Vision Impairment statistics

The following statistics for the United Kingdom are taken from the European Blind Union Office 2000 statistics
 

Total vision impaired population

Blind population

Partially sighted population

Number of vision impaired people with additional disabilities

 

Total vision impaired population :

1 066 740 (identified) ; 1,8 per cent of total population
354 153 (registered)

 

• 82 % of vision impaired people are 65 or over
   
• 1 in 7 over 75 and 1 in 3 over 85 have severe vision loss
   
• The number of blind adults living in private households is estimated to be 300,000, with 41 000 of working age
   
• The number of partially sighted adults living in private households is estimated to be 457 000, with 50 000 of working age
   

Blind population : 193 956 (registered)

Definition of blindness : Individuals are registered blind if they have :

a) a visual acuity of less than 3/60 Snellen

or b) a visual acuity of between 3/60 and 6/60 Snellen and a considerable contraction of their field of vision

or c) a visual acuity greater than 6/60 Snellen and a field contraction covering majority of the field.

 

Partially sighted population : 160 197 (registered)

Definition of partial sight: Individuals are registered as partially sighted if they have :

a) Visual acuity of between 3/60 and 6/60 Snellen and a full field of vision

or b) a visual acuity of between 6/60 and 6/24 Snellen and a moderate contraction of their field of vision

or c) a visual acuity up to 6/18 Snellen, or even better, with a gross field defect.

 

Number of vision impaired people with additional disabilities:

- 67 % of vision impaired people have another permanent illness or disability. Most frequently mentioned are :
 

arthritis (25 %), heart conditions (16 %), mobility problems (14%) and diabetes (9 %).
 

- 35 % of vision impaired people experience some difficulty in hearing normal speech (round 50 % of those over 75)

- 56 % of vision impaired children have at least one other disability.