Research

Evaluation of Non-Medical Costs Associated with Visual Impairment in Four European Countries

  • Visual impairment is a severe disability that puts a heavy burden on individuals, families and society.

  • In developed countries, the two major diseases leading to irreversible visual impairment are glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration.

  • Their prevalence will increase dramatically with population aging.

  • This study reveals that total non-medical costs associated with visual impairment are considerable.

  • The non-medical social dimensions of visual impairment related to the consequent incapacity and dependency should encourage payers to finance health innovations that aim to preserve vision.

SUMMARY

Visual impairment is a severe disability that puts a heavy burden on individuals, families and society. In developed countries, the two major diseases leading to irreversible visual impairment are glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. Their prevalence will increase dramatically with population aging.


The economic consequences of visual impairment are considerable, but have rarely been documented, apart from some ‘top-down’ estimates based on national statistics. We estimated the non-medical costs related to visual impairment in four European countries: France, Italy, Germany and the UK.


The study found that total non-medical costs associated with visual impairment are indeed considerable. The present analysis demonstrates that the preponderant economic consequences of visual impairment lie beyond healthcare systems, and that visual impairment has a considerable negative impact on productivity. Considering the non-medical social dimensions of visual impairment related to the consequent incapacity and dependency should encourage payers to finance health innovations that aim to preserve vision.

Publication date

March 19, 2015

Publication

PharmacoEconomics

Authors

Antoine Lafuma
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