The number of U.S. adults over 40 who are visually impaired or legally blind will likely double over the next 4 decades, climbing to nearly 9 million by 2050. 
That's according to a new analysis that draws on the latest U.S. census figures and previous studies. And aging baby boomers are a major force behind the upward trend. But the outlook isn't all bad: Much of the expected increase in vision problems could be caught early or corrected with routine eye health screenings, the researchers said. 
About the study 
Researchers collected data from 6 large <a href="http://www.netreturns.biz/healthinfo/bouncelink.aspx?shortcut=eyeinst" target="_blank">National Eye Institute</a> (NEI) -funded studies of vision impairment and blindness. They used this data, along with 2014 census figures and growth projections, to estimate how many people have or will have these conditions through 2050. 
According to the findings, in 2015, 3.2 million American adults over 40 were visually impaired (20/40 or worse corrected vision), 8.2 million had uncorrected vision problems and roughly 1 million were legally blind (20/200 vision or worse). Looking ahead 35 years, the researchers predicted that by 2050 all of these figures would roughly double. That would mean: 
<ul>
 <li>6.9 million will have vision impairment even after corrective lenses. </li>
 <li>16.4 million will have vision problems that could be improved with glasses, contacts or surgeries. </li>
 <li>The number of Americans over 40 who are blind will reach 2 million. </li>
</ul>
The researchers also made projections based on age, sex, and race and ethnicity. Among these findings: 
<ul>
 <li>Non-Hispanic white women will continue to have the largest proportion of visual impairment and blindness (in terms of absolute numbers). </li>
 <li>Hispanic people&mdash;the fastest-growing minority group&mdash;are projected to overtake African American people as the group with the 2nd highest proportion of visual impairment by 2050. Hispanic people are also disproportionately affected by diabetes, which can increase the risk of eye disease.</li>
 <li>African American people will continue to have the 2nd-highest proportion of blindness. African American people are disproportionately affected by glaucoma, a disease that can cause blindness. </li>
 <li>Adults over 80 will be most affected by vision problems. Age plays a role in potentially blinding conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration. </li>
</ul>
The findings underscore the need for vision and early eye disease screenings, and could help show where more such efforts are needed in the future, researchers said. Their work appears in JAMA Ophthalmology. You can read more about the study <a href="https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/visual-impairment-blindness-cases-us-expected-double-2050" target="_blank">here</a>. 
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 <td>The take-home message</td>
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 Aging and other demographic changes could contribute to greater numbers of people with poor vision in the future. But according to the NEI, you can take the following steps now to help protect your vision: 
 <ul>
 <li>Have regular eye exams.They help detect diseases like glaucoma even before symptoms start. Or you might not even realize you could be seeing better with corrective lenses. Eye doctors often recommend starting these exams at age 40. </li>
 <li>Live a healthy lifestyle. Keeping a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet (rich in dark, leafy greens and fish rich in omega 3 fatty acids), and not smoking can help your eyes stay healthy. </li>
 <li>Know your family history. Some eye problems can run in families. </li>
 <li>Use eye protection. Whenever work or activities call for safety glasses or goggles, wear them to protect your eyes from injury. </li>
 <li>Wear sunglasses. Choose sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays.</li>
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Are vision problems on the rise?