How many blind people in the us

The day was first observed in the U. More than 7. Some people are born with blindness or low vision, but most people acquire vision loss, often at older ages. Researchers estimate that the incidence of blindness and low vision will rise rapidly through as the population ages. As researchers who study issues related to blindness and low vision, we are interested in how society, its institutions, businesses and individuals currently perceive members of this population and how these perceptions may influence opportunities, particularly in terms of employment.

Since passage of that law 55 years ago, the world we live in has changed drastically. Advances in technology have significantly changed our everyday lives, and much progress in accessibility and inclusivity has occurred.

Federal laws that protect people with disabilities from employment discrimination have been passed, and many companies have since adopted inclusive hiring practices. Assistive technology such as screen readers and screen magnifiers improve access to information and jobs.

Built-in accessibility features in mainstream technologies are increasingly common. Accessible transportation options are continually evolving, including ride-hailing services and autonomous vehicles. One thing that has not changed for many people who are blind is lack of access to the workforce.

This is true for people with all types of disabilities, hence the celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October. NEI supports basic and clinical science programs that result in the development of sight-saving treatments and address special needs of people with vision loss. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases.

For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www. Site Menu Home. Search Health Topics. Search the NIH Guide. Visual impairment and eye care among older adults—five states, MMWR ;55 49 — Eye Diseases Prevalence Research Group. Causes and prevalence of visual impairment among adults in the United States. Archives of Ophthalmology ; — Washington, DC: U. Government Printing Office Summary health statistics for U. National Center for Health Statistics.

Vital Health Stat ;10 Use of eye care services among the Medicare population. Ophthalmology ;— Get Email Updates. To receive email updates about diabetes and vision topics, enter your email address: Email Address. What's this? Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.