ESTIMATES BASED ON VISUAL ACUITY: 

Visual Impairment 

Approximately 2.4 million Americans age 40 years and older have a 

best corrected 

visual acuity of worse than 20/40 but better than 20/200 in the better eye 

(Prevent 

Blindness America, 2002*).  

An estimated 3.4 million Americans age 40 years and older have a 

best corrected 

visual acuity of worse than 20/40 in the better eye

 (Prevent Blindness America, 

2002*). 

Legal Blindness 

[Note: different data sources are used depending upon age group of interest.] 

 More than one million Americans age 40 and older are legally blind (

clinically 

measured visual acuity with best correction in the better eye worse than or equal 

to  20/200 or a visual field of less than 20 degrees

) (Prevent Blindness America, 

2002*). 

Among individuals age 65 and older, approximately 713,000 are legally blind 

(

clinically measured visual acuity of 20/200 or less)

 (Chiang, Bassi, & Javitt, 

1992). 

*

NOTE:  Original source provides data for each state.

 PERSONS UNDER AGE 45

Nationally, 1.7% of persons under age 45 (3 million) self report a visual impairment, 

defined as 

blindness in one or both eyes or any other reported trouble seeing 

even when wearing glasses or contact lenses

 (Adams, Hendershot, & Marano, 

1999).  

YOUNG & WORKING AGE ADULTS

Visual Impairment 

Among young adults age 18 44, 2.4% or 2.6 million persons report a visual 

impairment defined as 

blindness in one or both eyes or any other reported trouble 

seeing even when wearing glasses or contact lenses

 (Adams, Hendershot, & 

Marano, 1999). 

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