Millions still do not have access to basic eye care worldwide

Millions of people around the world still do not have access to basic eye care, such as glasses, according to a new study by Professor Rupert Bourne at Anglia Ruskin (ARU).

The survey, published in The Lancet Global HealthIt measured the global availability and quality of treatment for an unnecessary refractive error, one of the most common forms of vision loss.

The study used data from 815,273 participants from 76 countries and found that global refractive correction (EREC) is currently at 65.8%, just six percentage points higher than in 2010.

Researchers say the results mean that the target of the World Health Organization (WHO), which is set in 2021, by 40 percentage points of EREC by 2030 is likely to be lost, unless emergency action is taken worldwide to increase access to basic therapies such as Spectacles.

The results are grouped in “super areas”: North Africa and the Middle East. Sub -Saharan Africa. Latin America and the Caribbean. South Asia. Southeast Asia, East Asia and Oceania. Central Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. and high income (areas of North America and Western Europe, including the United Kingdom).

The weight of unnecessary vision loss falls more in low -income countries, women and older adults. In the high -income area, EREC is 85% for men and 83% for women, while in sub -Saharan Africa the number is about 30% for men and 27% for women. Its goals set at country level, with high -income countries, such as the United Kingdom, are expected to try for 100% EREC by 2030.

The data show some encouraging trends. Between 2000 and 2023, there was a 50% improvement in the number of people receiving the correct glasses recipe. However, the authors note that the need for glasses has also increased, to a large extent by lifestyle -related risk factors, for example increased screening time and reduced outdoor activities during childhood.

The research reports examples of action already taken by individual countries and could be adopted by others. In France, the full return of the cost of the glasses was introduced as part of universal health insurance in 2021/22. Pakistan has implemented a series of national eye plans over the last 20 years that have increased the use of spectacles and the reduced vision weakening caused by an unnecessary refractive error.

Rupert Bourne, Professor of Ophthalmology at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, England, is a key researcher of the Vision Experts Team, a global network of health researchers who conducted the study.

Correction of refractive error is the safest, more efficient and more economical intervention to improve the daily quality of vision for the majority of people affected by the impairment of vision worldwide, helping to reduce poverty and improvements in well -being, productivity and work.

The data of 815,000 people in 76 countries in our new study show that we are off -road to meet the goals of the World Health Organization. Emergency global action is required to achieve the goal of increasing 40% to cover glasses by 2030. “

Rupert Bourne, Professor of Ophthalmology, University Ruskin University