[Avoidable loss of vision in a global perspective]

WHO estimates that in 2010 there were 39 million blind people and 246 million living with moderate to severe vision impairment globally. 90% of the disease burden is found in developing countries, and most of it is due to preventable or treatable eye conditions. Many of these, such as uncorrected refractive errors, can be prevented with the integration of simple primary health measures. However, as a result of an ageing population, the prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration is on the rise. This calls for more focus on specialized treatment.