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Globally, 1.1 billion people live with vision loss.
Almost everyone will need access to eyecare services during their lifetime
Distance vision
Almost 600 million people can’t see well in the distance
- 43 million people are blind
- 295 million people experience moderate to severe vision impairment
- 258 million people experience mild vision impairment.
Near vision
510 million people can’t see well at near
Everyone will lose their ability to focus on near objects as they age. This can be easily treated with a pair of reading glasses.
Children and adolescents
90 million children and adolescents live with sight loss
Of these:
- 2 million are blind
- 30 million experience moderate to severe sight loss
- 58 million experience mild sight loss
Projections
1.1 billion to 1.7 billion people by 2050
All categories of vision loss are set to grow:
In many regions, the scale and approach of existing service delivery are insufficient to meet current population needs, let alone the projected increases in vision loss by 2050.
Find out more
Maintaining healthy vision
Billions more people require ongoing access to eye care services
Almost everyone will need access to eyecare services during their lifetime. At least 3 billion people need on-going access to services to optimise their vision and ability to function in society.
- 2.6 billion people with myopia
- 1 billion people have corrected presbyopia
- 146 million people have diabetic retinopathy
- 76 million people have early stage glaucoma.
Key definitions
(Opens in a new window) Vision loss is habitual blurred vision (vision impairment) at distance or near. There are four categories of vision loss: blindness, moderate to severe, mild, and near. Vision loss may be permanent or it may be treatable, for example with glasses or surgery.Select this link for more information and definitions used in the Vision Atlas.
Downloads
(Opens in a new window) Understand the key stories behind the data featured on the Vision Atlas and communicate the key messages with these digital resources.Available downloads include Eye Health: Why it matters, IAPB Evidence Series, Global and Region Snapshots and Presentations.
How to cite the maps and VLEG/GBD 2020 data
(Opens in a new window) If distributing/publishing this model’s data, it is obligatory to use the following reference:(Select this link to access the full text)
Bourne R, Steinmetz J, Flaxman S, et al., Trends in prevalence of blindness and distance and near vision impairment over 30 years: an analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study. Lancet Glob Health. 2020. Accessed via the IAPB Vision Atlas (https://www.iapb.org/learn/vision-atlas)
Photo Credits
Key definitions, ‘Projections’ and ‘Maintaining Healthy Vision’: Graham Coates, Volunteer for Vision Aid Overseas and Nepal eyecare trip, Eye chart image: David Travis, ‘Near vision’ image: Anurag Kumar