Blindness 'Epidemic': How to Protect Yourself

May 22, 2006 — -- Around the world, someone goes blind or suffers vision loss every five seconds.

"When we look at the number of 16 million people with low vision in the United States today and we say that in [in the year] 2020, that number is going to double, that is an epidemic," said Tara Cortes, president of Lighthouse International, which helps people of all ages overcome the challenges of vision loss.

Cortes says the approaching vision loss crisis is the result of people living longer, baby boomers aging, and an increase in the rate of diabetes, which can cause blindness.

"We think it happens when I get older," Cortes said. "But it does happen to people who are in their 20s, their 30s, their 40s and 50s. You all of a sudden realize, 'I can't see. I can't read. I can't see the person sitting across from me.'"

There are 180 million people worldwide who have vision impairment, according to Lighthouse International. To understand the challenges the visually impaired faced every day, Diane Sawyer wore glasses that simulated blindness.

Sawyer met several people who are visually impaired, including Dan Murphy, 27.

"At first it was impossible to deal with," Murphy said of losing most of his sight as an adult. "I mean just sitting there and just tears falling out of my eyes. … You want to go out with your friends. You want to go to bars, restaurants, and clubs, and it's very hard to get around."

Like Murphy, 99 percent of people lose their vision later in life due to macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetes. With macular degeneration, arteries that feed the retina harden, depriving vision cells of oxygen. Glaucoma causes damage to the optic nerve through pressure, compromising peripheral vision first.

There are treatments, but no cure, for all three conditions.

Lighthouse International recommends five simple steps to protect your eyesight:

For more information, visit the Lighthouse International.

Tune in to "Good Morning America" on Tuesday for the rest of Sawyer's report on life with vision impairment.