The global financial cost of childhood blindness is said to be between $6 billion & $27 billion.
2010 – Blindness by Race:
83% White, 11% Black, 3% Hispanic, 3% Other
In developing countries, it is believed that 60-80% of children who become blind die within 1-2 years.
2010 – Blindness by gender: 55% Female, 34% Male
Globally, UNCORRECTED REFRACTIVE ERRORS are the main cause of moderate and severe visual impairment.
The global prevalence of childhood blindness is thought to be around 4% or approximately one tenth of the prevalence of blindness in adults.
An estimated 1.4 million children are blind, 320,000 of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa.
Approximately 2.5% or 5.3 million Americans aged 18 years and older have diabetic retinopathy.
90% OF PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND LIVE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WITH LOW INCOME
Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the middle and low income countries.
80% of all learning takes place visually in the first 12 years of life.
For each decade after 40 there's a 300% increase in blindness.
The leading cause of blindness in children is EYE INJURY and 75% of injuries happen when no adult is present.
Most of these injuries can be prevented by using proper eye protection and following safety precautions.
31% of people in the U.S. need vision correction due to presbyopia or age related "farsightedness."
Approximately 16% or 20.5 million Americans 40 years and older have cataracts.
Only half of the estimated 61 million adults in the United States, who classify as being at high risk for serious vision loss, have visited an eye doctor in the past year.
In the U.S., 64% of adults or 143 million people wear prescriptive eyewear.
Approximately 2% or 2.2 million Americans 40 years and older have glaucoma.
2010 – Vision impairment by gender:
64% Female, 36% Male