How many people have poor eyesight

South Asia Myopia is the highest in high-income countries of the Asia-Pacific region Adolescents in urban areas of China and South Korea have reported rates as high as 67 per cent and 97 per cent, respectively.

Glaucoma has hit Africa 4. Regarding gender gap, the WHO said no strong association existed between gender and many eye conditions, including glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.

Incidence of a rural-urban divide does exist. Rural populations also face greater barriers to accessing eye care due to them having to travel greater distances and poor road quality, among other factors. Lifestyle differences ensured that unlike cataract, higher rates of childhood myopia were found in urban populations of China and Australia since children living in rural areas spent more time outdoors.

Accessibility to eye care services and high costs involved in accessing them, particularly for rural populations were major drivers of vision impairment, the report said. Therefore, the WHO emphasised expanding Universal Healthcare Coverage and making eye care an integral part of it around the world.

It added that direct costs were a key barrier to accessing eye care in high-income countries, particularly for people living in rural areas or those with low socio-economic status. Affordability to buy lenses or spectacles was a major stumbling block.

The WHO report, as with many other studies, highlighted that there was a gender disparity in accessibility to eye care services, with women standing a lesser chance of availing them. According to the report, in , the NPCB provided cataract surgery to a total 6. As a result of these concerted efforts, an overall reduction in prevalence of blindness was reported from 1. Search Search. Home United States U. Africa 54 - November 11, VOA Africa Listen live. VOA Newscasts Latest program.

VOA Newscasts. Previous Next. To receive email updates about diabetes and vision topics, enter your email address: Email Address. What's this? Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.

You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. CDC is not responsible for Section compliance accessibility on other federal or private website. Cancel Continue.