Blindness in Kansas:

Vision impairment is one of the most feared disabilities. Although it is believed that half of all blindness can be prevented, the number of people who suffer vision loss continues to increase. The best way to prevent vision loss is with regular comprehensive eye exams by an eye doctor. It is estimated that 26,714 Kansas residents age 40 and older suffer from vision impairment. An estimated 12,502 Kansas residents are blind. And in addition, no less than 731,889 Kansans over the age of 40 suffer from a myriad of vision problems, that include:

• Refractive errors (nearsightedness and farsightedness), the most common type of eye problem in Kansas
• Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), affecting the part of the retina responsible for central vision
• Cataracts, a clouding of the eye's lens
• Diabetic Retinopathy, a complication of diabetes, that affects the tiny blood vessels of the retina which can break down, leak, or become blocked and impair vision.
• Glaucoma, which causes a degeneration of cells that make up the optic nerve.

The following statistics reflect the numbers of Kansans over age 40 who suffer from these problems.