Stat Tracker

Eye Disease Continues to Increase Among Americans

Millions of Americans are currently living with age-related eye disease and that number is continuing to climb, according to the latest research from Prevent Blindness America and the National Eye Institute. With more than 130 million Americans aged 40 and older, more than 30 million suffer from leading causes of vision loss such as cataract, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and glaucoma, according to the newly revised edition of the "Vision Problems in the U.S." study.

Revised data from the study showed that among Americans aged 40 and older:

► Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) cases rose 25%, the largest increase of the major eye diseases. Currently, 2 million Americans have been diagnosed with AMD

► Diabetic retinopathy affects more than 4.4 million Americans. As the diabetes epidemic rages on, the number of cases of the disease will continue to soar

► There are 2.29 million American adults with glaucoma and 2 million more are estimated to have the disease and do not know it

► Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in the world and 22.3 million American adults have the disease. Although surgery can be highly successful, not all Americans are fortunate enough to have access to affordable care.

"Our research shows that vision loss continues to threaten the quality of life for millions of Americans," says Daniel D. Garrett, senior vice president of Prevent Blindness America. "Our challenge continues to be education, whether it be convincing the public to practice regular eye care or by convincing our government leaders that millions of precious healthcare dollars can be saved through prevention services."

As the baby boomer population continues to age, the number of those who are visually impaired is expected to double in the next 30 years. And, from an economic perspective, the costs associated with adult vision problems in the United States are $51.4 billion annually.

Research from Prevent Blindness America's 2007 "Economic Impact of Vision Problems: The Toll of Major Adult Eye Disorders, Visual Impairment, and Blindness on the U.S. Economy," totaled the financial costs of vision conditions to individuals and their caregivers, and the impact on the economy. OM

About These Data:

Funding for "Vision Problems in the U.S." and the 2008 Update to the Fourth Edition, was provided through a subcontract from the National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Research described in this report was conducted by dozens of scientists from all over the world. Prevalence estimates for "Vision Problems in the U.S." were created under a grant from Prevent Blindness America to Johns Hopkins University.

For more information on eye disease or to receive a copy of the 2008 "Vision Problems in the U.S." report, please call Prevent Blindness America at (800) 331-2020 or visit www.preventblindness.org.