Eye and vision care

Vision impairment and blindness occurs when an eye condition affects the visual system and one or more of its vision functions. Vision impairment has serious consequences for the individual across the life course. Many of these consequences can, however, be mitigated by timely access to quality eye care and rehabilitation.

Most people with vision impairment have a partial inability to see. For example, some people might be able to see close objects clearly, but objects further away appear blurred, or might have one eye that sees better than the other.

Everyone, if they live long enough, will experience at least one eye condition in their lifetime that will require appropriate care.

In the European Region, approximately 90 million people have some vision impairment or blindness. This represents 9% of the population. In other words, 1 in 10 people have some vision impairment or blindness.

Prevention of vision impairment and blindness is essential throughout the life course – from prenatal and perinatal periods to older age. Most cases of vision impairment and blindness are due to preventable causes.

Preventive interventions in the field of eye care generally fit into two categories. First, we have the interventions that aim to prevent the incidence of eye conditions before they occur by targeting the causes and risk factors. For example, preventative lifestyle changes among children, including a combination of increased time spent outdoors and decreased near-work activities, can slow the progression of myopia, which reduces the risk of high myopia and its complications.

Second, there are measures taken to prevent eye conditions that are secondary to other health conditions. For example, with diabetes, the optimal management of key risk factors, such as hyperglycaemia and hypertension, can also prevent or delay onset, and reduce the progression, of diabetic retinopathy.

There are 2 global eye care targets for 2030:

1. A 40 percentage point increase in effective coverage of refractive error. Countries with a baseline effective coverage rate of 60% or higher should strive for universal coverage.
2. A 30 percentage point increase in effective coverage of cataract surgery by 2030. Countries with a baseline effective coverage rate of 70% or higher should strive for universal coverage

Countries should aim to achieve an equal increase in effective coverage in all population subgroups, independent of baseline estimates.

Integrated people-centred eye care refers to eye care services that are managed and delivered to assure a continuum of health interventions against the full spectrum of eye conditions, according to people’s needs and throughout their life course. Its implementation requires 4 strategies:

1. Empowering and engaging people and communities;
2. Reorienting the model of care based on strong primary care;
3. Coordinating eye and vision care services within and across sectors;
4. Creating an enabling environment by integrating eye and vision care into health system planning.

WHO/Europe provides technical support to its Members States towards people-centred eye and vision care that is integrated into their national health systems. WHO/Europe raises awareness on the prevalence and consequences of eye and vision conditions. We advocate for affordable, accessible, appropriate and inclusive eye and vision care; we strengthen research and evidence related to eye conditions and their care; and we help with setting, monitoring and surveilling people-centred eye care targets.