Quick Facts about Blindness and Visual Impairment
- Approximately 14 million individuals aged 12 years and older have visual impairment, among which more than 80% could be corrected to good vision with refractive correction.
- As of 2004, blindness or low vision affects more than 3.3 million Americans aged 40 years and older; this number is predicted to double by 2030 due to the increasing epidemics of diabetes and other chronic diseases and our rapidly aging U.S. population.
- Approximately 6.8% of children younger than 18 years in the United States have a diagnosed eye and vision condition.
- The annual economic impact of major vision problems among the adult population 40 years and older is more than $145 billion.
- Vision disability is one of the top 10 disabilities among adults 18 years and older and one of the most prevalent disabling conditions among children.
- Early detection and timely treatment of eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy has been found to be efficacious and cost effective.
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