Cause
The most common causes of visual impairment globally in 2010 were:

Refractive error (42%)
Cataract  (33%)
Glaucoma (2%)
Age-related macular degeneration (1%)
Corneal opacification (1%)
Diabetic retinopathy (1%)
Childhood blindness
Trachoma (1%)
Undetermined (18%)The most common causes of blindness worldwide in 2010 were:

Cataracts (51%)
Glaucoma (8%)
Age-related macular degeneration (5%)
Corneal opacification (4%)
Childhood blindness (4%)
Refractive errors (3%)
Trachoma (3%)
Diabetic retinopathy (1%)
Undetermined (21%)About 90% of people who are visually impaired live in the developing world. Age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy are the leading causes of blindness in the developed world.Among working-age adults who are newly blind in England and Wales the most common causes in 2010 were:
Hereditary retinal disorders (20.2%)
Diabetic retinopathy (14.4%)
Optic atrophy (14.1%)
Glaucoma (5.9%)
Congenital abnormalities (5.1%)
Disorders of the visual cortex (4.1%)
Cerebrovascular disease (3.2%)
Degeneration of the macula and posterior pole (3.0%)
Myopia (2.8%)
Corneal disorders (2.6%)
Malignant neoplasms of the brain and nervous system (1.5%)
Retinal detachment (1.4%)

Cataracts
Cataracts are the greying or opacity of the crystalline lens, which can be caused in children by intrauterine infections, metabolic disorders, and genetically transmitted syndromes. Cataracts are the leading cause of child and adult blindness that doubles in prevalence with every ten years after the age of 40. Consequently, today cataracts are more common among adults than in children. That is, people face higher chances of developing cataracts as they age. Nonetheless, cataracts tend to have a greater financial and emotional toll upon children as they must undergo expensive diagnosis, long term rehabilitation, and visual assistance.
Diagnosis
It is important that people be examined by someone specializing in low vision care prior to other rehabilitation training to rule out potential medical or surgical correction for the problem and to establish a careful baseline refraction and prescription of both normal and low vision glasses and optical aids. Only a doctor is qualified to evaluate visual functioning of a compromised visual system effectively. The American Medical Association provides an approach to evaluating visual loss as it affects an individuals ability to perform activities of daily living.Screening adults who have no symptoms is of uncertain benefit. Prevention
The World Health Organization estimates that 80% of visual loss is either preventable or curable with treatment. This includes cataracts, onchocerciasis, trachoma, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, uncorrected refractive errors, and some cases of childhood blindness. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that half of blindness in the United States is preventable. Management
Mobility
Many people with serious visual impairments can travel independently, using a wide range of tools and techniques. Orientation and mobility specialists are professionals who are specifically trained to teach people with visual impairments how to travel safely, confidently, and independently in the home and the community. These professionals can also help blind people to practice travelling on specific routes which they may use often, such as the route from ones house to a convenience store. Becoming familiar with an environment or route can make it much easier for a blind person to navigate successfully.