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Top Ten Eye-Opening Statistics:

  1. More than 12 million Americans age 40 and older have vision impairment, including approximately 1 million who are blind. These numbers are expected to increase substantially as the population ages.
  2. An estimated 93 million U.S. adults are at high risk for serious vision loss, yet only about half receive a comprehensive eye exam each year.
  3. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma are the leading causes of permanent vision loss in older adults in the United States.
  4. Approximately 20% of Americans age 85 and older live with permanent vision loss, making vision impairment one of the most common health challenges associated with aging.
  5. Vision loss is a leading risk factor for falls, fractures, loss of independence, and nursing home admission among older adults.
  6. People with vision impairment are significantly more likely to experience depression, anxiety, social isolation, and cognitive decline than those with normal vision.
  7. Vision loss is consistently ranked among the health conditions people fear most, often above hearing loss, loss of mobility, or other chronic conditions because of its impact on independence and quality of life.
  8. The economic burden of vision loss in the United States exceeds $35 billion annually, including direct medical costs and lost productivity, and is projected to increase dramatically in coming decades.
  9. Many common causes of vision loss are preventable or treatable when detected early. Regular comprehensive eye exams can help identify eye diseases before noticeable vision loss occurs.
  10. The number of Americans with vision impairment and blindness is expected to nearly double by 2050 unless improvements in prevention, early detection, and treatment continue.