Statistics and Data
Prevalence of Blindness Data
Data Tables
Summary of Eye Disease Prevalence Data
Prevalence of Cataract, Age-Related Macular Degeneration, and Open-Angle Glaucoma Among Adults 40 Years and Older in the United States*
| Age, |
Cataract |
Advanced AMD |
Intermediate AMD |
Glaucoma |
| Years |
Persons |
(%) |
Persons |
(%) |
Persons |
(%) |
Persons |
(%) |
| 40-49 |
1,046,000 |
2.5% |
20,000 |
0.1% |
851,000 |
2.0% |
290,000 |
0.7% |
| 50-59 |
2,123,000 |
6.8% |
113,000 |
0.4% |
1,053,000 |
3.4% |
318,000 |
1.0% |
| 60-69 |
4,061,000 |
20.0% |
147,000 |
0.7% |
1,294,000 |
6.4% |
369,000 |
1.8% |
| 70-79 |
6,973,000 |
42.8% |
388,000 |
2.4% |
1,949,000 |
12.0% |
530,000 |
3.9% |
| >80 |
6,272,000 |
68.3% |
1,081,000 |
11.8% |
2,164,000 |
23.6% |
711,000 |
7.7% |
| |
| Total |
20,475,000 |
17.2% |
1,749,000 |
1.5% |
7,311,000 |
6.1% |
2,218,000 |
1.9% |
Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy Among Adults*
| Age, |
Type 1 Diabetes |
All Diabetes — 40
Years and Older |
| Years |
Persons |
(%) |
Persons |
(%) |
| 18-39 |
278,000 |
0.3% |
NA |
NA |
| 40-49 |
172,000 |
0.4% |
589,000 |
1.4% |
| 50-64 |
317,000 |
0.4% |
1,582,000 |
3.8% |
| 65-74 |
1,068,000 |
5.8% |
| >75 |
824,000 |
5.0% |
| Total |
767,000 |
0.4% |
4,063,000 |
3.4% |
Prevalence of Blindness and Low Vision Among Adults 40 Years and Older in the United States*
| Age, |
Blindness** |
Low Vision** |
All Vision Impaired |
| Years |
Persons |
(%) |
Persons |
(%) |
Persons |
(%) |
| 40-49 |
51,000 |
0.1% |
80,000 |
0.2% |
131,000 |
0.3% |
| 50-59 |
45,000 |
0.1% |
102,000 |
0.3% |
147,000 |
0.4% |
| 60-69 |
59,000 |
0.3% |
176,000 |
0.9% |
235,000 |
1.2% |
| 70-79 |
134,000 |
0.8% |
471,000 |
3.0% |
605,000 |
3.8% |
| >80 |
648,000 |
7.0% |
1,532,000 |
16.7% |
2,180,000 |
23.7% |
| |
| Total |
937,000 |
0.8% |
2,361,000 |
2.0% |
3,298,000 |
2.7% |
Estimated Prevalence of Myopia and Hyperopia
| Age, |
Myopia (Nearsightedness) |
Hyperopia (Farsightedness) |
| Years |
Persons |
(%) |
Persons |
(%) |
| 40-49 |
15,460,000 |
36.4% |
1,534,000 |
3.1% |
| 50-59 |
7,355,000 |
23.3% |
2,325,000 |
7.7% |
| 60-69 |
3,459,000 |
17.0% |
2,538,000 |
13.2% |
| 70-79 |
2,481,000 |
15.2% |
3,112,000 |
19.3% |
| >80 |
1,603,000 |
17.5% |
2,168,000 |
23.6% |
| |
| Total |
30,358,000 |
25.4% |
11,677,000 |
9.9% |
* Archives of Ophthalmology, Volume 122, April 2004
** Blindness as defined by the U.S. definition is the best-corrected visual acuity of 6/60 or worse (=20/200) in the better-seeing eye; low vision is defined as the best-corrected visual acuity less than 6/12 (<20/40) in the better-seeing eye (excluding those who were categorized as being blind by the U.S. definition.)
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