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According to the first world vision report by the WHO, over a billion people worldwide live with impaired vision because they do not have access to eye care.
Vision disorders affect 2,2 billion people
According to the WHO report, over 2,2 billion people worldwide suffer from myopia, hyperopia, glaucoma, cataracts and other eye disorders, of which over 1 billion are left untreated due to lack of access to ophthalmic care.
The report shows that eye diseases are more common in people living in rural, low-income areas, as well as women, the elderly, the disabled and ethnic minorities.
They have an influence on the deterioration of vision an aging population, lifestyle changes, and limited access to ophthalmic careespecially in low- and middle-income countries. As WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, people need access to ophthalmic care and must receive it at a high level. Including this issue in national health plans is an important part of any country’s path towards universal health insurance.
Ghebreyesus adds that it is unacceptable for 65 million people to be blind or partially sighted when their eyesight can be corrected with cataract surgery. He also mentioned 800 million people who have problems with daily activities due to the fact that they do not have access to corrective glasses.
The main causes of the rising rates of visual impairment
The main cause of the deterioration of vision in society is its aging. Eye diseases such as cataracts or glaucoma, but also hyperopia and myopia, are largely related to age. Other factors mentioned in the report that contribute to, for example, myopia include the time we spend indoors. Being outside has a good effect on your eyesight.
Another visual disorder that is becoming more and more common is diabetic retinopathy. This has to do with the increasing number of people with diabetes who can affect their vision. Almost every diabetic will develop some form of retinopathy. Routine eye checks and proper treatment of diabetes help to detect the disease early and may even prevent it.
The last factor mentioned in the report that contributes to the deterioration of eyesight in the population is late detection of eye diseasesdue to poor or even negligible ophthalmic care.
As predicted by WHO, USD 14,3 billion will have to be allocated to cover the inequalities in access to ophthalmic care in the world.
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