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Review
. 2013 Dec 13;54(14):ORSF5-ORSF13.
doi: 10.1167/iovs.13-12789.

The prevalence of age-related eye diseases and visual impairment in aging: current estimates

Ronald Klein  1 , Barbara E K Klein
Affiliations
Review

The prevalence of age-related eye diseases and visual impairment in aging: current estimates

Ronald Klein et al. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. .

Abstract

Purpose: To examine prevalence of five age-related eye conditions (age-related cataract, AMD, open-angle glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy [DR], and visual impairment) in the United States.

Methods: Review of published scientific articles and unpublished research findings.

Results: Cataract, AMD, open-angle glaucoma, DR, and visual impairment prevalences are high in four different studies of these conditions, especially in people over 75 years of age. There are disparities among racial/ethnic groups with higher age-specific prevalence of DR, open-angle glaucoma, and visual impairment in Hispanics and blacks compared with whites, higher prevalence of age-related cataract in whites compared with blacks, and higher prevalence of late AMD in whites compared with Hispanics and blacks. The estimates are based on old data and do not reflect recent changes in the distribution of age and race/ethnicity in the United States population. There are no epidemiologic estimates of prevalence for many visually-impairing conditions.

Conclusions: Ongoing prevalence surveys designed to provide reliable estimates of visual impairment, AMD, age-related cataract, open-angle glaucoma, and DR are needed. It is important to collect objective data on these and other conditions that affect vision and quality of life in order to plan for health care needs and identify areas for further research.

Keywords: age-related eye diseases; age-related macular degeneration; cataract; diabetic retinopathy; glaucoma; prevalence; review; visual impairment.

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Figures

Figure
Figure
Causes of (A) blindness (best-corrected visual acuity < 6/60 [<20/200]) and (B) low vision (best-corrected visual acuity < 6/12 [<20/40] in the better seeing eye), excluding persons categorized as being blind (best-corrected visual acuity < 6/60 [<20/200]), by race/ethnicity. Reprinted with permission from Congdon N, O'Colmain B, Klaver CC, et al. Causes and prevalence of visual impairment among adults in the United States. Arch Ophthalmol. 2004;122:477–485. Copyright 2004 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Klein R, Meuer SM, Myers CE, et al. Harmonizing the classification of age-related macular degeneration in the Three Continent AMD Consortium. Ophthalmic Epidemiol. In press - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ferris FL III, Tielsch JM. Blindness and visual impairment: a public health issue for the future as well as today. Arch Ophthalmol. 2004; 122: 451–452 - PubMed
    1. Congdon N, O'Colmain B, Klaver CC, et al. Causes and prevalence of visual impairment among adults in the United States. Arch Ophthalmol. 2004; 122: 477–485 - PubMed
    1. Friedman DS, O'Colmain BJ, Munoz B, et al. Prevalence of age-related macular degeneration in the United States. Arch Ophthalmol. 2004; 122: 564–572 - PubMed
    1. Congdon N, Vingerling JR, Klein BE, et al. Prevalence of cataract and pseudophakia/aphakia among adults in the United States. Arch Ophthalmol. 2004; 122: 487–494 - PubMed

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