Vision Statistics in Alaska

Alaska’s expansive geography and diverse population present a distinctive environment for examining vision health data. From comparatively low statewide visual impairment rates to notably higher burdens among Alaska Native communities, these statistics offer a clear window into current trends and disparities.

This article reviews key metrics, including prevalence rates for various eye diseases and differences in health care accessibility across the state. By showcasing the statistics in simple, citable formats, the aim is to highlight areas of need and promote data-informed dialogue.

Noteworthy Initial Statistics

Below are four data points that illustrate the varied landscape of Alaska’s vision health:

• 1.64% is the crude prevalence of visual acuity loss statewide, among the ten lowest rates in the nation.
• 8.7% of Alaska Native adults self-report visual impairment, nearly double the national average for the same demographic categories.
• 26.3% of Alaska Native individuals with diabetes also have diabetic retinopathy, compared to 0.7% nationally.
• 16% of Alaskans lack insurance coverage, surpassing the nationwide average of 10%.

Each figure underscores the importance of detailed data analysis for capturing gaps in care and identifying at-risk groups. Building on these insights, the following sections present a deeper look at prevalence, major eye diseases, accessibility challenges, and regional comparisons.

Prevalence of Visual Impairment and Blindness

This section highlights the scope of visual acuity challenges statewide and within specific subgroups.

• Alaska has a crude prevalence of visual acuity loss (20/40 or worse) of 1.64%, placing it among the ten states with the lowest rates.
• The standardized prevalence of blindness (20/200 or worse) in Alaska is 0.7%, lower than the U.S. average of 1.1%.
• Among Alaska Native adults, 8.7% self-report visual impairment, which is nearly double the adjusted national averages for similar populations.
• Older age groups exhibit higher rates: 11.5% of Alaska Native individuals aged 40 and above report some level of visual impairment, compared to 3.1% in younger cohorts.

These findings point to disparities between the general Alaskan population and specific demographic groups, emphasizing the need to monitor vision health across age segments.

Prevalence Metric	Statistic
Crude Prevalence of Visual Acuity Loss (20/40+)	1.64% (Statewide)
Blindness Rate (20/200+)	0.7% (Statewide)
Self-Reported Visual Impairment (Alaska Native Adults)	8.7%
Visual Impairment in AN Age ≥40	11.5%

Major Eye Diseases and Risk Factors

Multiple eye conditions contribute to the overall burden of vision problems in Alaska, affecting both quality of life and healthcare expenditures.

• Age-sex adjusted cataract prevalence in Alaska Native populations stands at 9.5%, slightly higher than the 8.6% national average.
• The likelihood of cataract increases markedly with age, with odds ratios of 56.09 for those 70 and older compared to younger cohorts.
• Glaucoma prevalence among Alaska Natives reaches 3.5%, compared to about 2.0% nationwide.
• Diabetic retinopathy affects 26.3% of Alaska Native individuals with diabetes, whereas only 0.7% of the general U.S. population is affected.

Such figures point to the compounded effects of systemic health issues, especially in older Alaskan subgroups and those with chronic diseases like diabetes.

Condition	Prevalence in Alaska Native (AN) Groups	National Average
Cataract (Age-Sex Adjusted)	9.5%	8.6%
Glaucoma	3.5%	2.0%
Diabetic Retinopathy (Individuals w/ Diabetes)	26.3%	0.7%

Accessibility to Eye Care

Alaska’s large geographic area, combined with socioeconomic challenges, directly impacts the accessibility of eye care services.

• Rural regions often have fewer ophthalmologists, requiring reliance on telemedicine programs that provide screenings during primary care visits.
• 33% of Alaska Native individuals with diabetes do not receive annual dilated eye exams, highlighting a gap in screening follow-up.
• Approximately 16% of all Alaskans remain uninsured, a figure higher than the 10% U.S. average.
• Among visually impaired Alaskans, 29.2% cite cost as a barrier to care, compared to just 12.6% nationally.
• Low-income households (≤$15,000/year) face 4.3× higher odds of developing diabetic eye disease due to delayed care.

These factors collectively reveal how geographic isolation and financial constraints intersect to shape health outcomes, especially in remote parts of the state.

Accessibility Indicator	Data Point
Uninsured Rate (Statewide)	16%
Cost as Barrier (Visually Impaired)	29.2% (AK) vs. 12.6% (US)
No Annual Exam Among AN w/ Diabetes	33%
Odds of Diabetic Eye Disease in Low-Income Households	4.3× Higher

Demographic Disparities

Differences in vision health outcomes between Alaska Native communities and other Alaskans stand out across various key indicators.

• Alaska Native individuals experience 2.2× higher cataract prevalence than their non-Native counterparts.
• Glaucoma rates among Alaska Native women reach 5.5%, compared to 2.1% in men.
• Limited fresh food availability and higher diabetes prevalence (1.3× the U.S. rate) contribute to increased diabetic retinopathy risks.
• Alaska Native adults without a high school education are 4.85× more likely to report visual impairment and are half as likely to receive recent eye exams.
• Rural locales, such as Southwest Alaska, report 75% fewer diabetic eye disease cases compared to Southcentral, suggesting significant underdiagnosis.

These statistics portray how social determinants, cultural barriers, and regional access hurdles shape health outcomes across different communities.

Disparity Focus	Statistic
Cataract Prevalence (AN vs Non-Native)	2.2× Higher in AN
Glaucoma in AN Women	5.5% (vs. 2.1% in men)
Diabetes Rate (AN vs US)	1.3× Higher in AN
Rural (SW) vs Southcentral Underdiagnosis	~75% Fewer Reported Cases

Comparison with Neighboring States

Neighboring states demonstrate distinct patterns of visual impairment and insurance coverage, offering a broader context for Alaska’s data.

• Washington’s overall visual acuity loss stands at 2.1%, surpassing Alaska’s rate of 1.64%.
• Idaho reports a 1.8% visual acuity loss, slightly higher than Alaska but lower than the 2.9% U.S. average.
• Cataract prevalence estimates in Washington (8.1%) and Idaho (7.9%) remain lower than Alaska Native-specific figures (9.5%).
• Uninsured rates are as low as 8% in Washington and 11% in Idaho, compared to 16% in Alaska.

Although Alaska’s population-wide visual impairment indicators compare favorably, the disparities within subgroups remain more acute than in nearby states.

Metric	Alaska	Washington	Idaho	U.S. Average
Visual Acuity Loss (%)	1.64	2.1	1.8	2.9
Cataract Prevalence (%)	9.5* (AN)	8.1	7.9	8.6
Uninsured Rate (%)	16	8	11	10

*Age-sex adjusted for Alaska Native populations.

Key Statistics Summary

• 1.64% is Alaska’s overall prevalence of visual acuity loss.
• 8.7% of Alaska Native adults report vision impairment, nearly double similar U.S. rates.
• 33% of Alaska Native individuals with diabetes do not receive annual dilated exams.
• 29.2% of visually impaired Alaskans cite cost as a primary barrier to eye care.
• 75% fewer diabetic eye disease cases are documented in remote parts of Alaska, indicating possible underdiagnosis.

Overall, these statistics underscore Alaska’s dual challenge of low statewide rates but persistent, disproportionately high burdens in certain communities. The data also shows that geographies with insufficient specialist coverage and individuals facing economic barriers are more likely to experience delayed diagnoses, higher complication rates, and additional burdens of vision-related conditions.