Alarming Statistics
Approximately 7 million people in the United States have visual impairments. This includes 1 million people who are blind.
In 2012, 4.2 million Americans aged 40 and older had uncorrectable visual impairments. That number is projected to more than double by 2050. The U.S. has a rapidly aging population, which means there will be more people living with diabetes and other chronic conditions that can lead to vision loss.
Approximately 6.8% of children under 18 in the U.S. have been diagnosed with an eye or vision problem. Nearly 3% of children under 18 are blind or have a visual impairment. This is defined as difficulty seeing even with glasses or contact lenses.
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), about 2,000 American workers suffer work-related eye injuries every day that require medical treatment.
An estimated 93 million adults in the United States are at high risk for severe vision loss. The economic cost of serious vision problems is projected to rise to $373 billion by 2050.
Visual impairment ranks among the top 10 disabilities in adults aged 18 and older. It is also one of the most prevalent disabling conditions among children.
In the United States, 90% of diabetes-related blindness cases are preventable.
Vision loss has a substantial social and economic impact on millions of people. This includes significant disability, loss of productivity, and a reduced quality of life.
In 2017, approximately 93 million adults in the U.S. aged 18 and older—or about 4 in 10—were at high risk for vision loss, according to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology. Among adults at high risk for vision loss, about 40% had not seen an ophthalmologist or had an eye exam in the past year. Furthermore, among adults who reported needing glasses, more than 8 million—or about 1 in 11—said they could not afford them.
For this study, data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a nationally representative survey of non-institutionalized civilians, were analyzed. The analysis included nearly 33,000 survey respondents aged 18 or older in 2017 and excluded adults who were blind or had other vision problems. Adults at high risk for vision loss included those who reported having a diagnosis of diabetes, vision or eye problems, or who were 65 years of age or older.