Blindness Statistics

If you or a loved one are visually impaired, finding out more about blindness statistics can assist you to become more knowledgeable and educated. The AFB or American Foundation for the Blind is a leading organization who advocates for the blind and helps to educate the public about this condition. According to the AFB, there are slightly more than 21 million U.S. residents dealing with loss of vision. In this definition, vision loss is anything from being nearsighted and wearing glasses to being completely blind. This approximation refers only to those over the age of 18 and the source of the data is the National Center for Health Statistics.


Senior citizens are a large part of the population who are experiencing vision loss, whether mild, moderate or severe. There are an estimated 6.2 million adults age 65 and older who have some form of this condition. When it comes to the legally blind, there are approximately 1.3 adult residents of the U.S. who meet this designation. There are less legally blind children than there are adults. Out of the children who are legally blind, around 5,600 of them use Braille as their method of reading. This is only about ten percent of the legally blind child population as others may not need Braille depending on their age and level of vision loss.

Another statistic you may wonder about is how many of the blind use assistance animals like guide dogs to get around. It is estimated by the AFB that more than 7,000 U.S. residents use a dog guide. Every year, more than 1500 people complete a training program for guide dog users. These dogs are also trained, even more thoroughly than their handlers. A seeing eye dog is trained from a very young age to do their job and must undergo rigorous training and education before being certified as a guide dog for the blind.

To learn more blindness statistics, visit the website of the AFB or see your eye doctor. He or she can help you understand more about your condition or the condition of your loved one. Losing one's vision in any degree is never an easy thing to deal with. Even adjusting to new glasses or contact lenses can be a daunting prospect. Losing one's vision completely is a life changing event. Therefore, in addition to consulting with your eye doctor and the AFB, you may also want seek counseling if you are dealing with emotional issues due to blindness.


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Blindness News:

 

Report shows risk of blindness halved over last decade
Age-related macular degeneration is the most frequent cause of blindness in the Western World. A report from the University of Copenhagen and Glostrup Hospital in Denmark published today shows the number of new cases of blindness and severe visual loss in Denmark has been halved during the last ten years...


Study shows 50% reduction in blindness and severe visual loss in Denmark
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most frequent cause of blindness in the Western World. A report from the University of Copenhagen and Glostrup Hospital in Denmark published today shows the number of new cases of blindness and severe visual loss in Denmark has been halved during the last ten years...


Houston Texas 2012 "Eye Ball"
HOUSTON -- The Houston Eye Associates Foundation and Prevent Blindness Texas honor Visionaries Rosanette and Harry Cullen at the Houston "Eye Ball" on February 10, 2012. More than 400 guests ...


Braille ballot to help visually impaired cast their vote - Daily Pioneer

Braille ballot to help visually impaired cast their vote
Daily Pioneer
Ballot papers in Braille for the blind are being printed at the Chandigarh's National Institute for Blind. Earlier, there were apprehensions that blinded by greed, those accompanying them would put the stamp of approval on the candidate of their choice .
Five things about Braille Literacy MonthWaynesboro Record Herald
Ec providing ballot papers in BrailleDay & Night News
Special ballots being prepared for the blindIndian Express
Times of India
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Sightless author creates a cookbook for the blind - SouthCoastToday.com

Sightless author creates a cookbook for the blind
SouthCoastToday.com
Branco plans to print the 24 recipes in Braille and in large type within the next few months. From old-fashioned coleslaw and Italian meatloaf, to chocolate chip cookies and fudge brownies, the book contains a surprising amount of chopping, dicing, .

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Stem cell treatment for blindness
Stem cell treatments have yielded positive results in patients who lost their vision because of macular degeneration..


Blind Students Test Their Braille Skills - 13WMAZ

Blind Students Test Their Braille Skills
13WMAZ
The Braille Challenge is a national program that serves the blind and visually impaired children. It's a literacy competition designed to challenge and reward blind students for the knowledge of braille. The competition is open to 1st through 12th .
Braille challengeNewsworks.org

all 2 news articles »
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Blindness doesnt hold Layton mother back
LAYTON EUR” Barbie Elliott, 42, has never seen the keys on a piano, words on a page, or the smile on a childs face. Despite these visual limitations, Elliott plays the piano expertly EUR” by ear. She has a bachelors degree in music composition, is a leader in the blind community, and a stay-at-home mom of four children, all with their sight. EURśEverything Ive wanted to do, Ive found a way to ...


Lind: Blind Fargo hunter bags alligator in Florida Everglades - In-Forum

Lind: Blind Fargo hunter bags alligator in Florida Everglades
In-Forum
Carey could tell by his Braille watch they'd been gone for about an hour. He worried. Were they OK? For that matter, was he? He was alone in a swamp occupied by panthers, poisonous spiders, snakes, mosquitoes and 'gators. To top it off, his cell phone .

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