摘要：Objectives. We sought to establish national data on the prevalence of visual impairment, blindness, and selected eye conditions (cataract, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and macular degeneration) and to characterize these conditions within sociodemographic subgroups. Methods. Information on self-reported visual impairment and diagnosed eye diseases was collected from 31 044 adults. We calculated weighted prevalence estimates and odds ratios with logistic regression using SUDAAN. Results. Among noninstitutionalized US adults 18 years and older, the estimated prevalence for visual impairment was 9.3% (19.1 million Americans), including 0.3% (0.7 million) with blindness. Lifetime prevalence of diagnosed diseases was as follows: cataract, 8.6% (17 million); glaucoma, 2.0% (4 million); macular degeneration, 1.1% (2 million); and diabetic retinopathy, 0.7% (1.3 million). The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy among persons with diagnosed diabetes was 9.9%. Conclusions. We present the most recently available national data on self-reported visual impairment and selected eye diseases in the United States. The results of this study provide a baseline for future public health initiatives relating to visual impairment. Visual impairment is defined as low vision not correctable by glasses or contact lenses; it may have different causes. Visual impairment is recognized as a global public health problem. 1 , 2 Worldwide, an estimated 37 million people were blind in 2002, and an additional 124 million were visually impaired. 1 The leading causes of blindness and visual impairment, determined on the basis of a composite analysis of several population-based studies conducted in developed and developing countries, are primarily age-related eye diseases: cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. 1 , 2 Healthy People 2010 established national vision objectives to improve visual health through prevention, early detection, treatment, and rehabilitation. 3 , 4 When the Healthy People 2010 vision objectives were published in 2000, all but 1 lacked national baseline data. 3 Because of cost and logistical difficulty, nationwide studies concerning the prevalence of visual impairment and eye diseases in the United States have been limited. Most US data come from population-based studies of visual impairment in specific demographic groups 5 – 7 or locations. 8 – 10 Prevalence estimates may be obtained through self-reports in interview surveys or through surveys that include eye and vision examinations. The most recent national data on measured visual impairment are from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES); these data were used to estimate that 6.4% of persons 12 years and older had visual acuity of 20/50 or worse in the better-seeing eye in 1999 to 2002. 11 NHANES 1999 to 2002 did not collect data on eye diseases. For our study, we sought to (1) provide national data for adults on the prevalence of self-reported visual impairment, blindness, and 4 diagnosed eye conditions (cataract, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and macular degeneration) and (2) characterize these conditions within sociodemographic subgroups. Self-reported data from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) provide the most recent national estimates for these 4 eye conditions.
