NEW YORK—As millions of aging Baby Boomers lose some, or all, of their sight due to age-related eye disease and we live longer due to advances in health care, the number of people suffering from low vision and blindness continues to increase. According to 2021 study published in JAMA Ophthalmology, 20 percent of all people aged 85 and older in the U.S. experience permanent vision loss. As a result, the need for assistive technologies and improved access to them has never been greater.

To help mitigate this growing global low vision crisis, an expanding ecosystem of vision care providers and vision organizations, along with a broad array of suppliers—including several Big Tech companies—are developing new solutions to help those living with visual impairments perform everyday tasks. Through their combined efforts, everything from handheld and desktop magnifiers to smartphone apps, specialized software, AI-powered wearable devices and other new technologies are becoming more accessible for all those with low vision, blindness and hearing impairments.
 
To read more about advances in helping people cope with vision loss, including new resources now available for educating patients and training ECPS, check out Vision Monday’s special feature, “Accessible Tech Expands Options for Low Vision and Blind Patients.”