Vision problems blind millions
April 12, 2004
The National Eye Institute released data on the number of Americans
affected by vision loss and blindness, warning that numbers will continue
to surge as the population ages.
The statistics, published in April's Archives of Ophthalmology, state
that cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide and the
No. 1 cause of poor vision in the United States, affecting approximately
20.5 million adults. The number is expected to grow to 30.1 million
in the next 20 years.
Macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy are the next
leading causes of blindness and vision loss. Macular degeneration, which
damages the retina, is an age-related condition that affects about 1.8
million adults.
These findings encourage researchers to focus on the top conditions in
an effort to prevent the expected surge in vision problems. Currently,
more than $3 billion is spent yearly on cataract surgery. Doctors are
hoping that the recent data will inspire research into new treatments
for these four most damaging vision impairments.
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