Anglia Ruskin University|University of Oxford|Anglia Ruskin University|Health Education England|Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin|University Hospital Heidelberg|L V Prasad Eye Institute|Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary|Nova Southeastern University|University of KwaZulu-Natal|UNSW Sydney|World Health Organization|UNSW Sydney|National University of Singapore|University of Melbourne|Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation|University of Burgundy|Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Dijon Bourgogne|Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté
backgroundglobal regional prevalence estimates blindness vision impairment important development public health policies aimed provide global estimates trends projections global blindness vision impairmentmethodswe systematic review metaanalysis populationbased datasets relevant global vision impairment blindness published 1980 2015 fitted hierarchical models estimate prevalence age country sex 2015 mild visual impairment presenting visual acuity worse 612 618 inclusive moderate severe visual impairment presenting visual acuity worse 618 360 inclusive blindness presenting visual acuity worse 360 functional presbyopia defined presenting near vision worse n6 n8 40 cm bestcorrected distance visual acuity better 612findingsglobally 733 billion people alive 2015 estimated 360 million 80 uncertainty interval ui 129654 blind crude prevalence 048 80 ui 017087 56 female 2166 million 80 ui 9853591 people moderate severe visual impairment 295 80 ui 134489 55 female 1885 million 80 ui 6453502 mild visual impairment 257 80 ui 088477 54 female functional presbyopia affected estimated 10947 million 80 ui 581116865 people aged 35 years older 6667 million 80 ui 36499976 aged 50 years older estimated number blind people increased 176 306 million 80 ui 99573 1990 360 million 80 ui 129654 2015 change attributable three factors namely increase population growth 384 population ageing accounting population growth 346 reduction agespecific prevalence 367 number people moderate severe visual impairment also increased 1599 million 80 ui 6832700 1990 2166 million 80 ui 9853591 2015interpretationthere ongoing reduction agestandardised prevalence blindness visual impairment yet growth ageing worlds population causing substantial increase number people affected observations plus large contribution uncorrected presbyopia highlight need scale vision impairment alleviation efforts levelsfundingbrien holden vision institute