Eye Care Statistics
There are so many eye conditions that can result in vision loss and blindness. Some are the result of aging while others are caused by injuries and medical conditions. Thankfully our Nashville, TN practice offers numerous state-of-the-art treatments to preserve and improve your vision.
The team at Choate Eye Associates would like to look at some telling statistics about eye care and vision problems. This should help you understand some of the matters we are able to help our patients with. Unless it’s noted otherwise, the numbers cited below come from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
Statistics on Refractive Error
Refractive error refers to common vision issues that many people suffer from.
- Nearsightedness (Myopia) - More than 34 million Americans age 40 or older
- Farsightedness (Hyperopia) - More than 14.2 million Americans age 40 or older
- Astigmatism - Roughly 1 in 3 Americans suffers from astigmatism
Statistics on Corrective Lenses
To treat refractive error, many people use prescription lenses, such as glasses or contacts. More than 150 million Americans wear corrective eyewear to treat their refractive error.
In addition to prescription glasses, an estimated 37 million Americans wear contact lenses for their refractive error.
Statistics on Refractive Surgery
Glasses and contacts can be effective, but more and more people are turning to refractive surgery such as LASIK to meet their vision needs. According to the Stein Eye Institute at UCLA, there are approximately 700,000 laser vision correction surgeries performed annually. Of the people who undergo LASIK, the patient satisfaction rate is around 95 percent.
Statistics on Eye Injury
It’s estimated that 2.4 million Americans suffer from eye injuries each year. Of this total number, 2,000 injuries a day are the result of injuries at the workplace. An estimated 125,000 eye injuries occur at home.
Perhaps the most startling statistic about eye injuries is that up to 90 percent of these injuries could have been prevented from the simple use of eye protection such as goggles.
Low Vision, Visual Impairment, and Blindness
There are three kinds of vision loss classifications. Let’s consider each individually:
- Low Vision - Low vision means that a person’s best corrected vision is still worse than 20/40. Approximately 2.9 million Americans age 40 or older have low vision.
- Visual Impairment - Visual impairment means that a person’s best corrected vision in their best eye is still worse than 20/40. Approximately 4.2 million Americans age 40 or older suffer from visual impairment.
- Blindness - Blindness means that a person’s best corrected vision in their best eye is still worse than 20/200. Approximately 1.3 million Americans age 40 or older suffer from blindness.
Statistics on Cataracts
Among Americans age 40 and older, 24.4 million have developed cataracts. They’re a common part of the aging process, which is why half of all Americans age 75 or olde have suffered from cataracts.
Statistics on Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in older Americans. The Bright Focus Foundation estimates 11 million Americans suffer from some form of AMD. In addition, the Macular Degeneration Partnership estimates that 200,000 new people are diagnosed with AMD annually.
Statistics on Glaucoma
Glaucoma is also a leading cause of blindness, and its symptoms may not be caught soon enough unless people undergo regular eye exams. It’s estimated that 2.7 million Americans age 40 or older suffer from glaucoma. If you are at risk for glaucoma, be sure to visit your eye doctor regularly.
Statistics on Diabetic Eye Disease
If you suffer from diabetes, there’s a risk you’ll experience some kind of vision loss as a side effect of your condition. The National Eye Institute estimates that 7.7 million Americans suffer from diabetic retinopathy, which involves damage to the blood vessels of the retina. These numbers are expected to increase to 11.3 million by the year 2030.
Learn More About Your Vision
For more information about improving your vision and maintaining the vision you currently have, be sure to contact our eye care specialists. The team at Choate Eye Associates is here to help. You can contact our eye care and vision center by phone at (615) 805-0712.
