How common are eye and vision problems in older adults?

Serious age-related eye problems can cause vision loss or visual distortion that glasses can't fix. More than one million Americans older than 40 are considered legally blind, which means their vision is 20/200 or worse in their best eye, even with corrective lenses or surgery. Another 2.4 million have significantly reduced vision. The risk of developing vision problems increases as you get older, especially after age 65. One dramatic example: people ages 80 or older make up about 8% of the U.S. population, but account for 69% of people who are blind.