Did You Know? The Burden of Vision Problems in Poor Countries
Introduction
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that globally, 285 million people are visually impaired. This number surpasses the total population of the United States by over 100 million people. In addition to this staggering statistic, an estimated 5.4 billion people have uncorrected refractive errors which puts them at risk for developing vision loss if not treated immediately.
What is Eye Health?
Eye health is the ability to see clearly and maintain good vision. Vision is a complex process involving both the eye and the brain, so eye health problems can be caused by many different factors including aging, genetics, diseases and injuries.
Eye diseases include cataract (the clouding of your lens), glaucoma (an increase in pressure within your eyes), macular degeneration (a condition that damages part of the retina) or diabetic retinopathy (diabetes causes damage to blood vessels in the retina). Eye injuries include trauma from sports accidents or even flying debris from a tornado!
Importance of Eye Health and Vision Globally
Based on studies, there are approximately 285 million people worldwide who are visually impaired. This number is expected to increase by 4% per year, resulting in an estimated 314 million people with vision impairment by 2050.
The impact of eye problems on health care systems and economies is significant:
Countries spend more than US$7 billion annually on treating preventable blindness; this amount could be reduced if more people had access to comprehensive primary eye care services.
The economic burden of avoidable visual impairment amounts to US$273 billion per year globally--that's equivalent to 2% of global GDP!
Challenges of Vision Care: Common Eye Disorders in Third World Countries
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the top five common eye disorders or vision problems in third world countries are:
Refractive errors: Refractive errors such as near-sightedness, far-sightedness and astigmatism are common vision problems in third world countries. They can be easily corrected with glasses or contact lenses, but in many countries, access to eye care services is limited.
Cataracts: Cataracts, a clouding of the natural lens in the eye, are a leading cause of blindness in low- and middle-income countries. It is estimated that 20 million people are blind due to cataracts, and a large number of these cases are avoidable.
Trachoma: Trachoma, an infectious eye disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, is a leading cause of preventable blindness in many developing countries.
Diabetic Retinopathy: Diabetes is becoming increasingly prevalent in many developing countries, and diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes that affects the retina, is a major cause of vision loss in these countries.
Glaucoma: Glaucoma, a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, is a leading cause of blindness in many countries, particularly in older adults. It often has no symptoms in its early stages, making it difficult to detect and treat in many developing countries where eye care services are limited.
Note: These statistics are from 2021 and may have changed since then. The data for the years 2019-2023 is not yet available from WHO.
Legal Blindness: What is It?
Legal blindness is a condition in which a person's vision is so impaired that they cannot see better than 20/200 with correction, or have a visual field of fewer than 20 degrees.
The term legal blindness refers to the fact that it is defined as such by law and not by medical standards. This means that someone who may have only mild vision loss may still be considered legally blind if they do not meet these standards. The exact definition varies from state to state within the United States, but it remains consistent across all states and countries worldwide.
Global Burden of Vision Problems
Most of the world's population lives in developing countries. Vision problems are more common among people living in poor countries than they are among those who live in wealthier nations, but there is no doubt that vision problems affect all races and ages.
Children and adults alike are at risk for developing eye diseases such as cataracts or glaucoma, which can lead to permanent loss of sight if left untreated. As people age, their eyesight naturally declines--but since many of these conditions develop slowly over time and are often associated with other medical conditions (such as diabetes), it's important that everyone gets regular checkups from an optometrist or ophthalmologist so they can catch any signs of trouble early on before it becomes a bigger issue down the road!
Leading Cause of Legal Blindness in Children
The leading causes of legal blindness in children globally are congenital cataracts and refractive errors.
Congenital cataracts: This is a clouding of the lens in the eye that is present at birth or develops in the first couple of months of life. It can result in visual impairment or blindness if left untreated.
Refractive errors: This includes near-sightedness (myopia), far-sightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism, which are all conditions that affect the way the eye focuses light and can result in blurred vision.
These are the most common causes of legal blindness in children globally, and the prevalence and causes of blindness can vary by region and country.
What Causes Legal Blindness in Adults?
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that the leading causes of legal blindness in adults are cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Cataracts are a clouding of the lens in the eye that can cause blurry vision, glare, and decreased vision. Cataracts are usually associated with aging but can also be caused by injury, genetics, or exposure to UV radiation. They are a common cause of vision loss in older people, with over 20 million people affected worldwide. Cataracts are typically treated with surgery, during which the cloudy lens is replaced with an artificial lens. In 2018, cataracts were responsible for approximately 50% of world blindness.
AMD is a degenerative condition that affects the macula, the part of the eye responsible for central vision. It is a leading cause of vision loss in people over the age of 50, with over 196 million people affected worldwide. There is currently no cure for AMD, but early detection and treatment can slow its progression and help preserve vision.
According to the latest data from 2018-2022, the global cataracts market size was valued at US$5.5 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach US$9.3 billion by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 11.3% during the forecast period. Meanwhile, the global age-related macular degeneration (AMD) treatment market size was valued at US$15.3 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach US$27.8 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 10.2% during the forecast period.
How to Solve Vision Problems Globally?
Vision problems, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration, can greatly impact a person's quality of life. These problems are even more pronounced in developing countries, where access to proper eye care is limited. To address vision problems globally, several solutions can be implemented, including:
Improved access to eye care services: Providing access to eye care services in remote and underserved communities can help diagnose and treat vision problems early on. This can be achieved by training and supporting local eye care providers, establishing mobile clinics, and increasing public awareness about eye health.
Increased availability of eye care products: Providing affordable eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other eye care products can help those with vision problems see more clearly and improve their quality of life.
Improved eye health education: Providing eye health education to communities can help prevent vision problems from developing or becoming more severe. This can include educating people about the importance of regular eye exams, good nutrition for eye health, and proper eye protection.
Enhanced eye care research: Supporting and funding research in the field of eye care can help develop new and innovative solutions for treating and preventing vision problems.
These solutions, along with others, can help address vision problems globally and improve the quality of life for millions of people. The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF are among the organizations working to improve eye health globally, and they offer a wealth of information and resources on their websites.
WHO Global Eye Health Action Plan
The WHO Global Eye Health Plan is a strategic plan developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to improve eye health globally. The plan was launched in 2013 and its main objective is to prevent avoidable blindness and visual impairment by the year 2020. The plan focuses on providing access to comprehensive eye care services for all, including those who live in low- and middle-income countries. This plan is an integral part of the WHO's global strategy for non-communicable diseases, as visual impairment and eye diseases are a growing public health concern, particularly in aging populations.
According to recent data from 2018 to 2023, the WHO Global Eye Health Plan has made significant progress in increasing access to eye health services and improving the quality of care. Many countries have made eye health a priority and have developed national eye health plans. Additionally, partnerships between governments, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations have been established to provide better eye care services and to raise awareness of the importance of eye health. The WHO has also played a major role in promoting the integration of eye health services into primary health care, which has helped to increase access to eye care for people living in remote and underserved communities.
Conclusion
This is not the end of the story. There are many ways to solve vision problems globally and we have just discussed some of them. The most important thing is that you should know about it and be ready to help others with their eye care needs. You can start by educating yourself about eye health and vision so that you can recognize when someone needs help or advice with their eyesight problems.
How HopeCore is improving eye care in Kenya:
HopeCore, through the school vision program, conducts eye health education for all the students before performing visual acuity tests. The team uses Snellen's chart to screen each student. The students with minor eye infections get eye drops instantly, while the complex cases undergo further assessment and management by the ophthalmic clinical officer and optometrist during the monthly clinics.
In January 2021, HopeCore initiated a vision health program to improve the vision and health of students in 321 partner schools.
Health education is the core of any health intervention. In 2022, HopeCore educated 16,753 school children on eye care before screening them. The key messages in the eye care training were causes, symptoms, and prevention of eye problems.
