Eye Care and Vision Statistics Put Your Sight in Perspective

The team at Primary Eye Care Associates believes that statistics can be illuminating. Even though our Chicago, IL vision practice offers eye care procedures to address various vision needs, it’s sometimes numbers that drive the point home for patients. Facts and figures can help patients understand the importance of preventative care, and illustrate the need for regular eye exams.

Dr. Steven Chander and the entire team here would like to consider some fascinating eye care statistics. Unless otherwise noted, the following statistics were compiled by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

Statistics on Refractive Error

More than 34 millions age 40 or older are myopic (nearsighted), meaning they have difficulty seeing faraway objects. Around 14.2 million Americans are hyperopic (farsighted), meaning they have trouble seeing nearby objects. Astigmatism often accompanies both of these conditions, and affects approximately 1 in 3 Americans.

Statistics on Low Vision

Low vision occurs when someone’s best corrected vision is still worse than 20/40. Around 2.9 million Americans age 40 or older suffer from low vision.

Statistics on Visual Impairment

Visual impairment occurs when the best corrected vision in someone’s best eye is still worse than 20/40. Around 4.2 millions Americans age 40 or older suffer from visual impairment.

Statistics on Blindness

Blindness refers to individuals whose best corrected vision in their best eye is worse than 20/200. Around 1.3 million Americans age 40 or older are blind.

Statistics on Corrective Lenses

Many people wear prescription lenses in order to address their refractive error. It’s estimated that 150 million Americans wear corrective lenses to address refractive error. Of that number, 37 million Americans wear contact lenses.

Statistics on Refractive Surgery

Even though glasses and contacts remain popular, many people have undergone or are considering LASIK and other laser eye surgeries to address refractive error. The Stein Eye Institute at UCLA estimates approximately 700,000 refractive surgery procedures are performed each year. Around 95 percent of LASIK patients are satisfied by the results of their procedure.

Macular Degeneration Statistics

Macular degeneration is one of the most common causes of vision loss during advanced age. The Bright Focus Foundation estimates 11 million Americans currently suffer from some form of age-related macular degeneration. The Macular Degeneration Partnership estimates that around 200,000 new people are diagnosed with AMD every year.

Cataract Statistics

Cataracts are another common cause of age-related vision loss. An estimated 24.4 million Americans age 40 or older have developed from cataracts. Given how common cataracts are in older individuals, it’s estimated that half of all Americans age 75 or older will develop cataracts.

Glaucoma Statistics

Glaucoma is a major cause of blindness, and it can be difficult to initially diagnose. Approximately 2.7 million Americans age 40 or older suffer from glaucoma. If you are at risk for glaucoma, be sure to discuss this with your eye doctor so regular screenings can be performed.

Diabetic Eye Disease Statistics

Diabetes can cause many health problems, even impacting your vision. The National Eye Institute estimates that 7.7 million Americans suffer from diabetic retinopathy, a condition that results in damage to the blood vessels of the eyes. The number is feared to increase to 11.3 million Americans by the year 2030.

Eye Injury Statistics

Approximately 2.4 million eye injuries are reported annually in the United States. Of this number, 2,000 each day are the result of workplace injuries and accidents. In addition, 125,000 of these eye injuries occur at home. What’s interesting about all this is that 90 percent of these injuries could have been avoided had the person been wearing simple eye protection, such as goggles or a face mask.

Contact Primary Eye Care Associates

For more information about you vision and how we can help address your health concerns, we encourage you to contact the team of Primary Eye Care Associates. You can also call us at (773) 492-6041. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you see clearly.