Several different agencies collect, analyze, and report data on estimates of eye diseases and conditions. This page highlights work to gather and report eye health data and statistics led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the U.S. Census Bureau.
Please keep in mind that data are reported as estimates. Estimates may show a higher or lower number of eye disease cases than what is present in a population due to how researchers collected the data and how many people provided information.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
HHS leads Healthy People 2030, a national public health initiative, and NEI leads the Healthy People 2030 Vision Workgroup.
- Through Healthy People 2030, HHS and NEI set and track data-driven objectives, including those focused on eye health and vision loss
- The Vision Workgroup provides data on progress toward Healthy People 2030’s objectives
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Public health surveillance is central to CDC’s mission. As part of this mission, CDC, an agency within HHS, collects, analyzes, and shares data on eye health, eye diseases, and vision loss.
- CDC’s Vision and Eye Health Data Portal provides detailed datasets on eye health and vision loss
- The National Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System (VEHSS) shares data estimates on vision loss and blindness in the United States
- If you have questions about VEHSS, email Elizabeth Lundeen, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.N.S.P., senior scientist in CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation
- CDC also provides information on low vision and blindness in urban and rural populations
U.S. Census Bureau
The Census Bureau falls within the U.S. Department of Commerce, which is the leading source of data about the nation’s people and the economy.
- The Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) asks about vision difficulties or trouble seeing
- The Census Bureau uses the information from the ACS to publish data on how many people have various disabilities, including vision difficulties
- You can ask questions about the data on the Census Bureau’s website
See our eye disease infographics
By 2050, we expect the number of people with visual impairment or blindness to double. Our infographics help illustrate trends in eye disease prevalence and steps people can take to prevent eye conditions and diseases.