A recent study in the Lancet Global Health has predicted that the number of blind people across the world will rise from 36 million to 115 million by 2050. That’s almost triple the numbers!
These numbers can only be improved with treatment and better funding in the eye care sector.
The rising numbers are attributed to a growing ageing population as per the study.
Though the percentage of world's population living with visual impairments is actually falling, but since more and more people are living well into old age, the researchers are predicting that the numbers of people with sight problems will only rise in the coming years.
As per global statistics, 3.5 million people in South East Asia are affected by blindness.
The data, collected from over 188 countries, reveals that there are more than 200 million people living with severe or moderate vision impairment. This figure is expected to increase to more than 550 million by 2050.
South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa are the regions with some of the highest rates of blindness and vision impairment.
The findings in the study underline our need for better investment in cataract surgeries and other treatments. Better processes must be in place to ensure that more and more people have access to proper vision-correcting glasses.
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