Impact of Presbyopia and Its Correction in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Ving Fai Chan, Graeme E MacKenzie, Jordan Kassalow, Ella Gudwin, Nathan Congdon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Presbyopia affects more than 1 billion people worldwide, and the number is growing rapidly due to the aging global population. Uncorrected presbyopia is the world's leading cause of vision impairment, and as with other causes, the burden falls unfairly on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where rates of presbyopic correction are as low as 10%. The importance of presbyopia as a cause of vision impairment is further underscored by the fact that it strikes at the heart of the productive working years, although it can be safely and effectively treated with a pair of inexpensive glasses. To galvanize action for programs to address uncorrected presbyopia in the workplace and beyond in LMICs, it is crucial to build a solid evidence base detailing the impact of presbyopia and its correction in important areas such as work productivity, activities of daily living, visual function, and quality of life. The aim of this review was to provide an up-to-date reference for program planners and policymakers seeking to build support for programs of presbyopia correction, particularly in low-resource settings.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)370-374
JournalAsia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology
Volume7
Issue number6
Early online date07 Dec 2018
DOIs
Publication statusEarly online date - 07 Dec 2018

Bibliographical note

Copyright 2018 Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology.

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