Global & US Blindness Statistics: Prevalence and Impact

Worldwide:

- An estimated 36 million people are blind, of whom two-thirds are women and 90% live in developing countries.

- Additionally, an estimated 217 million people have moderate to severe visual impairment, of whom approximately half are functionally blind.

United States:

- About 2.7 million Americans have difficulty seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses.

- An estimated 1.3 million Americans have age-related macular degeneration, making it the leading cause of vision loss in the United States.

- About 3.5 million Americans age 40 and older have glaucoma.

- Approximately 1 million Americans age 50 and older have diabetic retinopathy.

These statistics highlight the substantial impact of vision loss on individuals, families, and society as a whole.