Vision impairment is a significant global health concern that affects millions of people worldwide. Beyond its impact on individual well-being and quality of life, vision impairment also has far-reaching economic consequences.
In this article, we’ll explore the global cost of vision impairment, the associated productivity losses, healthcare expenses, and the potential economic benefits of prevention and treatment.
Key Statistics on the Economic Impact of Vision Impairment
Global Cost of Vision Impairment
The global cost of vision impairment is staggering, with far-reaching implications for economies worldwide:
- In 2010, the total global economic cost of visual impairment was estimated to be approximately $2.954 trillion. This represents an average cost of $434 for every individual, with or without visual impairment.
- Direct costs, including healthcare expenses, accounted for $2.302 trillion of the total global cost in 2010, with the average direct cost per person with visual impairment ranging from $963 in the African region to $23,421 in the Americas region.
- Indirect costs, such as production losses and informal care, added an estimated $652 billion to the overall cost of visual impairment in 2010, with informal care alone constituting 38% of all indirect costs.
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) accounted for $343 billion, or 12% of the total global cost of visual impairment, with this proportion varying worldwide and reaching up to 30% in developed regions.
Productivity Losses Due to Vision Impairment
- The annual global productivity losses associated with unaddressed vision impairment are estimated to be $410.7 billion. This significantly outweighs the estimated cost of addressing the unmet needs of those with vision impairment, which is $24.8 billion.
- A study among Indian tea pickers demonstrated that providing workers with corrective lenses improved their productivity by 21.7%. For workers over 50, the increase was even greater, at almost 32 percent.
- Globally, at least 2.2 billion people have a near or distant vision impairment, with vision impairment in at least 1 billion cases being preventable or yet to be addressed.
- People in low- and middle-income countries are much more likely to have vision problems than those in wealthier nations.
- Distance vision issues are four times more common, and uncorrected near vision problems affect over 80% of people in western, eastern, and central sub-Saharan Africa.
Healthcare Costs Associated with Vision Impairment
Vision impairment places a considerable burden on healthcare systems, resulting in substantial costs:
- In the United States, the total economic burden of vision loss and blindness was estimated at $134.2 billion in 2017. This comprises $98.7 billion in direct costs and $35.5 billion in indirect costs.
- Direct medical costs associated with major adult visual disorders in the U.S. were estimated at $16.2 billion in 2004 dollars. Cataracts, refractive errors, and glaucoma are the most significant contributors to these costs.
- In 1997, the median value of total healthcare expenditures for individuals with visual impairments in the U.S. was almost four times that of those without visual impairments, with even greater differences at lower income levels.
- The total annual economic impact of vision problems in the U.S. was estimated at $139 billion annually. Government spending accounts for $47.4 billion, private insurance for $22.1 billion, and patients and their families for $71.6 billion.
Economic Benefits of Vision Impairment Prevention
Preventing vision impairment can yield significant economic benefits, highlighting the importance of early detection and treatment:
- Vision impairment is associated with an estimated annual global economic productivity loss of approximately $411 billion.
- For 2017, the total U.S. economic burden of vision loss and blindness was estimated at $134.2 billion, including $98.7 billion in direct costs and $35.5 billion in indirect costs.
- At least 771 million people (90%) have vision loss that can be prevented or treated, we can achieve significant economic savings through effective prevention and treatment strategies for vision impairment.
- In 2018, Medicare spent approximately $6.5 billion on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, diabetic retinopathy (DR), and glaucoma. The average annual cost of treating these disorders per beneficiary diagnosed ranges from $360 for cataracts to $1,290 for AMD.
The economic impact of vision impairment is profound, affecting individuals, healthcare systems, and economies worldwide. Vision impairment comes with a hefty price tag. The costs include not only direct healthcare expenses but also indirect costs like lost productivity.
Investing in vision impairment prevention and treatment can help improve the quality of life for millions of people worldwide while yielding substantial economic benefits. By prioritizing eye health and addressing the unmet needs of those with vision impairment, we can reduce the global economic burden and foster more productive, inclusive societies.
We can’t afford to ignore this issue. It’s crucial to recognize its economic dimensions and advocate for policies and interventions promoting eye health and mitigating vision loss’s economic impact. Working together to address this global health concern can help us create a brighter, more visually equitable future for all.
