If you or a loved one are visually impaired, finding out more about blindness statistics can assist you to become more knowledgeable and educated. The AFB or American Foundation for the Blind is a leading organization who advocates for the blind and helps to educate the public about this condition. According to the AFB, there are slightly more than 21 million U.S. residents dealing with loss of vision. In this definition, vision loss is anything from being nearsighted and wearing glasses to being completely blind. This approximation refers only to those over the age of 18 and the source of the data is the National Center for Health Statistics.