Philanthropy can stop preventable blindness that’s costing billions

A new Lancet Global Health report has found that preventable vision loss and blindness cost the global economy $530 billion AUD in 2020 due to lost employment. This shows that the impact of restoring sight goes beyond eye health – it improves the socio-economic outcomes for vulnerable communities. And that is why investing in eye health is one of the best ways to practise effective giving.

COVER PHOTO: Michael Amendolia

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What is the Lancet Global Health Report?
What are the findings of the Lancet Global Health Report that I should know about?
What is The Fred Hollows Foundation doing to stop preventable sight loss?
How can I contribute to ending preventable sight loss?

1. What is the Lancet Global Health Report?

The Lancet Global Health report, which examines new and existing research in eye health, was supported by 73 experts from 25 countries, including three from The Fred Hollows Foundation.

The report reiterates the fact that loss of vision isn’t just confined to a person’s eye health, but can deeply impact many aspects of their life, overall health, and their socio-economic opportunities. Loss of vision can impact a person’s ability to access education and employment, affecting their quality of life – this is especially true for people living in low and middle-income countries.

According to the report, vision loss places a massive financial burden on people affected, their families, and their communities.

The report also highlights gender and socio-economic disadvantage. For every 100 men living with blindness worldwide, there are 108 women affected. Much of this gender imbalance is due to socio-economic factors, such as reduced access to care.

The Fred Hollows Foundation’s Head of Public Policy and Advocacy Brandon Ah Tong, one of the report’s expert consultants, said the research underscores the role of good vision in creating a more inclusive society.

Photo: Naseer Jan

2. What are the findings of the Lancet Global Health Report that I should know about?

The report found that the greatest cost was faced by Australia’s neighbours in East Asia ($116 billion AUD) and South Asia ($90 billion AUD). The largest number of blind people live in South Asia, which also has the highest prevalence of moderate and severe vision loss. This in part can be attributed to the region’s large population.

The report also underscores the shortage of eye health workers as a major barrier to care in low and middle-income countries. For instance, an average of one ophthalmologist serves one million people in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, compared to an average of 76 ophthalmologists per one million people in high-income countries, and 40 per one million in Australia.

Through this research, the Lancet Global Health Commission aims to inform governments and communities about the importance of improving eye health to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals as highlighted by the United Nations.

The report emphasises that eye health must be prioritised, because vision impairment can reduce a person’s life expectancy. Not only can vision impairment reduce a person’s mobility, affect their mental well-being, increase the risk of dementia, likelihood of falls, road traffic crashes, and the need for social care, but it can ultimately lead to higher mortality rates.

Photographer: Hanh Tran

3. What is The Fred Hollows Foundation doing to stop preventable blindness?

In 2019, The Foundation launched a new Five Year Strategy to make an even greater impact in eye health. By 2024 we will train hundreds of thousands of doctors, nurses and community health workers across the 25 countries where we work.

“Fred recognised that restoring sight and preventing blindness isn’t just about the individual. The benefits are a ripple, spreading from the person to their family, community, and the economy at large,” says Brandon.

“For this reason, The Foundation has long been advocating for eye health to be integrated into Universal Health Coverage. This would mean everyone can get quality eye treatment without suffering financial hardship.”

The Foundation’s community health worker training stretches across many countries, with the majority of it taking place in Kenya, Ethiopia, Nepal, China, and Pakistan. The Foundation provides primary eye care training, which teaches local community members the basics of screening, diagnosis and referral to the nearest health centre.

In Pakistan, The Foundation’s Lady Health Worker programme has trained more than 100,000 female community workers to deliver eye care services door-to-door to make eye care more accessible to women and girls.

“This research emphasises the socio-economic benefits of good vision in enabling women and girls to play a vital role in society, support their families, and achieve greater independence,” says Brandon.

Photo: Naseer Jan

4. How can I contribute to ending preventable sight loss?

You can help us create sustainable change in eye health and put a stop to preventable blindness by investing in eye care.

“Most people don’t realise just how important eye health is at giving people the ability to work, go to school, and lift families out of poverty – particularly in agricultural societies where life revolves around hands-on labour,” Brandon says.

Photo: Mark Maina