Refractive Errors in the US

Refractive Errors: Some of us have to wear either glasses or contact lenses in order to see clearer. The corrective devices (glasses, contact lenses, and magnifiers) help to bring the image onto the retina. There are four typical refractive errors, which cause our vision to be blurred if we do not wear corrective devices.

• Myopia or nearsightedness--Close objects appear sharp but those in the distance are blurred. The eyeball is longer than normal from front to back, so images focus in front of the retina instead of on it.
• Hyperopia (hypermetropia) or farsightedness--Distant objects can be seen clearly but objects up close are blurred. The eyeball is shorter than normal, so images focus behind the retina.
• Astigmatism--Objects are blurred at any distance. The cornea, lens, or both are shaped so that images aren't focused sharply on the retina.
• Presbyopia or aging eye--The eye loses its ability to change focus due to the natural aging process. This usually occurs between ages 40 and 50.

Q: How many people in the U.S. have myopia (≥1.0 diopters)?
A: More than 30.5 million Americans age 40 and older
A: 25 percent for persons aged 12 to 54 years (National Health & Nutrition Examination Survey), 17.6 percent for persons aged 55 to 85 years (Framingham Study, 1973-75).

Q: How many people in the U.S. have hyperopia (≥3.0 diopters)?
A: Almost 12 million Americans age 40 and older
A: 31 percent of adults older than 40 have from 0.75 to 2.5 diopters of hyperopia, an additional 10 percent have from 2.5 to 4 diopters of hyperopia, four percent older than 40 have more than 4 diopters of hyperopia (Baltimore Eye Study).

Q: How many people in the U.S. have presbyopia?
A: Everyone between ages 45-50 develops presbyopia. This accounts for approximately 90 million people in the United States (as reported in the Wall Street Journal, March 2001).

Q: What percentage of the population is affected by astigmatism?
PERCENTAGE ASTIGMATISM (DIOPTERS)

• 3.4% with 3.0 diopters
• 6.0 % with 2.75 diopters 
• 10.0 % with 2.25 diopters 
• 15.8% with 1.75 diopters
• 19.2 % with 1.50 diopters 
• 24.8 % with 1.0 diopters 

(Source: Mosby Year Book; Contemporary Contact Lens Practice 1991)

Refractive Surgery Statistics
Q: How many refractive/LASIK surgeries are performed annually in the U.S.?
A: In 2005 there were 1.5 million refractive surgery procedures performed in the U.S. (1,425,000 LASIK, 67,500 PRK, and 7,500 LASEK). [Source: Spectrum Consulting, 2005]

Q: How many Americans need some type of corrective eyewear?
A: More than six out of 10 adults in the U.S. need some type of corrective eyewear. [Source: Vision Council of America’s Consumer Barometer survey, May 2004]

Q: How many corneal transplants are performed in the U.S. annually?
A: There were 32,106 corneal transplants performed in the U.S. in 2004. 46,841 corneal grafts were supplied byU.S. eye banks. [Source: http://www.restoresight.org/newsroom/newsroom.htm]

Q: What is the approximate number of contact lens wearers in the U.S.?
A: 35.4 million wearers. [Source: Health Products Research Inc., cited in Ophthalmology Management, July 2001, page34]

Q: What is the approximate number of ophthalmologists who dispense contact lenses in the U.S.?
A: Approximately 7,047 dispensing ophthalmologists. [Source: Health Products Research Inc, cited in Ophthalmology Management, July 2001, page 34]

Statistics on ophthalmologists
Q: How many ophthalmologists are in the U.S.?
A: 18,733 ophthalmologists in the U.S. [Source: AMA Physician Masterfile, 2005 (AMA # 312.464.5000)]

Q: How many ophthalmologists are there worldwide (excluding the U.S.)?
A: Approximately 75,000 ophthalmologists outside the U.S.. [Source: AAO Board Book, 1997]