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.
82% of people living with blindness are aged 50 and above.
19% of people in the U.S. use contact lenses.
Globally, UNCORRECTED REFRACTIVE ERRORS are the main cause of moderate and severe visual impairment.
In the U.S., 64% of adults or 143 million people wear prescriptive eyewear.
61% of people in the U.S. need eyewear due to Myopia or "nearsightedness."
2010 – Blindness by Race:
83% White, 11% Black, 3% Hispanic, 3% Other
61% of the U.S. adult population had an eye examination within the past year.
Worldwide, up to 70% of childhood blindness is preventable.
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.
80% OF ALL EYE DISEASE IS PREVENTABLE OR CURABLE
An estimated 1.4 million children are blind, 320,000 of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa.
Approximately 14 million Americans aged 12 years and older have self-reported visual impairment defined as distance visual acuity of 20/50 or worse.
An estimated 3.1% of deaths worldwide are directly or indirectly due to cataract, glaucoma, trachoma & onchocerciasis.
Approximately 2% or 2.2 million Americans 40 years and older have glaucoma.
64% of people in the U.S. use eyeglasses.
2010 – Vision impairment by gender:
64% Female, 36% Male
Approximately 2.5% or 5.3 million Americans aged 18 years and older have diabetic retinopathy.
Globally the major causes of visual impairment are: