WORLD VIEW

The economic impact and cost of visual impairment in Australia

H R Taylor¹, M L Pezzullo² and J E Keeffe¹

¹ Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne Vic, Australia 3002 and Vision CRC, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW, Australia 2052
² Access Economics Pty Limited, Level 1, 39 Brisbane Avenue, Barton ACT, Australia 2600

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Professor Hugh R Taylor
AC, MD, Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, 32 Gisborne Street, East Melbourne, Vic, Australia 3002; h.taylor{at}unimelb.edu.au

Aims: To quantify the total economic costs of vision loss in Australia.

Methods: Prevalence data of visual impairment, unpublished data on indirect costs, and national healthcare cost databases were used.

Results: Vision disorders cost Australia an estimated A$9.85 billion in 2004. A$4.8 billion is the loss of wellbeing (years of life lost as a result of disability and premature mortality). Vision disorders rank seventh and account for 2.7% of the national loss of wellbeing. Direct health system costs total A$1.8 billion. They have increased by A$1 billion over the last 10 years and will increase a further A$1–2 billion in the next 10 years. Cataract, the largest direct cost, takes 18% of expenditure. The health system costs place vision disorders seventh, ahead of coronary heart disease, diabetes, depression, and stroke. Indirect costs, A$3.2 billion, include carers’ costs, low vision aids, lost earnings, and other welfare payments and taxes.

Conclusions: Even a developed economy such as Australia’s cannot afford avoidable vision loss. Priority needs to be given to prevent preventable vision loss; to treat treatable eye diseases; and to increase research into vision loss that can be neither prevented nor treated.

Keywords: visual impairment; Australia

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