1. 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

2. 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)

3. 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)

4. 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.

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

6. 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

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

8. 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

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

10. We must advocate for our patients.