Confronting the Growing Problem of Worldwide Blindness

Researchers, including Moran’s Mary Elizabeth Hartnett, MD, are identifying the scope of the challenge and looking for solutions.

Sobering statistics released by the Global Burden of Disease study in 2020 found no significant reduction in the number of people with treatable sight loss worldwide since 2010 as public health services failed to meet World Health Organization (WHO) targets.

Two studies examined rates of blindness and vision impairment worldwide in light of WHO goals to achieve a 25 percent reduction in avoidable sight loss in the decade leading up to 2020. Efforts fell short, failing to keep pace with population aging and growth. That puts global blindness and severe vision impairment on track to double by 2050.

Cataracts were the leading cause of blindness worldwide, accounting for 15 million people or around 45% of global blindness. Diabetic retinopathy was the only cause of blindness to show a global increase in age-standardized prevalence between 1990 and 2020, according to the research, and the global prevalence of nearly every major cause of blindness and vision loss is higher in women than men.

Moran Eye Center surgeon-scientist Mary Elizabeth Hartnett, MD, an author on the research who serves as a co-chair for the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women and director of Women’s Eye Health, said the information paints a clearer picture of where efforts should be focused.

“We have made some strides in reducing blindness, but we really have work to do to address moderate to severe vision impairment,” said Hartnett. “It’s crucial that we fund research to focus efforts on improving outcomes and to examine the unequal burden of blindness for women, including the root causes for disparity, the potential barriers to accessing care, and potential biologic differences. Additional data on childhood blindness is also needed.”

With population growth estimated to be greatest in countries designated as least developed, many in sub-Saharan Africa, it’s important to train more eye doctors in these areas and to increase access to low-cost eyeglasses, said Hartnett.

The study underscores the need for continued gender disparity research and two Moran Eye Center programs: the Global Outreach Division and Patient Support Program. The outreach team works to create sustainable eye care systems in lowresource nations and reach underserved populations in Utah. The Patient Support Program offers professionally moderated support groups and vision rehabilitation services.

By 2050, researchers estimate the numbers of blind and visually impaired at:

· 61 million blind

· 474 million with moderate and severe vision impairment

· 360 million with mild vision impairment

· 866 million with uncorrected presbyopia, or farsightedness due to age

Source: Prevalence of Blindness and Moderate and Severe Vision Impairment (MSVI)