Over one billion people have untreated vision impairment

An estimated 1.1 billion people are living with untreated vision impairment worldwide, experiencing vision loss that often can be prevented or treated cost-effectively, finds a new report involving UCL researchers. Addressing avoidable vision loss with existing, highly cost-effective treatments, and improving inclusion of people living with permanent vision loss in society , offers enormous potential to improve the economic outlook of individuals and nations, and to contribute to a healthier, safer, more equitable world, according to the new Lancet Commission report on Global Eye Health published in The Lancet Global Health. Without additional investment in global eye health, new estimates reveal that 1.8 billion people are expected to be living with untreated vision loss by 2050. The vast majority of these (90%) reside in lowand middle-income countries (LMICs), with the greatest proportion occurring in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The Commission, authored by 73 leading experts from 25 countries, calls for eye care to be included in mainstream health services and development policies. Professor Matthew Burton, co-Chair of The Lancet Commission, who is based at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and also has an honorary role with the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, said: "It is unacceptable that more than a billion people worldwide are needlessly living with treatable vision impairment." "Vision impairment leads to detrimental effects for health, wellbeing, and economic development including reduced education and employment opportunities, social isolation, and shorter life expectancy.