Sight Loss and Blindness Anticipated To Double By 2050
Throughout the world, vision loss and blindness continue to impact the daily lives, economic success, and overall lifestyle choices of billions of people. Sadly, most cases of vision loss or blindness are, or were, preventable with appropriate care. However, various forces often render it difficult for people to garner proactive care. These can include limited access to care, financial struggles, and other factors. Several local, global, and public organizations work to bring proactive ocular care to affected people across the world. Still, sight loss and blindness continues to be a growing epidemic. Dr. Tom Chang MD, LA’s leading Ophthalmologist, cites the importance of several factors for maintaining prolonged eye health. These include a well-balanced lifestyle, preventative care, and safety measures. However, Chang recognizes that access to care is the most common roadblock to ocular wellness. Studies suggest this ongoing global issue is set to grow in the years to come.
The Study
Recently, a study has been accepted for publication in The Lancet, an esteemed peer-review medical journal highlighting medical news since 1823. The research conducted reports that roughly 900 million people across the world will be impacted by sight loss and blindness by 2050. To date, this number rests at roughly 338 million affected people.
To generate this prediction, researchers thoroughly examined more than 500 individual studies, ranging in diverse topics. Studies included forays into the prevalence of blindness and vision loss. The culmination of these studies allowed researchers to make educated conclusions and predictions about the rate of vision loss over the next 30 years. Since these predictions follow previous trends, the only disruptions to their accuracy would be in the form of large, unforeseen, and impacting global events.
The Findings
The research team was led by Rupert Bourne, a Professor of Ophthalmology at the United Kingdom’s Anglia Ruskin University. Dr. Bourne, along with his team, garnered concise statistics regarding the status quo across the globe. According to their comprehensive findings, 247.8 million people are considered mildly visually impaired. Similarly, 295.1 million people are majorly visually impaired. Finally, the researchers estimated that 43.3 million people are considered blind.
The study highlighted the findings that the prevalence of blindness amongst people over the age of 50 has been reduced by 28.5% throughout the last thirty years. These numbers initially sound positive. However, increased population growth has meant that more people are affected by blindness, even though the prevalence of blindness has decreased. In fact, the number of people impacted by blindness has increased by 50.6%, and the number of people experiencing major impairment has almost doubled.
Implementing the same models and rates to generate predictions, the researchers predict a continued rise in the number of people affected by blindness and sight loss over the next thirty-year. They note that these predicted numbers can be mitigated by major global healthcare advancements. Without mainstream adaptation of these interventions, however, increased numbers are expected to maintain accuracy.
Professor Bourne noted, “We face enormous challenges in avoiding vision impairment as the global population grows and ages.” To accurately account for this growing need, Dr. Bourne notes that a continued lack of statistical data will need to be addressed on a global scale. Bourne’s team provided the data for this Global Burden of Disease study. Originally conducted in 2015, this research report is an update of the original findings.
The U.S. Comparison
How do these global findings compare to research indicating the future of visual impairment across the United States? Similar to global findings relayed by Dr. Bourne’s research, it is estimated that visual impairment and blindness will double in numbers by 2050. In thirty years, the number of people affected by blindness and vision loss is expected to hover at around 8 million. In a study funded by the National Eye Institute, current numbers of people affected by slight to moderate vision loss were considered as candidates for increased vision loss in the future. While there’s a large opportunity for people with mild symptoms to receive proactive vision correction and ocular care, it is estimated that roughly half of all vision impairment and blindness cases are preventable.
