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CIncidence and Prevalence of Common Age-Related Eye Conditions (Fact Sheet)

• Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide and the number one cause of poor vision in the U.S...



• Cataracts are extremely common; more than half of Americans age 65 and older have a cataract, and it is thought that nearly everyone will develop one if they live long enough.



• The total number of persons who will have cataracts is estimated to rise to over 30 million by 2020.



• In over 90 percent of cases, cataracts are caused by the aging process.



• Women have a significantly higher age-adjusted prevalence of cataract than men in the United States.



• During middle age, usually beginning in their 40s, people experience blurred vision at near points (known as presbyopia), such as when reading, sewing or working at the computer.



• Currently an estimated 90 million people in the United States either have presbyopia or will develop it by 2014.



• 135 million American adults wear prescription eyewear. This is 62 percent of the adult population (43 percent are men and 57 percent are women).



• More than one million Americans age 40 and over are blind from eye disease. An additional 2.3 million Americans are visually impaired.



• About 120 million Americans wear eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.