Diabetic Retinopathy 

According to Prevent Blindness America (2002), before age 40, diabetic 

retinopathy affects Whites more frequently than other races, however Hispanics 

are the most commonly affected in later decades.  

African Americans are twice as likely to suffer from diabetic related legal 

blindness (American Diabetes Association). 

The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in Mexican Americans is 32 40% 

(American Diabetes Association). 

Macular Degeneration 

Age specific prevalence rates of age related macular degeneration are initially 

comparable between races, however advance more significantly for Whites after 

age 75 (Prevent Blindness America, 2002, p.18). 

AREA OF RESIDENCE

In the U.S., most persons who have a vision impairment live in metropolitan areas 

(70%), but they are less likely to live in metropolitan areas than are persons 

without visual impairments (78%) (Schmeidler & Halfmann, 1998b; based on 1994 

NHIS D). 

Among all individuals who report 

"

serious difficulty seeing, even when wearing 

glasses or contact lenses," 33% live in cities, 37% live in suburbs, 28% live in 

non metropolitan areas (e.g., small towns) and 1% live in farm areas (Schmeidler 

& Halfmann, 1998b). 

In comparison to the general population, persons who report serious difficulty 

seeing, are over represented in cites and non metropolitan areas and somewhat 

under represented in the suburbs (i.e., 48% of general population live in suburbs) 

(Schmeidler & Halfmann, 1998b). 

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