Updated September 2020
In this section you will find statistical information specific to adults. This section will be added to and updated regularly, so please check back frequently for the most recent information.
Please note that estimates of the number of people experiencing vision loss differ based on the definitions of vision loss used, as well as on the dates the data were collected, populations surveyed, and other features of data sources. AFB urges investigators to pay attention to the detailed background information provided along with each estimate.
For definitions of vision loss and related terminology, see Key Definitions of Statistical Terms.
Demographics
Number of American Adults with Vision Loss
According to estimates from the 2018 National Health Interview Survey, 32.2 million American Adults age 18 and older reported experiencing vision loss.
Definition and scope: The term vision loss refers to individuals who reported that they have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses, as well as to individuals who reported that they are blind or unable to see at all. This estimate pertains to a nationally representative sample of the non-institutionalized civilian population 18 years of age and over.
Data source: IPUMS NHIS database: Blewett, L. A., Rivera Drew, J. A., King, M. L., and Williams, K. C. (2019). IPUMS health surveys: National Health Interview Survey (Version 6.4) [dataset]. https://doi.org/10.18128/D070.V6.4
Read our brief resource guide to NHIS data.
Sex of American Adults 18 Years of Age and Older with Vision Loss
According to estimates from the 2018 National Health Interview Survey, 32.2 million Adult Americans 18 and older reported experiencing vision loss. Of these 32.2 million American adults, 13.7 million males and 18.5 million females report experiencing significant vision loss.
Definition and scope: The term vision loss refers to individuals who reported that they have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses, as well as to individuals who reported that they are blind or unable to see at all. This estimate pertains to a nationally representative sample of the non institutionalized civilian population 18 years of age and over.
Data source: IPUMS NHIS database: Blewett, L. A., Rivera Drew, J. A., King, M. L., and Williams, K. C. (2019). IPUMS health surveys: National Health Interview Survey (Version 6.4) [dataset]. https://doi.org/10.18128/D070.V6.4
Read our brief resource guide to NHIS data.
Age of American Adults with Vision Loss
According to estimates from the 2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), 23.0 million American adults between the ages of 18 and 64 and 9.2 million American adults 65 years and older report experiencing significant vision loss.
Definition and scope: The term vision loss refers to individuals who reported that they have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses, as well as to individuals who reported that they are blind or unable to see at all. This estimate pertains to a nationally representative sample of the noninstitutionalized civilian population 18 years of age and over.
Data source: IPUMS NHIS database: Blewett, L. A., Rivera Drew, J. A., King, M. L., and Williams, K. C. (2019). IPUMS health surveys: National Health Interview Survey (Version 6.4) [dataset]. https://doi.org/10.18128/D070.V6.4
Read our brief resource guide to NHIS data.
Race and Ethnicity of American Adults with Vision Loss
According to estimates from the 2018 National Health Interview Survey, Americans with vision loss report the following racial identities: Approximately 24.7 million Americans with vision loss are white, 4.8 million Americans with vision loss are black or African American, 1.4 million Americans with vision loss are Asian, and 622,000 Americans with vision loss are American Indian or Alaska Native. 759,000 Americans with vision loss indicated other multiple or other races.
Definition and scope: The term vision loss refers to individuals who reported that they have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses, as well as to individuals who reported that they are blind or unable to see at all. This estimate pertains to a nationally representative sample of the noninstitutionalized civilian population 18 years of age and over.
Data source: IPUMS NHIS database: Blewett, L. A., Rivera Drew, J. A., King, M. L., and Williams, K. C. (2019). IPUMS health surveys: National Health Interview Survey (Version 6.4) [dataset]. https://doi.org/10.18128/D070.V6.4
Read our brief resource guide to NHIS data.
Lifestyle
Marital Status of American Adults with Vision Loss
Approximately 15.2 million Americans who have vision loss are married, 3.0 million are widowed, 5.2 million are divorced or separated, 6.4 million have never married, and 2.2 million live with a partner.
Definition and scope: The term vision loss refers to individuals who reported that they have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses, as well as to individuals who reported that they are blind or unable to see at all. This estimate pertains to a nationally representative sample of the non institutionalized civilian population 18 years of age and over.
Data source: IPUMS NHIS database: Blewett, L. A., Rivera Drew, J. A., King, M. L., and Williams, K. C. (2019). IPUMS health surveys: National Health Interview Survey (Version 6.4) [dataset]. https://doi.org/10.18128/D070.V6.4
Read our brief resource guide to NHIS data.
Place of Residence of American Adults with Vision Loss
Approximately 4.6 million people with vision loss live in the Northeast, 6.6 million live in the Noarth Central/Midwest, 12.9 million live in the South, and 8.2 million live in the West.
Definition and scope: The term vision loss refers to individuals who reported that they have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses, as well as to individuals who reported that they are blind or unable to see at all. This estimate pertains to a nationally representative sample of the non-institutionalized civilian population 18 years of age and over.
Data source: IPUMS NHIS database: Blewett, L. A., Rivera Drew, J. A., King, M. L., and Williams, K. C. (2019). IPUMS health surveys: National Health Interview Survey (Version 6.4) [dataset]. https://doi.org/10.18128/D070.V6.4
Read our brief resource guide to NHIS data.
Education Level
Of Americans who have vision loss and are 25 years of age and over, 4.7 million have less than a high school diploma, 8.1 million have a high school diploma or a GED (but no further), 9.2 million have some college education but not a bachelor's degree, and 7.5 million have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Definition and scope: The term vision loss refers to individuals who reported that they have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses, as well as to individuals who reported that they are blind or unable to see at all. This estimate pertains to a nationally representative sample of the noninstitutionalized civilian population 25 years of age and over.
Data source: IPUMS NHIS database: Blewett, L. A., Rivera Drew, J. A., King, M. L., and Williams, K. C. (2019). IPUMS health surveys: National Health Interview Survey (Version 6.4) [dataset]. https://doi.org/10.18128/D070.V6.4
Read our brief resource guide to NHIS data.
Income
Approximately 11.2 million people with vision loss in the U.S. have a family income of less than $35,000, 9.1 million have a family income between $35,000 and $74,999, 3.3 million have a family income between $75,000 and $99,999 and 5.9 million have a family income of $100,000 or more.
Definition and scope: The term vision loss refers to individuals who reported that they have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses, as well as to individuals who reported that they are blind or unable to see at all. This estimate pertains to a nationally representative sample of the noninstitutionalized civilian population 18 years of age and over.
Data source: IPUMS NHIS database: Blewett, L. A., Rivera Drew, J. A., King, M. L., and Williams, K. C. (2019). IPUMS health surveys: National Health Interview Survey (Version 6.4) [dataset]. https://doi.org/10.18128/D070.V6.4
