COSTS OF VISION IMPAIRMENT
In 1990, the aggregate federal budgetary cost of vision impairment was estimated to be $4.1 billion dollars (Chiang, Bassi, & Javitt, 1992).
In 1991, Medicare spent an estimated $3.4 billion for 1.35 million episodes of cataract surgery (Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, 1993).
Visual impairment has been identified as one of the four most significant contributors to
lost independence among older Americans. The loss of independence (due to all causes) costs an additional $26 billion in medical and long-term costs per year (Alliance for Aging Research, 1999).
"In 1981, the economic impact of visual disorders and disabilities was approximately $14.1 billion per year. By 1995, this figure was estimated to have
risen to more than $38.4 billion-$22.3 billion in direct costs and another $16.1 billion in indirect costs each year" (National Advisory Eye Council, 1998, p. 7).
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How many people of all ages have a vision impairment?
National estimates for the overall prevalence of vision impairment vary, depending
upon the definition utilized.
An estimated 7.9 million persons (age 6 and older) have difficulty seeing words and
letters in ordinary newspaper print, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses
(McNeil, 2001).
Approximately 8.3 million persons of all ages (3.1%) are "blind in one or both eyes
or report some other trouble seeing" (Adams, Hendershot, & Marano, 1999).
How many middle aged and older adults report some form of vision problem?
One in six Americans (17%), 45 years of age or older, representing 16.5 million middle-age and older adults, report some form of vision impairment even when wearing glasses or contact lenses (The Lighthouse Inc., 1995).
The prevalence of self-reported vision impairment increases with age.
The following report some form of vision impairment: 15% (9.3 million)
Americans age 45-64 years; 17% (3.1 million) age 65-74 years and 26%
(4.3 million) age 75 years and older (The Lighthouse Inc., 1995).
Among persons age 65 and older, 21% report some form of vision impairment (The Lighthouse Inc., 1995). Based on 2000 population estimates, this represents 7.3 million persons.
The vast majority of middle-aged and older Americans who report vision impairment
are partially sighted rather than totally blind. Only 2% of all Americans age 45 and older report that they are blind in both eyes (The Lighthouse Inc., 1995).
How many people in the
An estimated 1.8 million persons age 6 and older (0.7%) have a severe vision impairment, defined as an inability to see words and letters in ordinary newspaper print, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses (McNeil, 2001).
Based on data collected from The Lighthouse National Survey, 8.7 million (9%) Americans age 45 and older report a severe vision impairment, defined as an inability to recognize a friend at arm's length even when wearing glasses or contact lenses, or cannot read ordinary newspaper print even when wearing glasses or contact lenses, or reports poor or very poor vision even when wearing glasses or contact lenses, or is blind in both eyes (The Lighthouse Inc., 1995).
How many people in the
Data collected from the National Health Interview Survey on Disability (1994-95)
indicate that approximately 1.3 million persons reported legal blindness (0.5%). (cited in
American Foundation for the Blind, 2001)
So please help us to bring technology and working skills to the visually impaired, blind, and disabled. They need our help. The costs are high, but with your support we can make a difference.
