Causes of vision loss in the High-income region

A conversation with leading epidemiologists about the status of vision loss in the seven super-regions of the world.

In this article we speak with Vision Loss Expert (VLEG) members Professor Jost Jonas and Professor Alain Bron about updates on the causes of vision loss in High Income regions.

Article link in The Ophthalmologist.

What are the 3 take away messages for policy makers about vision loss in the High-Income region?

1. Under-correction of refractive error is the most common cause of vision impairment.
2. Providing adequate glasses for complete correction of refractive error is the safest, easiest, and most economical method to improve vision in the population.
3. The decrease in age-related vision impairment and blindness caused by age-related macular degeneration (AMD) shows the efficacy of the intravitreal medication to treat neovascular AMD.

What are the 3 take away messages you would like to the eye health sector to know about vision loss in the High-Income region?

1. Providing adequate glasses for complete correction of refractive error is the safest, easiest and most economical method to improve vision in the population.
2. The number of individuals with vision impairment will further increase due to the ageing of the population.
3. A new therapy against dry AMD may come up, increasing the treatment costs of vision impairment and blindness.

Does the data tell you anything about how services have been responding to need?

The decrease in age-related vision impairment and blindness caused by age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is very likely due to the introduction of intravitreal medication against neovascular AMD and makes one hope, that a potentially upcoming intravitreal therapy against dry AMD may lead to an even more marked decrease in age-related vision impairment and blindness caused by AMD.

What concerns you most about vision loss trends in the High-Income region?

Due to the ageing of the general population and since the causes of the most common eye diseases are age-related, the number of individuals with vision impairment and blindness will further increase.

Are there any additional data elements (causes, populations) that you would like to see included in future studies?

Future studies may try to have an even more profound granulation of the meta-analysis, with more detailed data on the individual countries and time points.  The limiting factor for such a meta-analysis is the availability of primary population-based studies.

The Global Burden of Disease High Income regions consist of Western Europe, Southern Latin America, North America, Asia Pacific and Australasia.

Image on top by Алина Сатикова