Vision Loss in America: Aging and Low Vision

September 4, 2018

New Report Finds Vision Impairment & Eye Disorders are on the Rise

Thomas I. Porter, OD, FAAO, Director, Low Vision Service, Saint Louis University Department of Ophthalmology and Medical Adviser to The Vision Council

(Alexandria, VA., Tuesday, March 3, 2015) – More than 39 million Americans suffer from severe vision impairment or a disorder that compromises eye health with the prevalence expected to rise to 63 million people within the next 15 years. Vision Loss in America: Aging and Low Vision, a new report released by The Vision Council, describes the epidemic and illustrates the pervasive impact eye disorders can have on health and well-being.

Social stigma and lack of awareness of progressive eye diseases create barriers to adequately addressing low vision, defined as visual impairments that are not correctable through surgery, pharmaceuticals, glasses, or contact lenses. It is estimated that these impairments cost $68 billion annually in direct health care costs, lost productivity and diminished quality of life.

 The report highlights research showing that only approximately 20 percent of adults with severe vision impairment use devices that could help maintain activities of daily living. This figure is even lower for specific populations such as African Americans, according to the report, which is being released during Low Vision Awareness month.

Low vision is often characterized by partial sight such as blurred vision, blind spots or tunnel vision and can be caused by several eye conditions and degenerative eye disorders. Listed below are several eye disorders that cause vision loss and the prevalence of these conditions in Americans:

  • Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a condition that breaks down the macula, the part of the eye responsible for sharp, straight-on vision, is the leading cause of vision loss among Americans over 65. The NEI estimates 2 million Americans age 50 and older are impacted by AMD, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates as many as 7 million are at risk for developing AMD.  
  • More than 24 million Americans have cataracts, a condition that clouds the lens of the eye and causes blurry vision.
  • Currently, there are 7.6 million Americans with diabetic retinopathy, according to the National Eye Institute. Diabetic retinopathy is a co-morbidity of diabetes. Blood vessel damage associated with diabetes can affect the retina and result in its detachment.

The NEI reports that more than 2.7 million Americans have glaucoma. This group of diseases damages the eye’s optic nerve often delaying diagnosis until advanced stages of the disease.

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