Every year, more women than men are diagnosed with eye diseases and conditions such as cataracts, dry eye, Fuchs’ dystrophy, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and Sjögren’s syndrome.

The term "blindness" can have many connotations and is difficult to define precisely. To many people, blindness refers to the complete loss of vision with no remaining perception of light.

As the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization, Prevent Blindness America has established a goal of dramatically increasing the number of Americans who regularly receive eye exams.

Most of us expect vision problems to wield a monetary blow not only on people living with the condition but also on the U.S. economy.

Safety’s thought leaders keep bumping into each other at conferences such as ASSE’s annual meeting. Here are three “new thoughts” making the rounds here in Denver:

Since its introduction, Wiley X®, Inc.'s Black Ops Collection has been known for its stealthy good looks and military-grade vision protection. Now, with the addition of the new Polarized WX Censor to the collection, law enforcement, Secret Service and other tactical wearers can add the visual acuity and proven glare-cutting performance of Wiley X polarized lenses to
the list.

We tend to take our eyes and our vision for granted. Sure, when we find out we need glasses or have to change to a stronger prescription, we think about our eyes – but other than that, how often do we pay attention to the wonderful gift of sight that most of us have?

Blindness and vision impairment are on the rise in the United States. A recent report by Prevent Blindness America indicates that, since the year 2000, incidence of blindness and vision impairment has increased by 23 percent among Americans age 40 and older.

In a year where an estimated 2.8 million baby boomers will celebrate their 60th birthday, age-related eye diseases are becoming increasingly important health issues, according to the American Optometric Association.

The expected increase in visual impairment in the workplace is an emerging issue for employers. As the 30 million so-called baby boomers age, the number of Americans who will experience vision loss will grow; it is expected to double over the next 30 years, according to the American Foundation for the Blind.