Types of Vision Loss

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that approximately 80 million Americans have a health condition that can lead to vision loss or blindness. That equates to approximately 1 in 4 individuals – more than 1.1 million people in GDABVI’s Southeast Michigan service area.

​There are many conditions that cause people to become blind, legally blind, or visually impaired. Vision loss is often the result of disease, age-related conditions and injury. Many of these conditions can be prevented with proper eye screening and by paying attention to factors that lead to underlying health conditions such as proper nutritional support, access to medical care, physical activity, and stress reduction.

​Other health conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, HIV and sickle cell – even being born prematurely, can also lead to specific types of retinopathies that cause visual impairment. The types of vision loss we see most often at the Agency are macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal detachment.

Learn more about:

• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Macular Degeneration
• Retinal Detachment
• Diabetic Retinopathy
• Hypertensive Retinopathy
• HIV Retinopathy
• Retinopathy of Prematurity
• Sickle Cell Retinopathy