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JAMA Ophthalmology Journal Club Slides: Visual Impairment and Blindness in US Adults

This study examines the demographic and geographic variations in visual impairment and blindness among US adults from 2015 to 2050. It also estimates the projected prevalence of these conditions through 2050. The findings suggest the importance of vision screening and targeted education programs to prevent unnecessary vision loss and improve quality of life.

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JAMA Ophthalmology Journal Club Slides: Visual Impairment and Blindness in US Adults

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  1. JAMA Ophthalmology Journal Club Slides:Visual Impairment and Blindness in US Adults Varma R, Vajaranant TS, Burkemper B, et al. Visual impairment and blindness in adults in the United States: demographic and geographic variations from 2015 to 2050. JAMA Ophthalmol. Published online May 19, 2016. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2016.1284.

  2. Introduction • The number of individuals with visual impairment and blindness is increasing in the United States and around the globe as a result of the shifting demographics and aging populations. • Objectives • To determine the demographic and geographic variations in visual impairment and blindness in adults in the US population and to estimate the projected prevalence through 2050.

  3. Methods • Study Design • Population-based, cross-sectional study in which data were pooled from 6 major population-based studies on visual impairment and blindness in the United States. • Participants • Adults aged 40 years and older who were African American, Asian, Hispanic, non-Hispanic white, and other minorities (racial groups). • Data Analysis • Prevalence of visual impairment and blindness were reported by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and per capita prevalence by state using the US Census projections from January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2050.

  4. Results • In2015, a total of 1.02 million persons in the United States were legally blind and approximately 3.22 million persons in the United States were visually impaired based on best-corrected visual acuity in the better-seeing eye. • By 2050, the numbers of these conditions are projected to double to approximately 2.01 million persons with blindness and 6.95 million persons with visual impairment.

  5. Results • The highest numbers of visual impairment in 2015 were among non-Hispanic white individuals (2.28 million), women (1.84 million), and older adults (1.61 million), and these groups will remain the most affected through 2050. • However, African American individuals experience the highest prevalence of visual impairment and blindness. • By 2050, the highest prevalence of visual impairment among minorities will shift from African American individuals (15.2% in 2015 to 16.3% in 2050) to Hispanic individuals (9.9% in 2015 to 20.3% in 2050).

  6. Results • From 2015 to 2050, the states projected to have the highest per capita prevalence of visual impairment are Florida (2.56% in 2015 to 3.98% in 2050) and Hawaii (2.35% in 2015 to 3.93% in 2050). • The states projected to have the highest projected per capita prevalence of blindness are Mississippi (0.83% in 2015 to 1.25% in 2050) and Louisiana (0.79% in 2015 to 1.20% in 2050).

  7. Results • In 2015, the estimated numbers of people with visual impairment and blindness due to uncorrected refractive error were 8.24 (95% CI, 4.52 million to 17.77 million) and 290 000 (95% CI, 20 000 to 4 200 000), respectively. • In 2050, the numbers with visual impairment and blindness due to uncorrected refractive error are projected to increase to 16.4 million (95% CI, 8.76 million to 25.84 million) and 529 000 (95% CI, 40 000 to 4 380 000), respectively. • The expected prevalence of visual impairment will increase across the country, with the projected prevalence reaching 10% or more in 15 states by 2050.

  8. Results Estimated Number of Persons With Visual Impairment and Blindness in the United States by Race/Ethnicity (All Persons) and Year Visual Impairment Blindness

  9. Results Per Capita Prevalence of Visual Impairment in the United States in 2015

  10. Results Per Capita Prevalence of Visual Impairment in the United States in 2050

  11. Comment • These data suggest that vision screening for refractive error and early eye disease may reduce or prevent a high proportion of individuals from experiencing unnecessary vision loss and blindness, decrease associated costs to the US economy for medical services and lost productivity, and contribute to better quality of life. • Targeted education and screening programs for non-Hispanic white women and minorities should become increasingly important because of the projected growth of these populations and their relative contribution to the overall numbers of these conditions.

  12. Contact Information • If you have questions, please contact the corresponding author: • Rohit Varma, MD, MPH, USC Roski Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, 1450 San Pablo St, Room 4900, Los Angeles, CA 90033 (rvarma@usc.edu). Funding/Support • This study was supported by grants K23EY022949-01 (Dr Vajaranant, principal investigator) and U10EY017337-05 (Dr Varma, principal investigator) from the National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, and Research to Prevent Blindness, New York, New York. Conflict of Interest Disclosures • All authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest and none were reported.

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