Another 2.3 million people in this age group are visually impaired. These figures have doubled in the last 30 years and are expected to double again in the next 30 years.
Low vision affects people of all ages and can be caused by any condition that damages eyesight.
While many conditions can be treated with proper, professional eye care, vision already lost often cannot be restored. The most common causes of low vision in older Americans include glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and hereditary disorders such as retinitis pigmentosa and Stargardt's disease. Low vision does not have to mean the end of a normal productive life. Talk to your doctor about your condition. Learn what the diagnosis is and what it means.