October is Blindness Awareness Month according to the World Health Organization. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of millions of individuals around the world who are unnecessarily blind or visually impaired due to causes that are preventable and treatable. It is said that that up to 80% of blindness is avoidable through prevention or treatment, so be sure to schedule annual eye exams for yourself and your loved ones!
The observance brings awareness to the need for screenings to help identify vision issues. Early intervention can prevent loss of sight or slow the progression of a disease.
Did you know:
Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide.
Blindness or low vision affects 3.3 million Americans age 40 and over. This figure is projected to reach 5.5 million by the year 2020.
Diabetics are 25 times more likely to develop blindness or visual impairment than non-diabetics.
Most visually impaired people start losing their eyesight at 50-years-old with a gradual deterioration as people continue to age.
Eighty percent of all visual impairment is preventable so it pays to have annual eye exams.
