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This method may lead to inaccuracies because the population-based study data (while of high quality) were collected 8 to 36 years in the past from locally representative samples using different methods across studies. Both studies 3, 4 relied on meta-analytic summaries of similar selected population-based study data, and no other data sources, to estimate prevalence by age group, sex, and race/ethnicity and then calculated state-level estimates by applying these summary estimates to each state’s population distribution.
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Both of these studies 3, 4 are limited, since they excluded persons younger than 40 years and persons living in group quarters, such as nursing homes and prisons. 3 Using similar methods and data for 2015, Varma et al 4 estimated national and state visual acuity loss or blindness prevalence for persons ages 40 years and older and arrived at a similar estimate of 4.24 million cases (2.8%). The Vision Problems in the United States (VPUS) study estimated uncorrectable visual impairment and blindness for persons ages 40 years and older to occur in 4.2 million individuals (2.9%) in 2010. Previous studies have estimated national visual acuity loss or blindness prevalence for important age ranges. 2 No existing estimates appear to have used empirical data to estimate geographic differences, created estimates for persons younger than age 40 years, or accounted for increased prevalence in group quarters. 1 People in the US fear losing vision more than memory, hearing, or speech, and consider visual acuity loss among the top 4 worst things that could happen to them. Globally, an estimated 252.6 (95% CI, 111.4-424.5) million people live with best-corrected visual acuity of 20/60 or worse in the better-seeing eye. Of this, 1.62 (95% uncertainty interval, 1.32-1.92) million persons with visual acuity loss are younger than 40 years, and 141 000 (95% uncertainty interval, 95 000-187 000) persons with blindness are younger than 40 years.Ĭonclusions and Relevance This analysis of all available data with modern methods produced estimates substantially higher than those previously published. Results For 2017, this meta-analysis generated an estimated US prevalence of 7.08 (95% uncertainty interval, 6.32-7.89) million people living with visual acuity loss, of whom 1.08 (95% uncertainty interval, 0.82-1.30) million people were living with blindness. Main Outcomes or Measures The prevalence of visual acuity loss (defined as a best-corrected visual acuity greater than or equal to 0.3 logMAR) and blindness (defined as a logMAR of 1.0 or greater) in the better-seeing eye. Data analysis occurred from March 2018 to March 2020. Study Selection All relevant data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System were included.ĭata Extraction and Synthesis The prevalence of visual acuity loss or blindness was estimated, stratified when possible by factors including US state, age group, sex, race/ethnicity, and community-dwelling or group-quarters status.
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Objective To produce estimates of visual acuity loss and blindness by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and US state.ĭata Sources Data from the American Community Survey (2017), National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2008), and National Survey of Children’s Health (2017), as well as population-based studies (2000-2013), were included. But it appears there are no recent empirical estimates of visual acuity loss or blindness for the US. Importance Globally, more than 250 million people live with visual acuity loss or blindness, and people in the US fear losing vision more than memory, hearing, or speech.