May is Healthy Vision Month

Vision impairment and blindness often results from allowing common eye problems to go undetected at treatable stages or not adequately protecting the eyes in hazardous situations. According to the National Eye Institute (NEI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), more than 3.4 million (3%) Americans 40 years and older are either blind or are visually impaired and millions more are at risk for developing vision impairment and blindness.

The leading causes of blindness and vision impairment in the United States are primarily age-related eye diseases including age-related macular degeneration, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. By 2020, the number of people with visual impairment and eye diseases could increase by 50% or more. Annually, the cost of vision impairment is $54 billion.

Many disorders including diabetes, high blood pressure and other chronic diseases have significant vision and eye health consequences that are necessary to check on a regular basis. It is important to remember that most eye diseases have no early warning signs or symptoms and most can be adequately managed with early detection and timely treatment.

Visual impairment affects people differently across the lifespan. Efforts to curb the debilitating effects of vision impairment vary depending on a person's age.

Vision Health Among Infants and Children

In the United States, the most prevalent disabling childhood conditions are vision disorders including amblyopia (also referred to as "lazy eye"), strabismus (misalignment of the eyes), and significant refractive errors (such as significant nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism).

Early detection increases the likelihood of effective treatment; however, less than 15% of all preschool children receive an eye exam, and less than 22% of preschool children receive some type of vision screening.

Vision Health Among Adults Younger Than 40

Vision impairments in people younger than age 40 are mainly caused by refractive errors – which affect 25% of children and adolescents – and accidental eye injury. Approximately one million eye injuries occur each year and 90% of these injuries are preventable. More than half (52%) of all patients treated for eye injuries are between 18–45 years and almost 30% of those are 30–40 years.

Additionally, diabetes affects this age group and is the leading cause of blindness among the working age group 20–74. Among specific high-risk groups such as African Americans, early signs of glaucoma may begin in this age group, particularly if there is a family history for glaucoma. Lifestyle choices – such as smoking and sunlight exposure - adopted during this period may adversely affect vision and eye health in later years.

Older Adults and Vision Health

American adults aged 40 years and older are at greatest risk for eye diseases. Approximately 61 million American adults are at high risk of vision loss and about one-half of those do not get dilated eye examinations on a yearly basis. The major eye diseases among people aged 40 years and older are cataract, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. These diseases often occur without symptoms in the early treatable stages. The prevalence of blindness and vision impairment increases rapidly with age among all racial and ethnic groups, particularly after age 75.

Although aging is unavoidable, evidence is mounting to show the association between some modifiable risk factors (such as smoking and ultraviolet light exposure) and these leading eye diseases affecting older Americans. Additionally, a diet rich in antioxidants, regular exercise, keeping a health body weight, and maintaining a normal level of blood sugar, lipids, total cholesterol, and blood pressure can potentially lead to improved overall vision and eye health.

Special Populations

Through promotion of regular eye examinations and other prevention methods, CDC is making efforts to eliminate vision health disparities by focusing on high-risk populations. This includes:

• the economically disenfranchised

• children

• the elderly

• ethnic and racial minorities

Individuals with diabetes and other chronic diseases are also an important population for early intervention, as chronic diseases can put people at higher risk for vision impairment. For example, diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults 20-74 years of age. However, early detection and timely treatment of diabetic eye disease can reduce the development of severe vision los by an estimated 50-60%.

Increased awareness can help. Remind family members and friends at higher risk for eye diseases and vision loss to have their eyes examined regularly.

CDC Addresses Vision Health

The CDC Vision Health Initiative (VHI), housed within the Division of Diabetes Translation, is designed to promote vision health and quality of life for all populations, throughout all life stages, by preventing and controlling eye disease, eye injury, and vision loss resulting in disability. VHI efforts include improved and enhanced surveillance, effective applied public health research, and effective programs and policies.

The CDC VHI aims to reduce the burden of vision loss in the United States by seeking the following objectives:

• To assess and monitor the social and economic burden of vision impairment and blindness;

• To develop, support and enhance national and state-specific vision and eye health surveillance;

• To provide technical assistance to national, state and community based organizations working to protect, preserve, and enhance vision;

• To integrate vision health activities within other state public health programs;

• To expand collaboration within CDC, other agencies, academia, and organizations, and;

• To evaluate impact of federal and state programs and policy.

For More Information

• CDC Vision Health Initiative
  
• Vision Impairment Among Children
• National Eye Institute
• Glossary of Terms, National Eye Institute