St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired Reports Increasing Prevalence of Vision Problems Among Adults in St. Louis Area

FEBRUARY 14, 2012, St. Louis, Missouri, USA... The St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired reports that the incidence of Macular Degeneration and other vision problems is increasing in metropolitan St. Louis and across Missouri.

David Ekin, ACSW, LCSW, President of the Society, said, “The incidence of vision impairment is expanding among all racial and ethnic groups in Missouri particularly among people who are older than 50 years, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

“In Missouri, the incidence of age-related Macular Degeneration is expected to nearly double in years ahead for people age 50 and older, said Ekin, adding, “13.9 percent of all people aged 65 or older in Missouri reported moderate or extreme vision loss, according to CDC data. Age-related Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment among people aged 65 and older, according to The Eye Diseases Prevalence Research Group.”

Currently, approximately 220,000 individuals above age 20 in metro St. Louis experience vision loss, defined as trouble seeing even when wearing glasses or contact lenses, according to 2010 Census Data for the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area, CDC data and other studies.

Primary causes of vision loss in older adults, including Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy, Glaucoma and Cataracts, have led to more than 53,000 people age 65 and older in metro St. Louis reporting vision loss. This scenario leads to health and safety issues, required assistance with daily activities, transportation needs, increased risk for injuries and dependence on family members or community services. In metro St. Louis, more than 130,000 individuals are impacted by vision loss in older adults when spouses, adult children and other family members are included.

In addition, there is significant need for Vision Rehabilitation Services to individuals under age 65 in metro St. Louis. In this age range, almost 120,000 local people ages 45 to 64 and 47,000 people ages 20 to 44 suffer from vision loss, data shows. When spouses, children and family members are included, nearly 670,000 people are impacted by vision loss in these younger age groups.  In total, almost 750,000 people in greater St. Louis -- more than one in every four persons in the metro area – are affected by vision loss or by needing to assist persons with vision loss

“For thousands of people in greater St. Louis and southwestern Illinois, vision loss is taking social and economic tolls that often include increased risk for health and personal safety, disability, loss of productivity and diminished quality of life,” Ekin said. “”We are troubled by the fact that serious vision problems are increasing in Missouri. The Society is accommodating more visually impaired clients at our headquarters facility and in their own homes as a result of this trend,” said Ekin.

“As the Society enters 2012, we are working to broaden our services to accommodate greater numbers of people who are visually impaired in metro St. Louis and in southwestern Illinois, including many who travel to visit our Drews Low Vision Clinic,” Ekin said.

February is Macular Degeneration Awareness Month, a national movement to educate adults ages 40-69 about their risks for vision loss. “Vision loss takes an enormous personal and financial toll,” notes Ekin, “and raises issues of health, safety and loss of independence. Society programs and services help successfully address such issues, and help enable cost savings among individuals and families. 

 “We invite the public to learn more about Missouri’s vision loss trends and how the Society serves people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired by visiting our facilities at 8770 Manchester Road in St. Louis or the Society website www.SLSBVI.org or www.DrewsLowVisionClinic.org.

Founded in 1911, the Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired enhances independence, empowers individuals and enriches the lives of people who are blind or visually impaired including children, adults, and their families. Its caring, qualified staff provides specialized vision rehabilitation, adaptive education, assistive technology and support services. The not-for-profit Society serves an increasing number of older adults who are newly visually impaired, blind or deaf-blind due to age-related eye conditions by providing home-based services, specialized agency services and community activities. It also provides support to school-age students at school districts in Illinois and Missouri, and at the Society.

For more information, call 314.968.9000.

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