Resources

Abstract:

Numerous population-based studies of age-related macular degeneration have been reported around the world, with the results of some studies suggesting racial or ethnic differences in disease prevalence. Integrating these resources to provide summarised data to establish worldwide prevalence and to project the number of people with age-related macular degeneration from 2020 to 2040 would be a useful guide for global strategies.

Author:

Wan Ling Wong, Xinyi Su, Xiang Li, Chui Ming G Cheung, Ronald Klein, Ching-Yu Cheng, Tien Yin Wong

Published in:

Lancet Glob Health 2014

Access full article from:

http://www.researchgate.net/publication/264460731_Global_prevalence_of_age-related_macular_degeneration_and_disease_burden_projection_for_2020_and_2040_a_systematic_review_and_meta-analysis

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The work of the GBD Vision Loss Expert Group provides estimates of the global number of blind and vision impaired persons over the period 1990 to 2010.

The purpose of this paper is to clarify how both the absolute numbers and prevalence have changed over that time.

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In May 2013 the Sixty-sixth World Health Assembly adopted resolution WHA66.4 entitled ‘Towards universal eye health: a global action plan 2014–2019’. The resolution endorsed the draft action plan for the prevention of avoidable visual impairment for the period 2014–2019, which had been developed by the WHO Secretariat, in close consultation with the Member States and international partners, following the request of Member States at the Sixty-fifth World Health Assembly in 2011.

The global action plan 2014–2019 (GAP ) aims to reduce avoidable visual impairment as a global public health problem and to secure access to rehabilitation services for the visually impaired. This should be achieved by expanding current efforts by the Member States, the WHO Secretariat and international partners, improved Coordination, efficient monitoring, focusing the use of resources towards the most cost-effective interventions, and developing innovative approaches to prevent and cure eye diseases.

The Global Action Plan document is now available as an Accessible Word document with permission from the World Health Organization.

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The success of VISION 2020: The Right to Sight rests on coordinated action by different sections of government, civil society, international partners, donors and the private sector. Countries are advised to set up a national coordinating mechanism, or a Committee, to develop a national plan and oversee activities for blindness prevention.

Specifically, ‘Towards Universal Eye Health: a Global Action Plan 2014-2019’ (adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2013) calls on all countries to ‘establish or maintain coordinating mechanisms to oversee and monitor implementation of policies, plans and programmes for eye health’.

This document is a guide for good practice. The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) recognizes that resources and situations differ from country to country and that one model will not work everywhere. Stakeholders in each country should assess needs and strengths – along with obligations contained in the Global Action Plan – to develop a plan and establish a Committee that meets local requirements.

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Globally, uncorrected refractive errors (RE) are the main cause of visual impairment, according to recent WHO estimates This translates in millions of people being functionally blind due to lack of access to spectacles, resulting in lost education and employment opportunities, lower productivity and impaired quality of life.

Yet, the positive impact that providing refractive services can have on employment, poverty alleviation and education, as well as eye health, has largely gone un-noticed, even as post 2015 development discussions make positive references to the rights of people with disabilities and the need for rehabilitation services.

Thus the Refractive Error Work Group has an important advocacy role to keep the issue of refractive error on the radar of health and development policy makers.

The group brings together professionals with a mix of technical and regional knowledge from a broad range of member organisations including the World Council of Optometry, the Brien Holden Vision Institute, CBM, Optometry Giving Sight, Sightsavers and the Vision Impact Institute.

Get in touch if you are interested in contributing to the group.

Priorities

• Develop an advocacy strategy to promote attention and action to address RE issues;
• To draw attention to the importance of the recognition of myopia as a major cause of vision impairment and blindness through Myopic Retinal Degeneration (MRD) and the higher risk of other pathologies such as retinal detachment, cataract and glaucoma;
• Lead on IAPB’s efforts to influence regional and global inter-governmental and bilateral organizations’ health policy and resource allocations to promote investment in refractive services;
• Lead on IAPB’s efforts and its engagement with professional bodies and industry to support the development of refractive services that are accessible and affordable to all, including the poorest and most marginalized members of a community;
• To collate and disseminate knowledge and information and to encourage research about refractive error issues and services to both health policy makers and the public;
• Engage with other health and development networks to ensure they are supportive of, and promote, refractive service development, that is an integral part of health systems.

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What is avoidable blindness – refractive error

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