The Challenge of Vision Loss: The Need for Advocacy Bruce E. Spivey, M.D., M.S., M.Ed. President of the International Council of Ophthalmology World Ophthalmology Congress 2008 Hong Kong, June 27, 2008 Advocacy Session

Global Causes of Blindness and Visual Impairment 153 Million Uncorrected Refractive Errors (Avoidable) 161 Million Eye Diseases (Avoidable or Not Avoidable) 314 Million People Visually Impaired (Visual Acuity <6/18)

Global Distribution of Blindness by Cause More Developed Countries Less Developed Countries Other Cataract Other Glaucoma ARMD ARMD Cataract 50% Cataract 50% ARMD 50% Ch. Bl. Ch. Bl. Cornea D.R. D.R. Cornea Cornea Diabetic Retinopathy Oncho Oncho Glaucoma Glaucoma Childhood Blindness Trachoma Trachoma (Not with Refractive Error)

World Visual Impairment 75% Avoidable Prevention Treatment Refractive & LV services 3/4 of visual loss due to five conditions: AMD, cataract, diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, and uncorrected refractive error.

World Blindness Condition Treaters Cataract A.R. M.D. Glaucoma Diabetic Retinopathy Etc. Ophthalmologists Refractive Error Many Levels Trachoma Onchocerciasis Public Health

Future Global Eye Care Need World population is expected to increase 27.5% from now until 2050 2008: 6.6 Billion 2050: 9.1 Billion

The Global Population is Aging Developed Countries Developing Countries 1 1980 1 1 10000 20000 1996 2020 © WHO Age pyramids

Courtesy of Hugh Taylor, AC, MD Over Next 20 Years: Vision loss will increase three-fold Individuals with vision loss will double. For each dollar spent on the prevention of vision loss and eye care, there is a 5 dollar return to the community. Courtesy of Hugh Taylor, AC, MD

“Avoidable blindness… is an obscene and costly anachronism.” Sir John Wilson World Blindness and Its Prevention Oxford Press, 1980

We must advocate for our patients.