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The U.S. Congress should adequately fund eye and vision research at the NEI. Eye and vision disease is now at epidemic proportions. As of the year 2000 census, more than 119 million Americans age 40+ were at risk from age-related eye disease, such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and cataracts. More than 35 million Americans age 40+ currently experience these diseases, in addition to the 3.4 million who are blind, and this number is expected to grow to 50 million by the year 2020. A growing Hispanic and African American population is experiencing a disproportionate incidence of glaucoma and cataracts. And, the epidemic of diabetes is increasing the onset of diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness in individuals 25-74 years in age.
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