Whether you scored a perfect 10 or something less, understanding how habits, genes, vision care and the environment can affect your vision will help you preserve your sight throughout your life. Here is information that can help you do that, presented in the same order as the questions on the quiz.

Most blindness is preventable.
Answer: True

Around 75 to 90 percent of all global blindness and vision loss is preventable or treatable. This translates to hundreds of millions of people who could regain their sight or avoid vision loss entirely through early detection, routine exams, or simple medical interventions like cataract surgery and prescription glasses. The breakdown of this staggering figure highlights exactly how and why vision loss occurs, and the paths available to prevent it:

Global Scale: According to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and the World Health Organization, about 90 percent of all vision loss cases are preventable or treatable.
The U.S. Context: In the United States, up to 90 percent of blindness caused by diabetes is entirely preventable through proper management and early screening.
The Top Culprits: The most common causes of preventable vision impairment globally are uncorrected refractive errors (needing basic glasses) and cataracts (clouding of the eye’s lens that can be surgically corrected). You can protect your vision by scheduling regular, comprehensive eye exams. You can find highly rated optometrists and ophthalmologists in your area or check your coverage using tools like the Zocdoc Eye Doctor Finder. Routine check-ups can catch degenerative conditions like glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy before they cause irreversible damage.

What is the leading cause of blindness?
Answer: Cataracts

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide, accounting for roughly half of all cases globally. While treatable with common surgery, this clouding of the eye’s natural lens remains the primary cause due to limited access to medical care in low- and middle-income countries.

Vision disability is the primary disability in children.
Answer: True

Get information about children’s vision problems and treatment.

Myopia is..
Answer; Nearsightedness.

Discover the causes, risk factors, symptoms and treatment for myopia.

Sunglasses that block UV rays can help prevent…
Answer: All of the above, including:

Cataracts
Corneal sunburn — Corneal sunburn, called photokeratitis, is the result of high short-term exposure to UV-B rays. Long hours at the beach or skiing without proper eye protection can cause this problem. It can be very painful and may cause temporary vision loss.
Skin cancer — Skin cancer around the eyelids is also linked to prolonged UV exposure.
Macular degeneration
Pterygium — This growth begins on the white of the eye and may involve the cornea. Eventually, the growth may block vision. It is more common in people who work outside in the sun and wind.
Eye cancer

It’s the ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunshine that cause the problems. Learn how to protect your eyes from UV rays.

Women are disproportionately affected by vision problems.
Answer: True

Women are disproportionately affected by vision problems, with two-thirds of blindness or vision impairment cases occurring in women

Key Factors Contributing to Women’s Eye Health Risks:

Hormonal Changes: Fluctuations during pregnancy, menopause, and perimenopause can lead to conditions like dry eye syndrome and other vision changes.
Age-Related Conditions: Women tend to live longer than men, increasing their risk of age-related diseases such as macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma.
Lifestyle and Socioeconomic Factors: Smoking, poor nutrition, obesity, and limited access to healthcare in some regions exacerbate risks.

Screen time (on phones, laptops, etc.) has been linked to myopia in children.
Answer: True

Myopia has been identified as a growing global epidemic in children. This presentation outlines the causes and preventive measures you can take to prevent myopia in young eyes.

Which of the following eye problems are related to aging?
Answer: All of the above, including:

Glaucoma is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness in the United States, but half of people with glaucoma don’t know they have it because glaucoma has no early symptoms.
Answer: True

Discover the symptoms, risks, and treatment for glaucoma.

The prevalence and costs of vision problems are expected…
Answer: to grow at an alarming rate.

The prevalence and costs of vision problems are set to grow at an alarming rate, fueled by demographic shifts, including the aging of the baby-boomer population, extraordinary increases in the population in the oldest age groups, and the growth of minority populations, according to a report from Prevent Blindness.

By 2050, Prevent Blindness projects that the prevalence of vision loss will grow by 135 percent, from 4.4 million to more than 10 million people.

The total prevalence of cataract, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and advanced age-related macular degeneration is expected to increase by 77 percent to nearly 70 million adults by 2050.²

Learn more about the challenges ahead.