Region 18 Education Service Center

VISUAL IMPAIRMENT

Model of labeled eye parts Photo of glasses making eye chart in the background clear

World Health Organization – Personal Impacts of Visual Impairments

Young children with early onset irreversible severe vision impairment can experience delayed motor, language, emotional, social and cognitive development, with lifelong consequences. School-age children with vision impairment can also experience lower levels of educational achievement.
Vision impairment severely impacts quality of life among adult populations. Adults with vision impairment can experience lower rates of employment and higher rates of depression and anxiety.
In the case of older adults, vision impairment can contribute to social isolation, difficulty walking, a higher risk of falls and fractures, and a greater likelihood of early entry into nursing or care homes.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Statistics

Approximately 12 million people 40 years and over in the United States have vision impairment. This includes 1 million with blindness.
As of 2012, 4.2 million Americans aged 40 or older have uncorrectable vision impairment. This number is predicted to more than double by 2050. The US has a rapidly aging population, which means more people living with diabetes and other chronic conditions which can lead to vision loss.
Approximately 6.8% of children under 18 in the US have a diagnosed eye and vision condition. Nearly 3% of children under 18 years have blindness or vision impairment. This is defined as having trouble seeing even when wearing glasses or contact lenses.
Vision disability is one of the top 10 disabilities among adults 18 years and older. It's one of the most prevalent disabling conditions among children.
Early detection and timely treatment of eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy has been found to be effective. 90% of blindness in US adults caused by diabetes is preventable.
Vision loss causes a substantial social and economic toll for millions of people. This includes significant disability, loss of productivity, and decreased quality of life.
For more than half of American adults who didn't seek eye care, it was due to cost or lack of awareness. Cost is often higher due to lack of adequate health insurance.