-: Vision loss is among the Top 10 disabilities
in the United States today.
An estimated 7 million Americans have vision impairments,
and the number is expected to double by 2050.
And while all of us are at increased risk as we age,
those of us living in under-resourced areas
or who are people of color,
are even more likely to develop a disabling eye disease.
It should come as no surprise, then,
that the economic burden of vision loss is enormous.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology estimates it
at $134 billion,
with the largest expense coming from nursing home care,
healthcare, and reduced labor force participation.
In fact, the economic impact grows even larger
if you consider the lost productivity of family caregivers,
which is estimated at $5,600 per employee, per year.
The most common eye diseases in the United States today
are macular degeneration,
glaucoma,
and diabetic retinopathy.
With these conditions,
we typically retain some useful vision,
but the impairment can't be corrected
by lenses, surgery, or medication,
and it can make everyday living much more challenging.
Studies show that vision loss in older adults
often brings with it other negative outcomes,
like falls,
isolation,
cognitive decline,
and depression.
-: Darryl: The doctors weren't particularly encouraging
about the dry macular degeneration,
they weren't encouraging
that there was any solution to that, and they'd say,
"Well, I don't think there will be a cure in your lifetime."
They were saying, "Well, there's not much I can do for you,
and come back and see me in a year."
Narrator: But there is something that can be done
for Darryl and millions like him,
and Hadley has been offering this help
for more than 100 years.
With Hadley's help, you discover new ways to do things
that become more difficult due to vision loss.
From learning how to use the vision features on a smartphone
to labeling medications, to pouring coffee,
Hadley's tips can be immediately applied,
increasing safety, confidence, and hope for the future.
Joining the Hadley community
connects adults facing vision loss
to the expertise of Hadley's staff,
as well as an increasing number of peers.
Hadley's Discussion Groups and Peer to Peer Program
connects members with each other,
decreasing that sense of isolation,
replacing it with the comfort of knowing
that they are not alone.
What's more, Hadley's help is easy to find,
on the phone, online, or through the mail.
As a nonprofit, our goal
is to eliminate barriers and change lives.
So all our help is offered completely free of charge.
Since relaunching Hadley's website in 2020,
more than tens of thousands have joined us,
and through partnership,
we expect this growth rate to continue and increase.
It's no wonder that organizations
from the National Eye Institute, CVS,
to Apple and Microsoft, look to Hadley
to help them support their customers with vision loss.
And by informing your employees about Hadley,
you extend Hadley's help when they need it the most.
You become part of the solution.
Mark: So I have what I have.
All I'll get will be worse, you know,
but I won't get better.
So now it's been up to me
to figure out how to live with this.
And resources are very slim.
You know, Hadley is a godsend.
I get ideas
and places to go,
and, you know, ways to look at things,
and just every day, also, the everyday help is great.
-: HadleyHelps.org Help is in Sight.