Eye & Vision Health

Did You Know? is a weekly feature from the Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support to inform your prevention activities. We invite you to read, share, and take action!

View the Current Did You Know?

May 12, 2017

Approximately 14 million people aged 12 years or older are visually impaired; 80% of those impairments can be corrected with glasses or contacts.
Two-thirds of blindness and visual impairment occurs in women, who are more likely to suffer from eye conditions like cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
Take steps toward protecting your eyes by learning more about eye disease and vision loss and following these simple tips.

January 20, 2017

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States, affecting about 3 million Americans.
Half of people with glaucoma don’t know they have it because they don’t have any early symptoms.
Getting comprehensive dilated eye exams and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are a few of the simple tips you can follow to detect glaucoma early and prevent vision loss.

May 13, 2016

About 4 million Americans aged 40 years or older are either blind or have vision loss, and this number is expected to increase to 10 million by 2050.
Major vision problems among Americans over 40 cost $145 billion [PDF-275KB] in 2014 in medical costs, productivity losses, and long-term care expenses.
An interactive CDC website has the latest data from your state on vision impairment, access to and use of eye care, and self-reported eye diseases.

August 1, 2014

More than 2.7 million people in the United States have glaucoma—a leading cause of blindness.
Early detection of glaucoma can slow its progression and help save remaining vision.
CDC’s Vision Health Initiative offers several informative videos about glaucoma.

April 26, 2013

Although most Americans who have vision problems are aged 65 years or older, even preschoolers may not see as well as they should.
A comprehensive dilated eye exam is the only way to detect eye problems early.
Free resources are available to help educate your community about the importance of dilated eye exams.

September 28, 2012

Glaucoma, the “sneak thief of sight,” affects more than two million US adults aged 40 or older and is projected to affect 3.3 million people by 2020.
Early detection and treatment of glaucoma can help prevent blindness.
You can promote sight-saving measures by encouraging comprehensive dilated eye exams

August 3, 2012

About 61 million US adults are at high risk for serious vision loss, but only half visited an eye doctor in the past 12 months.
Increased availability and affordability of eye health care services can help prevent blindness and vision impairment.
Sharing these eye health tips can help the public take steps to keep their eyes healthy.

May 27, 2011

An estimated 11 million Americans who are visually impaired could achieve good vision with glasses, contact lenses, or eye surgery.
Older adults with moderate or extreme vision loss are no more likely than those with good vision to get eye examinations.
You can use the BRFSS vision module to measure vision health in your state.

Did You Know? information and web links are current as of their publication date. They may become outdated over time.