Vision Statistics in Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s vision health status offers a unique perspective on how ocular conditions affect diverse populations within the state. Across urban and rural areas, data shows variations in prevalence rates, disease trends, and screening utilization. This article focuses on statistical findings that highlight key areas of vision health to foster greater understanding and potential collaboration among healthcare stakeholders.

Over the past two decades, Wisconsin’s population has witnessed both improvements in certain eye diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, and stubborn challenges, including disparities by age, race, and geography. By exploring these detailed statistics, readers can better grasp the scope of vision-related challenges across multiple demographic groups.

Below are some standout statistics illustrating Wisconsin’s vision health landscape:

• 3.46% of Wisconsin residents overall reported blindness or difficulty seeing in a recent statewide assessment.
• Among older adults (65+), this rate escalated to 5.39% statewide.
• 32% rise in cataract surgery incidence since 2000 due to safer surgical methods and improved insurance coverage.
• Glaucoma prevalence in adults 40+ reached 2.56%, outpacing neighboring states such as Minnesota (2.3%).

These numbers provide a snapshot of the challenges at play. The following sections break down vision health trends across age groups, disease types, and geographic areas, offering data-based insights into Wisconsin’s evolving ocular landscape.

Age-Related Prevalence

Statistics surrounding vision impairment clearly illustrate how age affects Wisconsin’s residents.

• Adults 18–39 reported about 2.07% rate of visual challenges in a recent population study.
• The rate climbed to 5.39% for those over 65, exceeding some neighboring states like Iowa, where 4.8% of seniors were affected.
• In the Beaver Dam Eye Study, 1.4% of adults developed new visual impairment (worse than 20/40) per five-year interval, peaking at 14.6% among participants over 85.
• Severe vision loss (20/200 or worse) occurred in 0.4% of individuals every five years, with age-related macular degeneration accounting for over half of these cases.

These figures underscore the importance of monitoring vision health as the population ages. Below is a snapshot of age-linked incidence from available data.

Age Group	Vision Difficulty Rate	Severe Loss Incidence (per 5 years)
18–39	2.07%	0.4% (Under 1% for all younger adults)
65+	5.39%	~0.4%–0.8% (Varies by cohort)
85+	14.6% (cumulative impairment)	Peaks near 0.8%

Longitudinal Vision Trends

Tracking how prevalence rates evolve sheds light on both clinical improvements and persistent risk factors.

• Diabetic retinopathy prevalence among working-age adults dropped from 43% to 18% over a 20-year span, thanks to improved glucose control.
• Cataract surgery incidence rose by 32% since 2000, facilitated by better insurance and safer techniques.
• Statewide glaucoma prevalence grew to 2.56%, surpassing prior measurements of 2.1% in some cohorts.
• Smoking remains a risk factor, increasing vision loss risk by over 3 percentage points in statewide data.

Year-over-year changes in screening technologies and medical interventions greatly impact these statistics, prompting further observation of how behavior and care quality shape outcomes.

Disease-Specific Data

Certain diseases drive the majority of vision challenges. Below are core statistics related to diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.

• 135,000 Wisconsinites currently live with diabetic retinopathy.
• Statewide screening rates for diabetic retinopathy improved from 51% to 63%, but rural rates (58%) still trail urban (67%).
• Advanced insulin regimens lowered 20-year retinopathy severity odds by 36% compared to earlier cohorts.
• Glaucoma affects 2.56% of adults over 40, above the national average of 2.1%, with African American residents at 3× higher risk than White residents.
• Age-related macular degeneration accounts for 40% of severe vision loss in seniors; late-stage AMD cases declined by 22% since 2008.

The high prevalence of these conditions underscores the need for ongoing disease monitoring and highlights existing disparities among different socioeconomic groups.

Ocular Condition	State Prevalence	Notable Trend
Diabetic Retinopathy	18% (working-age adults)	Down from 43% over 20 years
Glaucoma	2.56% (40+)	Higher than neighboring states
Late-Stage AMD	~4.2% (65+)	22% decrease in late-stage cases

Geographic and Demographic Breakdown

Location and demographic factors strongly influence access to care and disease outcomes in Wisconsin.

• Rural counties have 1.7 ophthalmologists per 100,000 people, compared to 4.3 in urban areas.
• Diabetic screening completion stands at 58% for rural residents, well below urban rates of 67%.
• Approximately 37% of rural Wisconsinites lack reliable broadband, limiting telehealth initiatives.
• Among uninsured individuals, 30% avoid eye care due to cost, highlighting economic barriers to essential services.

Racial and ethnic factors compound these geographic disparities:

• African Americans over 65 experience vision impairment at 3× the rate of White residents.
• Glaucoma screening is 54% among African Americans compared to 68% among White adults.
• Hispanic populations encounter language barriers, with only 12% of clinics offering Spanish-language materials.

Socioeconomic status also impacts vision outcomes, further widening gaps in screening and treatment.

Regional Comparisons

Evaluating Wisconsin against its Midwestern neighbors offers additional context for statewide challenges and progress.

Metric	Wisconsin	Minnesota	Michigan	National
Diabetic Screenings	63%	68%	59%	60%
Glaucoma Prevalence	2.56%	2.3%	2.7%	2.1%
Uncorrected Refractive Error	3.1%	2.8%	3.4%	3.5%

While Wisconsin shows some strengths, such as outperforming Michigan in diabetic retinopathy screening, it lags behind Minnesota in outreach and holds a higher glaucoma rate compared to national averages.

Key Statistics Summary

• Statewide vision difficulty stands around 3.46%, rising to 5.39% for seniors.
• Diabetic retinopathy affects 135,000 adults, with screening rates at 63%.
• Glaucoma prevalence has grown to 2.56%, topping the national rate of 2.1%.
• Rural-urban disparities remain stark: 58% vs. 67% screening rates, 1.7 vs. 4.3 ophthalmologists per 100,000.

Overall, the data highlights significant improvement in certain treatment areas yet underscores persistent disparities by region, race, and income. Ongoing collection and analysis of vision statistics will remain vital to informing more equitable approaches to eye care across Wisconsin.