FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How many people of all ages have a vision impairment?
National estimates for the overall prevalence of vision impairment vary, depending
upon the definition utilized.
An estimated 7.9 million persons (age 6 and older) have difficulty seeing words and
letters in ordinary newspaper print, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses
(McNeil, 2001).
Approximately 8.3 million persons of all ages (3.1%) are "blind in one or both eyes
or report some other trouble seeing" (Adams, Hendershot, & Marano, 1999).
How many middle aged and older adults report some form of vision
problem?
One in six Americans (17%), 45 years of age or older, representing 16.5
million middle age and older adults, report some form of vision
impairment even when wearing glasses or contact lenses (The
Lighthouse Inc., 1995).
The prevalence of self reported vision impairment increases with age.
The following report some form of vision impairment: 15% (9.3 million)
Americans age 45 64 years; 17% (3.1 million) age 65 74 years and 26%
(4.3 million) age 75 years and older (The Lighthouse Inc., 1995).
Among persons age 65 and older, 21% report some form of vision
impairment (The Lighthouse Inc., 1995). Based on 2000 population
estimates, this represents 7.3 million persons.
The vast majority of middle aged and older Americans who report vision impairment
are partially sighted rather than totally blind. Only 2% of all Americans age 45 and
older report that they are blind in both eyes (The Lighthouse Inc., 1995).
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