Over two billion people live with vision impairment globally, WHO report reveals

At least 2.2 billion people across the world suffer from near or distance vision impairment, and half of those cases could have been prevented or remain untreated. The World Health Organisation released a fact sheet outlining the scale of global vision loss and the steps needed to address it.

The Numbers

Distance vision impairment affects 94 million people due to cataracts and 88.4 million due to uncorrected refractive errors. Age-related macular degeneration accounts for 8 million cases, glaucoma for 7.7 million, and diabetic retinopathy for 3.9 million. Another 826 million people live with unaddressed near vision impairment from presbyopia. Low-income countries bear a heavy burden, where two out of three people who need glasses do not have them. Half of the people globally who need cataract surgery lack access to it. Vision impairment also carries a massive economic toll, causing an estimated $411 billion in annual global productivity loss.

Causes And Impacts

Refractive errors remain the top cause of vision impairment across all age groups globally. Other primary causes include cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. Children face specific risks, such as congenital cataracts in low-income regions and retinopathy of prematurity in middle-income areas. Beyond physical sight, severe vision loss delays childhood development, lowers educational achievement, and reduces adult employment rates. Older adults face higher risks of social isolation, falls, and injuries.

Context

Vision care interventions like basic eyeglasses and cataract surgery are among the most cost-effective health services available. Simple preventive steps include routine eye exams, managing blood sugar for diabetic patients, and avoiding unsafe home remedies for eye infections.