Transcript Claude M. Cowan Sr. Memorial Lecture

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
Global Causes of Blindness and
Visual Impairment
153 Million
161 Million
Uncorrected
Refractive Errors
Eye Diseases
(Avoidable)
(Avoidable or
Not Avoidable)
314 Million People Visually Impaired
(Visual Acuity <6/18)
Global Distribution of Blindness by Cause
More Developed
Countries
Other
Less Developed
Countries
Cataract
Other
Glaucoma
ARMD
ARMD
50%
Cornea
Ch. Bl.
Cataract
50%
D.R.
Diabetic
Retinopathy
Cornea
Oncho
Glaucoma
Childhood
Blindness
Trachoma
(Not with Refractive Error)
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.
World Blindness
Condition
Treaters
Cataract
A.R. M.D.
Glaucoma
Diabetic Retinopathy
Etc.
Refractive Error
Ophthalmologists
Trachoma
Onchocerciasis
Public Health
Many Levels
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
The Global Population is Aging
Developed
Countries
Developing
Countries
1
1980
0
10000 20000
1996
2020
© WHO
Age pyramids
1
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
“Avoidable blindness… is an obscene
and costly anachronism.”
Sir John Wilson
World Blindness and Its Prevention
Oxford Press, 1980
We must advocate for our patients.