The global burden of cataract

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Public Health
• Global Health

Background:

• Cataracts are the primary cause of blindness and visual impairment in developing countries.
• They account for over 90% of disability-adjusted life years lost due to vision impairment.
• Addressing cataract blindness is critical for global health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent literature on the prevalence of blindness.
• To analyze data on blindness specifically caused by cataracts.
• To assess cataract surgical coverage (CSC) and cataract surgical rates (CSR).

Main Methods:

• Literature review of the previous year's publications.
• Analysis of data on blindness prevalence and cataract-related vision loss.
• Evaluation of existing metrics for cataract surgery services.

Main Results:

• Cataracts are a major global cause of blindness, disproportionately affecting developing countries.
• Coverage of cataract surgery remains a significant challenge, especially for women, rural populations, and illiterate individuals.
• Combining CSR with CSC provides a more comprehensive measure of program impact for eliminating avoidable blindness.

Conclusions:

• Cataract remains a leading cause of global blindness, exacerbated by an aging population.
• A comprehensive strategy is needed to address availability, affordability, accessibility, and acceptability of eye care services.
• Targeted interventions are essential to combat avoidable blindness due to cataracts.