View from the Neighborhood
National-level data examines the association between census tract disadvantage and visual difficulty and blindness
By
Patrice Hicks
July 10, 2026
Objective: To investigate the association between neighborhood disadvantage and visual difficulty and blindness.
Approach: Study Design: Cross-sectional study analyzing data from over 83,000 census tracts across the United States from 2018 to 2022.Data Sources: Utilized the National Neighborhood Data Archive and the American Community Survey.Measures: Neighborhood disadvantage was assessed using economic indicators; visual difficulty and blindness were based on self-reported responses.Key Findings: Increasing neighborhood disadvantage is associated with higher prevalence of visual difficulty and blindness. Each 0.01-unit increase in neighborhood disadvantage correlates with a 2.9% increase in the odds of visual difficulty and blindness. Interpretation:
Limitations: Reliance on self-reported visual difficulty and blindness rather than clinical testing. Exclusion of census tracts with missing visual difficulty and blindness measures may affect generalizability. Conclusion:
