In Florida:

• 490,120 Floridians are visually impaired or blind (Source: Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind, 2013)
• Florida is 2nd in the U.S. for visual impairment, macular degeneration, glaucoma, & cataracts; 3rd in the U.S. for diabetic retinopathy (Source: Prevent Blindness, 2012)

In Lake and Sumter Counties:

• More than 13,000 Lake & Sumter residents are visually impaired or blind (Source: Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind, 2013)

Effect of Vision Loss:

• Americans believe that severe vision loss would negatively impact their lives more than HIV/AIDS, cancer, stroke, heart attack/disease, diabetes, and deafness (Source: American Foundation for the Blind, 2007)

Effect of Vision Rehabilitation:

• Maintaining robust instrumental activities of daily living reduces mortality risk in those with uncorrectable vision loss. (Source: JAMA Network Journals, 2014)