More
Georgians Facing Blindness Than Ever Before, Says NEI Study: Report
Released On One of the Most-Feared Disabilities
(ATLANTA) The
National Eye Institute (NEI) released findings on March 20 that state
that more Americans than ever are facing the threat of blindness from
age-related eye disease. More than one million Americans aged 40 and
over are currently blind, and an additional 2.4 million are visually
impaired. Although Georgians fare better than the national average,
the statistics should make anyone over 40 take notice and seek annual
eye exams. These numbers are expected to double over the next 30 years
as the Baby Boomer generation ages. At the Emory Eye Center, those over
the age of 40 are seen only a daily basis for such disorders and diseases
as macular degeneration, cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and
more.
Thomas M. Aaberg Sr., director
of the Emory Eye Center and chairman of the Emory School of Medicine
Department of Ophthalmology says, "This report is significant because
it may impress upon the public the importance of annual dilated eye
examinations. These exams can catch many of the problems that cause
vision impairment before there is significant damage to vision. With
Baby Boomers in increasing numbers - and more active for their ages
than ever before - sight-saving exams, information and awareness of
preventable disorders and disease takes on new importance. At Emory,
we see more than 60,000 patients each year, and a large percentage of
those are over the age of 40. Clearly, their eyesight is of great concern
to them, as it should be," he says.
The national report, titled
The Vision Problems in the U.S., addresses the prevalence of sight-threatening
eye disease in Americans and is an NEI partnership with Prevent Blindness
America.
"Blindness and visual impairment
from most eye diseases and disorders can be reduced with early detection
and treatment," says U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy
G.Thompson. "That's why eye health education programs that encourage
those at high risk for eye disease to have regular dilated eye exams
are essential in preventing vision loss. Healthy vision is a shared
responsibility among the government, health care providers, community
leaders, and the public."
NEI Director, Paul A. Sieving,
MD, PhD, called for an increase in public attention to eye disease.
"About one in eight Americans is 65 or older," Dr. Sieving said. "When
you add declining mortality rates and population shifts, such as the
'baby boomers,' the number of older people will grow dramatically in
the years ahead. Blindness and vision impairment represent not only
a significant burden to those affected by sight loss, but also to the
national economy as well."
In Georgia alone, more than
3 million people are over age 40. The study showed that we can expect
in our state alone for more than 72,000 persons to develop some sort
of vision impairment, including blindness. Of that 72,000, the study
predicts some 23,000 will become blind. The good news is that among
the 50 states, Georgia's predicted rate of vision impairment is low,
some 2.29 % lower than the national average of 2.85%. Among the states,
North and South Dakota and Iowa had the highest rates of predicted vision
impairment (3.7%), with Alaska and being the lowest (1.4%).
The new report addresses
the leading causes of vision impairment and blindness in the U.S., including:
- Diabetic retinopathy, believed
to be a leading cause of blindness in the industrialized world in people
between the ages of 25 and 74. Diabetic retinopathy affects more than
5.3 million Americans age 18 and older. In Georgia, the prediction is
that 140,000 persons over the age of 18 will develop diabetic retinopathy.
- Age-related macular degeneration
(AMD), the most common cause of blindness and vision impairment in Americans
aged 60 and older. More than 1.6 million Americans over age 60 have
advanced AMD. In Georgia, the prediction is that 35,000 over the age
of 50 will develop AMD.
- Cataract, the leading cause
of blindness in the world. Cataract affects nearly 20.5 million Americans
age 65 and older. In Georgia, the prediction is that 472,000 persons
over the age of 40 will develop a cataract.
- Glaucoma, a chronic disease
that often requires life-long treatment to control. About 2.2 million
Americans have been diagnosed with glaucoma, and another two million
do not know they have it. In Georgia, the prediction is that 62,000
persons over the age of 40 will develop glaucoma.
The Vision Problems in the
U.S. study was the result of a 2001 consensus meeting, convened by the
NEI and involving many of the world's leading ophthalmic epidemiologists.
Data were obtained from a systematic review of the major epidemiological
studies with the cooperation of their authors. National data are broken
down into state-by-state statistics.
"These are the most comprehensive
data available on the prevalence of eye disease in America," said David
S. Friedman, MD, MPH, principal investigator of the study, and assistant
professor of ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University.
"We hope this information will serve as a guide to our communities and
our nation's leaders. We must comprehend the scope of eye problems in
our country so that adequate resources can be devoted to research, treatment,
and prevention."
A copy of the full report
is available in downloadable format at www.preventblindness.org
and www.nei.nih.gov/eyedata
BACKGROUND: MAJOR EYE DISEASES
The leading causes of vision impairment and blindness in the U.S. are
diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and
glaucoma.
DIABETIC RETINOPATHY is a
common complication of diabetes. Retinal blood vessels can break down,
leak, or become blocked, affecting and impairing vision over time. Nearly
half of all people with diabetes will develop some degree of diabetic
retinopathy during their lifetime, and risk increases with age and duration
of diabetes. People with diabetes are encouraged to seek annual dilated
eye exams. Currently, laser surgery and a procedure called a vitrectomy
are highly effective in treating diabetic retinopathy. Research into
pharmaceutical treatment options is continuing.
AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION
is a condition that primarily affects the part of the retina responsible
for sharp central vision. There are two forms of AMD -- dry AMD and
wet AMD. Because AMD often damages central vision, it is the most common
cause of legal blindness and vision impairment in older Americans (AMD
rarely affects those under the age of 60). While there is no generally
accepted treatment for dry AMD, laser therapies to destroy leaking blood
vessels can help reduce the risk of advancing vision loss in many cases
of wet AMD. Research sponsored by the National Eye Institute has recently
shown that a combination of zinc, vitamins C and E, and beta-carotene
may also reduce the risk of advanced AMD by 25 percent. Emory Eye Center
was one of the 11 study sites for this important finding that was announced
in October 2001.
CATARACT is a clouding of
the eye's naturally clear lens. Most cataracts appear with advancing
age. Scientists are unsure what causes cataract. The most important
factor is increasing age, but there are additional factors, including
smoking, diabetes, and excessive exposure to sunlight. Cataract is the
leading cause of blindness in the world, and affects nearly 20.5 million
Americans age 40 and older.
By age 80, more than half
of all Americans develop cataract. Cataract is sometimes considered
a conquered disease because surgical treatment that can eliminate vision
loss due to the disease is widely available. However, cataract still
accounts for a significant amount of vision impairment in the U.S.,
particularly among people age 65 and over who may have difficulty accessing
appropriate eye care.
GLAUCOMA is a disease that
causes gradual damage to the optic nerve, which carries visual information
from the eye to the brain. The loss of vision is not experienced until
a significant amount of nerve damage has occurred. For this reason,
as many as half of all people with glaucoma are unaware of their disease.
About 2.2 million Americans age 40 and older have been diagnosed with
glaucoma, and another two million do not know they have it. Most cases
of glaucoma can be controlled and vision loss slowed or halted by timely
diagnosis and treatment. However, any vision lost to glaucoma cannot
be restored.
The National Eye Institute
(NEI) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is the
Federal government's lead agency for vision research. NEI-supported
research leads to sight-saving treatments and plays a key role in reducing
visual impairment and blindness. The NIH is an agency of the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services.
Founded in 1908, Prevent
Blindness America is the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety
organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused
on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness America touches
the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional
education, community and patient service programs and research.
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