Latest global figures show 90% of vision loss is preventable or treatable

A patient smiles after successful cataract surgery at CBM’s partner hospital in the Philippines.

1.1 billion people globally are living with vision loss and this could rise to 1.7 million in the next 30 years, according to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). And yet in 90% of cases, visual impairment could be prevented or treated.

The new figures are published in the IAPB Vision Atlas (open link in new tab), launched on 24th February, and include latest data published this week by the Lancet Global Eye Health Commission (open link in new tab). They highlight the need for urgent action to improve access to inclusive eye health services worldwide, particularly in the poorest places of the world.

Kirsty Smith, Chief Executive of CBM UK, says:

“We’ve known for years that most blindness and visual impairment is avoidable but this new data is particularly shocking: 9 out of 10 visually impaired people are living needlessly with sight loss that could be treated or could have been prevented. If you imagine the human cost behind that, the impact on individuals struggling – unnecessarily – to access education, to support themselves and their families, this is a huge injustice that we have to tackle.

These new figures highlight the urgent need to scale up sight-saving eye-health services, particularly in the world’s poorest places, and to make sure that they are accessible to everyone, regardless of age, gender, ethnic background or disability. This isn’t something new for CBM UK, as we have been developing and delivering inclusive eye health programmes with partners in the Global South for many years, working to reach those whom others leave behind. But the new Vision Atlas is a powerful tool to galvanise global efforts to tackle avoidable blindness and visual impairment, and to highlight the importance of initiatives such as our Light Up Lives appeal, which will enable us to deliver inclusive eye health services in Zimbabwe. The predicted growth in avoidable blindness in the coming years is a major, global problem and it’s going to take all of us working together to solve it”.   

Key figures in the Vision Atlas include:

  • 1 billion are living with vision loss around the world. This could increase to 1.7 billion people by 2050 without significant investment in improving access to eye health services.
  • 90% of vision loss is preventable or treatable (increased from 75%).
  • 90% of people with vision loss live in low- and middle-income countries.
  • 55% of people with vision loss are women and girls.                        

Watch this film (open link in new tab) to find out more:

 

Together we can deliver better eye health for all. Now is the time for action. Read more about our work to prevent blindness in the world’s poorest places (open link in new tab).

Donate today to prevent blindness and your gift will be doubled! Until 20th May 2021, the UK government will match all public donations to our Light up Lives appeal. Give now to Light up Lives here (open link in new tab).

Image: A patient smiles after successful cataract surgery at CBM’s partner hospital in the Philippines.



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