Visual impairment in the world today
According to 2010 data, WHO estimated that globally 285 million people were visually impaired, of whom 39 million were blind.
According to the data for 2010, 80% of visual impairment including blindness is avoidable.
The two main causes of visual impairment in the world are uncorrected refractive errors (42%) and cataract (33%). Cost-effective interventions to reduce the burden of both conditions exist in all countries.
Visual impairment is more frequent among older age groups. In 2010, 82% of those blind and 65% of those with moderate and severe blindness were older than 50 years of age. Poorer populations are more affected by visual impairment including blindness.
The vision of the global action plan is a world in which nobody is needlessly visually impaired, where those with unavoidable vision loss can achieve their full potential,
and where there is universal access to comprehensive eye care services.
Download the pdf below to know more about Global action Plan.
