Global Blindness: The Progress We Are Making and Still Need to Make

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology and Public Health

Background:

• Global vision impairment is increasing despite progress in reducing prevalence.
• Key areas requiring attention include cataract surgery outcomes, myopia management, and treatment for diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the growing burden of blindness and visual impairment.
• To emphasize the need for enhanced quality of care and specific interventions for major eye conditions.
• To underscore the importance of collaborative eye care teams.

Main Methods:

• This is a review and commentary on the current state of global vision health.
• It synthesizes information on the increasing numbers of visually impaired individuals and identifies critical areas for intervention.

Main Results:

• The absolute number of people experiencing blindness and poor vision is rising.
• Significant progress in reducing the *prevalence* of vision loss has not translated into a decrease in absolute numbers.

Conclusions:

• Continued and increased focus on quality cataract surgery, myopia control, and timely detection/treatment of diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and AMD is essential.
• Expanding the capacity of eye care services through effective teamwork between ophthalmologists and allied health professionals is vital to address community needs.