International Council of Ophthalmology/International Council of Ophthalmology/International Federation of Ophthalmological International Federation of Ophthalmological SocietiesSocieties

The Challenge:Avoidable Blindness and

Visual Impairment Worldwide

(Data from the World Health Organization - WHO)

The World RealityThe World Reality(WHO Global database 2002)(WHO Global database 2002)

Population based survey, WHO definitionData from other sources and/or other definitionNo data available

230 studies96 countries

Magnitude (2002 population)Magnitude (2002 population)• Global estimate (best corrected VA)Global estimate (best corrected VA)

– Visual impairment: 161 millionVisual impairment: 161 million– of whom:of whom:

•37 million Blind37 million Blind•124 million Low Vision124 million Low Vision

Wpr26%

Afr17%

Emr10%

Amr10%

Eur10%

Sear27%

Visual ImpairmentVisual ImpairmentRegional DistributionRegional Distribution

Best correctedBest correctedVisual AcuityVisual Acuity< 6/18 (0.3)< 6/18 (0.3)

Number of Visually ImpairedNumber of Visually Impaired((per Million Population)per Million Population)

-

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

Afr Emr Sear Wpr Amr Eur

Global Distribution of BlindnessGlobal Distribution of Blindness (by Cause)(by Cause)1995 vs. 20021995 vs. 2002

CataractCataract42 %42 %

TrachomaTrachoma15 %15 %

GlaucomaGlaucoma14%14%

Oncho.Oncho.1 %1 %

OtherOther28 %28 %

19951995

CataractCataract47 %47 %

TrachomaTrachoma4 %4 %GlaucomaGlaucoma

12%12%

Oncho.Oncho.1 %1 %

OtherOther13 %13 %

ARMDARMD9%9%

Ch BlCh Bl4%4%DRDR5%5%

COCO5%5%

20022002

Global Trends in BlindnessGlobal Trends in BlindnessOriginal factors remain unchanged…Original factors remain unchanged…

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

19901992 19941996 1998 20002002 20042006

Ageing + Population growth + UnderdevelopmentAgeing + Population growth + Underdevelopment

Vision 2020still relevant!

< 125

125- 249

250 - 499

Cataract Surgical Rate < 500

Immediate ImplicationsImmediate ImplicationsUnfinished agenda:Unfinished agenda:

• Refractive ErrorsRefractive Errors• TrachomaTrachoma• OnchocerciasisOnchocerciasis• XerophthalmiaXerophthalmia• CataractCataract• Diabetic RetinopathyDiabetic Retinopathy• GlaucomaGlaucoma

Medium/Long Term ImplicationsMedium/Long Term Implications

• Changing Patterns:Changing Patterns:– More linked to lifestyle, chronic More linked to lifestyle, chronic

diseasesdiseases– Age-related Macula DegenerationAge-related Macula Degeneration

– 33rdrd Global Cause Global Cause– 11stst Cause in an increasing # Cause in an increasing # of countriesof countries

0102030405060708090

Est marketec

Formersoc.ec Eur

India China LatinAmer&Car

Middle East OtherAsia&Isl

Sub-Saharan Afr

20002030

WHO, Wild & Roglic, 2004

Number of Persons with DiabetesNumber of Persons with Diabetes (in millions)(in millions)