Br J Ophthalmol 2001;85:653-657 ( June )

World view

Social economic development in the prevention of global blindness Viet H Ho^a, Ivan R Schwab^b

^a Tufts University, School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA, ^b University of California at Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA

Correspondence to: Ivan R Schwab, MD, FACS, Department of Ophthalmology, UC Davis Medical Center, 4860 "Y" Street, Suite 2400, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA irschwab{at}ucdavis.edu

Accepted for publication 22 February 2001

AIMSTo assess the relation between a country's economic developmental status and its prevalence of blindness.
METHODSAvailable epidemiological data on worldwide visual loss and its causes compiled by the World Health Organization were reviewed. Findings were compared with economic development data from the involved countries and regions. Analysis was completed in view of the socioeconomic status of each country and region.
RESULTSAnalysis of the global distribution of blindness indicates a trend of higher prevalence existing in developing countries with lower per capita income. Preventable causes of blindness (that is, cataract, trachoma) are also more prevalent in these countries.
CONCLUSIONSBecause economic development is shown to be a factor in blindness, programmes for blindness prevention should not be the only route to the elimination of unnecessary blindness throughout the world. Concomitant economic development is also necessary to reduce and eventually eradicate much of the preventable and avoidable causes of blindness.

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© 2001 by British Journal of Ophthalmology
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