The VEHSS team conducted a review of published literature on examination-based population studies reporting the prevalence of vision impairment and blindness.
Vision impairment (VI) is generally determined by measuring the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the better-seeing eye. Most studies in the United States measure visual acuity at a distance of 20 feet using the standardized Snellen Eye Chart.(Segre, 2015) Autorefractors may also be used to assess visual acuity and to estimate lens prescription. BCVA is a person’s best distance vision while using optimal refraction correction (eye glasses, contact lenses, laser surgery).(Segre, 2015) There is no universal definition of visual impairment and there are varying definitions of BCVA, including 20/40 to 20/63 (mild VI), 20/80 to 20/160 (moderate VI), 20/200 or worse (severe VI).(Varma, 2004) Legal blindness is defined by the US government (to determine eligibility for vocational training, rehabilitation, schooling, disability benefits, low vision devices, and tax exemption programs) as 20/200 or worse, and by the World Health Organization as 20/400 or worse.
Vision Impairment and Blindness Literature Review Results
There were 12 studies published between 1995 and 2016 that examined the prevalence of vision impairment and blindness.
Table 1. Vision Impairment and Blindness Prevalence Sources.
Figure 6.0 Vision Impairment and Blindness Prevalence Sources
Author
Date of Publication
Title
Date of Data Collection
Data Source
Sample Size
Prevalence Data Stratified by:
Varma R, Choudhury F, et al.
2016
Prevalence and Causes of Visual Impairment and Blindness in Chinese American Adults: The Chinese American Eye Study
2010–2013
CHES
4,582
Race, Age, Sex
Fisher DE, Shraqer S, et al.
2015
Visual Impairment in White, Chinese, Black, and Hispanic Participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis Cohort
2002–2004
MESA
6,134
Age, Sex, Race / Ethnicity
Maa AY, Evans C, et al.
2013
Veteran Eye Disease After Eligibility Reform: Prevalence and Characteristics
January 2008–February 2008
Atlanta VA Medical Center Chart Review
658
Not stratified by demographic variables
Chou, C.F., Cotch, M.F., Vitale, S., et al.
2013
Age-Related Eye Diseases and Visual Impairment Among USAdults
2005–2008
NHANES
5,222
Age
Klein R, Lee KE, et al.
2009
Changes in Visual Impairment Prevalence by Period of Diagnosis of Diabetes: The Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy
1980–2007
WESDR
Various
Not stratified by demographic variables
Mansberger SL, Romero FC, et al.
2005
Causes of Visual Impairment and Common Eye Problems in Northwest American Indians and Alaska Natives
Unknown
Northwest AIAN
288
Not stratified by demographic variables
Varma R, Ying-Lai M, Klein R, Azen SP, et al.
2004
Prevalence and Risk Indicators of Visual Impairment and Blindness in Latinos: the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study.
2000–2008
LALES
6,122
Race / Ethnicity, Sex, Age
The Eye Diseases Prevalence Research Group
2004
Causes and Prevalence of Visual Impairment Among Adults in the United States
1985–1998
EDPRG
Various
Age, Race / Ethnicity, Sex
Muñoz B, West SK, Rodriguez J, et al.
2002
Blindness, Visual Impairment and the Problem of Uncorrected Refractive Error in a Mexican-American Population: Proyecto VER.
1997–1999
Proyecto VER
4,774
Age, Sex, Race / Ethnicity
Rubin GS, West S, et al.
1997
A Comprehensive Assessment of Visual Impairment in a Population of Older Americans. The SEE Study. Salisbury Eye Evaluation Project
1993–1995
The SEE Project
2,520
Age, Sex, Race
Rahmani B, Tielsch JM, et al.
1996
The Cause-Specific Prevalence of Visual Impairment in an Urban Population. The Baltimore Eye Survey
1985–1988
BES
5,300
Age, Sex, Race
Klein R, et al.
1995
The Relationship of Age-Related Maculopathy, Cataract, and Glaucoma to Visual Acuity
1988–1990
BDES
4,886
Age
Overall Vision Impairment and Blindness Prevalence Rates
Figure 1 shows the estimated total population prevalence rate for vision impairment derived from selected studies. Overall visual impairment prevalence rates ranged from 0.27% in MEPEDs to 7.5% in the 2005–2008 NHANES, which included older adults. Figure 2 reports blindness prevalence from selected studies. Overall, blindness prevalence rates ranged from 0.07% in CHES to 1.7% in the Atlanta VA Medical Center Chart Review. These studies identified and compared vision impairment and blindness prevalence rates across race/ethnicity, age, education level, and income.
The high degree of variation among the results in each figure is likely due to in part to methodological, disease definition, and population differences among the studies. These figures are intended to illustrate the range of published prevalence values; direct comparison of the studies is impossible without considering the underlying differences in the studies. Detailed results from each individual study are available in the full report “Published Examination-based Prevalence of Major Eye Disorders.”
Figure 1. Overall Vision Impairment Prevalence Rates in Selected Studies.
*Age- or population- adjusted prevalence rate.
Figure 2. Overall Blindness Prevalence Rates in Selected Studies**.
*Adjusted prevalence rate.
**Blindness is defined by the U.S. government definition of best-corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or worse.
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