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Global data on blindness
B Thylefors1, A D Négrel, R Pararajasegaram
1Programme for the Prevention of Blindness, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Bulletin of the World Health Organization
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Globally, 38 million people are blind, with 110 million more at risk. Addressing age-related causes of vision loss is crucial to prevent future increases in blindness.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- An estimated 38 million individuals worldwide are blind, and 110 million experience low vision, facing a high risk of blindness.
- Key causes include cataract, trachoma, glaucoma, onchocerciasis, and xerophthalmia, but data on diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the global burden of blindness and low vision.
- To identify major causes and emphasize the need for better data collection on emerging causes like diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration.
- To underscore the projected increase in age-related blindness and the necessity for intervention.
Main Methods:
- Review of global estimates for blindness and low vision.
- Identification of primary etiological factors contributing to vision impairment.
- Analysis of age-specific prevalences to project future trends.
Main Results:
- Cataract, trachoma, glaucoma, onchocerciasis, and xerophthalmia are leading causes of vision loss.
- Insufficient data exists for conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration.
- Age-related causes indicate a rising trend in blindness without targeted interventions.
Conclusions:
- Urgent need for standardized data collection using internationally accepted definitions (ICD-10).
- Improved data on the incidence of common causes of blindness is essential for accurate future trend analysis.
- Proactive strategies are required to mitigate the increasing prevalence of age-related vision loss.