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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
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Correction of Presbyopia by Monocular Bi-Aspheric Ablation Profile
Published on: September 20, 2024
Global vision impairment due to uncorrected presbyopia
Brien A Holden1, Timothy R Fricke, S May Ho
1International Centre for Eyecare Education, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia. b.holden@ier.org.au
Archives of Ophthalmology (Chicago, Ill. : 1960)
|December 10, 2008
Summary
Uncorrected presbyopia affects over a billion people, causing significant vision impairment, particularly in developing nations. Addressing this requires improved spectacle access and integrated eye care services.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology and Public Health
- Global Vision Impairment Epidemiology
Background:
- Presbyopia, an age-related loss of near focusing ability, affects a substantial portion of the global population.
- Uncorrected presbyopia leads to functional vision impairment, impacting daily activities and quality of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the global burden of uncorrected presbyopia.
- To assess the impact of inadequate spectacle coverage on near vision tasks.
- To understand community perceptions of vision impairment related to presbyopia.
Main Methods:
- Utilized population-based surveys to estimate global presbyopia prevalence and spectacle coverage rates.
- Incorporated community perception data regarding vision impairment.
- Employed population projections for future extrapolations.
Main Results:
- In 2005, 1.04 billion people had presbyopia globally; 517 million lacked adequate spectacles.
- 410 million individuals experienced functional limitations due to uncorrected presbyopia.
- The majority (94%) of vision impairment from uncorrected presbyopia is concentrated in developing countries.
Conclusions:
- Uncorrected presbyopia represents a significant, preventable cause of global vision impairment.
- Sustainable spectacle delivery systems and trained eye care personnel are crucial for developing nations.
- Integrating refraction and early detection of sight-threatening conditions into primary eye care is recommended.
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