The Most Common Eye Diseases: NEI Looks Ahead
Between 2010 and 2050, the estimated number of people affected by the most common eye diseases will double.
Download our statistics and data infographics on common eye diseases.
In 2001, a consensus meeting was convened by the National Eye Institute at which many of the world’s leading ophthalmic epidemiologists created standard case definitions for the eye conditions included in this report. Data was obtained from a review of the major epidemiological studies with the cooperation of their authors. Age, race and sex-specific prevalence rates were then combined using a meta-analysis technique for reducing the overall variance of the pooled rate. Appropriate logistic regression models were fit to the age, race and sex-specific pooled prevalence rates. In the initial report, these rates were applied to the 2000 U.S. Census population. In collaboration with Prevent Blindness America, the prevalence rates have now been applied to the 2010 U.S. Census population.
- Summary: Prevalence of Adult Vision Impairment and Age-Related Eye Diseases in America
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
- All Vision Impairment
- Blindness
- Cataract
- Diabetic Retinopathy
- Glaucoma, open-angle
- Hyperopia
- Low Vision
- Myopia
Resources
- Healthy People 2020 - Vision Objectives
- Definitions
- Prevalence of Blindness–Citations from April 2004 Archives of Ophthalmology
- 2012 Vision Problems in the U.S.
The Vision Problems in the U.S. report and searchable database provides prevalence estimates of adult vision impairment and age-related eye diseases in America. Both national and state data are available.