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Did You Know?
- Vision problems affect one in 20 preschoolers and one in four school-aged children
Source: Prevent Blindness America, 1995
- Almost 80% of preschool-age children never get an eye exam
Source: Prevent Blindness America, 1995
- Nearly 30% of children in special education classes have vision problems
Source: Eye Care Council, Inc., See to Learn Program, 1999
- More than 70% of juvenile delinquents have vision problems
Source: Eye Care Council, Inc., See to Learn Program, 1999
- 25% of junior high school-aged children (11-14 years) can’t read the blackboard because of myopia (nearsightedness)
Source: Helen Keller International, 1999
- One of every six children is two or more grade levels behind in reading. Of these "slow" readers, 80% have difficulty in eye control and coordination
Source: Vision Reference Guide, Saratoga Vision Center, 1999
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Facts to Consider :
• 3.3 million Americans age 40 and older are blind or have low vision, and this number is expected to increase to 5.5 million by 2020 as the population ages.
• According to the NEI, glaucoma is almost three times as common in African-Americans as in Caucasians. Hispanics age 65 and older are also at increased risk of glaucoma.
• Glaucoma that is undiagnosed or poorly controlled can lead to damage of the optic nerve, visual field loss, and ultimately sight loss. People with glaucoma usually lose peripheral vision first. Over time, glaucoma may also damage central vision. Once lost, vision cannot be restored.
• Prevent Blindness Nebraska recommends that older people get regular, comprehensive eye exams, even if they have no signs of vision problems. The earlier glaucoma is detected, the better the chances are of preserving sight.
• About 1.65 million Americans age 50 and older have advanced vision- threatening cases of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. (Vision Problems in the U.S., March 2002.)
• AMD is a leading cause of blindness in people age 50 and older.
• Every day, as many as 2,000 workers suffer eye injuries on the job. There were an estimated 97,000 workplace-related eye injuries treated in US hospital emergency rooms in 2002. As of 2003, the U.S. Department of Labor estimates that eye injuries total more than $300 million a year in lost production time, medical expenses and worker compensation. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics states that workers aged 25-44 accounted for 62 percent of eye injuries and 81 percent of those were men.
• Wearing the proper protective eyewear can prevent 90 percent of all job-related eye injuries.
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