QUESTION: How Many Americans Have Vision Loss?

The number of Americans with eye disorders is increasing, and vision loss is fast becoming a major national health concern. By the year 2020, the number of people who are blind or have low vision is projected to increase substantially. Blindness or low vision affects 3.3 million Americans age 40 and over or one in 28. This figure is projected to reach 5.5 million by the year 2020.

Vision Loss increases as we age - A study conducted by the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the Federal government's National Institutes of Health (NIH), reports that low vision and blindness increases significantly with age, particularly in people over age 65. People 80 years of age and older currently make up 8 percent of the population, but account for 69 percent of blindness. This study provides the most robust and up-to-date estimates available regarding vision loss.

QUESTION: What is Low Vision?

Low vision is a visual impairment, not correctable by standard glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery, that interferes with a person's ability to perform everyday activities. Visual Enhancements provides quality low vision reading and lifestyle aids, returning visual independence, enabling our customer to see what they have been missing.

A person may have low vision as the result of an injury to the eye or one of a number of eye related conditions such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Some people are born with low vision.

Low Vision Reading Aids are examples of prescription or non-prescription devices. These vision solutions are designed to help people with low vision enhance their remaining vision and maintain their independence.

QUESTION: What are the symptoms of Low Vision and Vision Loss?

The symptoms of low vision depend on the cause of vision loss and where the problem is in the eye. Symptoms can include:

• Blank spots, dark spots or wavy lines in the centre of your vision
• Blurred, hazy or cloudy vision or double vision
• Loss of side (peripheral) vision

Causes of Vision Loss Include:

• Age-related Macular Degeneration
• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Diabetic Retinopathy

These causes account for 51% of all cases of blindness.

QUESTION: How many children in the U.S. have low vision?

Based on data from the 2002 Survey of Income and Program Participation, 189,000 children 6-14 years of age (0.5%) have difficulty seeing words and letter in ordinary newspaper print even when wearing glasses or contact lenses. Source: Steinmetz, 2006.

QUESTION: What Are Eight Tips For Maintaining Eye Health?

1. Have comprehensive dilated eye exam

Having a comprehensive dilated eye exam is one of the best things you can do to make sure that you're seeing the best you can and that you're keeping your eyes healthy.

2. Eat right to protect your sight

Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens is important for keeping your eyes healthy, too. Research has also shown there are eye health benefits from eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids.

3. Maintain a healthy weight

Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing diabetes and other systemic conditions which can lead to vision loss, such as diabetic eye disease or glaucoma. If you are having trouble maintaining a healthy weight, talk to your doctor.

4. Wear protective eyewear

Wear protective eyewear when playing sports or doing activities around the home. Protective eyewear includes safety glasses and goggles, safety shields, and eye guards specially designed to provide the correct protection for a certain activity.

5. Quit smoking or never start

Smoking is as bad for your eyes as it is for the rest of your body. Research has linked smoking to increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataract and optic nerve damage, all of which can lead to blindness.

6. Wear the Right Sunglasses

Sunglasses are a great fashion accessory, but their most important job is to protect your eyes from the sun's ultraviolet rays so when you purchase sunglasses, look for ones that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.

7. Give your eyes a rest

If you spend a lot of time at the computer or focusing on any one thing, your eyes can get fatigue and you sometimes forget to blink. Try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds. This can help reduce eyestrain.

8. Know your family's eye health history

Talk to your family about their eye health history. It's important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with a disease or condition since many are often hereditary. This will help you determine if you are at higher risk for developing an eye disease or condition.

About Visual Enhancements, Low Vision Aids

Visual Enhancements has been proudly providing world-class low vision reading aids and custom low-vision solutions to individuals, families, businesses, medical helping professionals and organizations for over a decade. Contact us

Low Vision Reading Aids include low vision products such as CCTV systems, hand held magnifiers, desk top systems, portable low vision aids, talking calculators and much more such as:

• Hand Held Low Vision Aids
• Distance Low Vision Reading Aids
• Desktop Low Vision Aids
• Speaking Low Vision Aids

Sources: National Eye Institute, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute Health, National Society to Prevent Blindness