equal to 20/200 or a visual field extent of less than 20 degrees in diameter.
Vision Impairment (PDF)
3,406,280 people in America age 40 and older are visually impaired
Vision Impairment is defined as having 20/40 or worse vision in the better eye even with eyeglasses.
Cataract (PDF)
20,476,040 people in America age 40 and older have cataracts
Cataract is a clouding of the eye's naturally clear lens. One in every six people in this age range will be affected by cataract. By age 80, more than half of all Americans have cataract.
Glaucoma (PDF)
2,227,485 people in America age 40 and older have glaucoma
Glaucoma is a disease that causes a gradual degeneration of cells that make up the optic nerve. As nerve cells die, vision is slowly lost. Often, the loss of vision is unnoticeable until significant nerve damage has occurred.
Diabetic Retinopathy (PDF)
5,353,233 people in America age 18 and older have diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes affecting the tiny blood vessels of the retina. These vessels can break down, leak, become blocked, or abnormal new blood vessels may grow on the surface of the retina -- impairing vision over time.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) (PDF)
1,651,335 people in America age 50 and older have AMD
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) primarily affects the part of the retina responsible for sharp central vision. Dry AMD (non-exudative) is the most common form of the disease. Wet AMD (exudative) is less common, but is more threatening to vision.