Aging increases risk of developing low vision disorders. However, other factors like ethnicity can also impact potential of certain eye diseases.

A recent poll by Research!America found that a majority of African American respondents, 57 percent, feared vision loss and said it would have a great impact on their lives – more so than fears of losing speech, memory, and hearing. Additionally, 66 percent of African Americans feared that loss of vision would impact their independence, while 59 percent feared it would have on their quality of life.

While vision loss and low vision disorders affect all Americans, African Americans are disproportionately affected. According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 200,000 African Americans suffer with low vision, and that number is expected to increase to 366,000 by 2030.

We have created a printable document with more information about the prevalence of low vision and aging eye disease in the African American community. You can access it here:  Low Vision in the African American Community