STATISTICS

Approximately 168.5 million U.S. residents use vision correction such as eyeglasses or contact lenses, representing 75% of the country's total adult population. - VisionWatch (Jobson Medical Information LLC and Vision Council of America), June 2006

"More than half of Americans have vision problems or impairments of some sort, and nearly 40 percent fear they can't afford adequate treatment, according to a recent survey commissioned by insurer Aflac." The

"Every seven minutes, someone in America will become blind or visually impaired." American Foundation for the Blind - 2005

"In 1994-95, there were approximately 1.3 million Americans who reported legal blindness. Of these individuals, 80% had some "useful vision". The other 20% had only light perception or less vision. Half of these individuals were totally blind that is, had no light perception." American Foundation for the Blind - 2005

"More than 28 million Americans over age 40 have eye ailments that put them at risk for vision loss and blindness, researchers say, warning that the numbers will surge as the population ages." Arch. Ophthalmol. 122:546-551, 2004 Apr. Roy, M.S., Klein, R., O'Colmain, B.J., Klein, B,E.K., Moss, S.E., Kempen, J.H.

"Up to 25 percent of school-age children may have vision problems that can affect learning, but only 14 percent of children receive a comprehensive eye exam before starting school. Nearly 10 million kids have undetected vision problems." College of Optometrists in Vision Development, August 2004

Central New York Business Journal, 2005