Research

Global Data On Visual Impairments

  • Globally the number of people of all ages visually impaired is estimated to be 285 million, of whom 39 million are blind.

  • People 50 years and older are 82% of all blind.

  • The major causes of visual impairment are uncorrected refractive errors (43%) and cataract (33%); the first cause of blindness is cataract (51%).

  • Visual impairment in 2010 is a major global health issue: the preventable causes are as high as 80% of the total global burden.

Publication date

March 7, 2016

Publication

World Health Organization

Authors

World Health Organization
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