Important New Survey Identifies Impact of Blindness and Low Vision on Senior Adults

Big data reports for each U.S state are now available from the survey. 

 

VisionServe Alliance and The Ohio State University College of Optometry have completed an important national project to comprehensively describe Americans ages 65 and older who are blind or have low vision. The data sets analyzed are from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. 

The results of this Big Data Report Project can be acquired for each state at Aging & Vision Loss Big Data Project Reports. Each report contains descriptions and graphics for:

•demographic characteristics

•prevalence of vision impairment by age, sex, and race/ethnicity

•geographic distribution by county

•other chronic conditions

•quality of life issues

•disability status

•social determinants of health and health equity

The purpose of the project is to identify the efficacy, importance, and financial burden of support and rehabilitation services for the senior adult low vision population in the U.S.

Dean VanNasdale, associate professor at The Ohio State University College of Optometry, explained, “We have limited resources to address public health initiatives when considering things like vision. Determining where the most immediate needs are turns out to be very helpful, so you can start to direct scarce resources to groups that could benefit the most.”

To read more about the Big Data Report Project, see:

The Reality of Aging and Vision Loss in America, John Crews (Published online by American Society on Aging, May 11, 2023.)