Potential lost productivity resulting from the global burden of uncorrected refractive error

Global cost of correcting vision impairment from uncorrected refractive error

“…Population data were mostly based on estimates for the middle of 2007 obtained from the International Data Base, a computerized database established by the United States Census Bureau that contains statistical tables of demographic data for 228 countries and areas of the world. 10,11 In doing this, we used the same population data as Smith et al, 3 which enabled us to compare our findings with estimates of the cost of the productivity lost due to vision impairment made by those authors. Economic data included price level indices from the International Comparison Program of the World Bank 12 and the Asian Development Bank 13 and data on wage levels and resource use in health care were taken from WHO CHOICE databases.…”

“…Smith et al 3 estimated the value of the productivity lost because of distance vision impairment due to URE to lie between 121 400 million and 427 700 million International dollars (equivalent to US$ 91 300 million to US$ 327 700 million), depending on whether or not the figure was adjusted to take account of the labour force participation rate and the employment rate and was based on the assumption that people over 50 years of age do not contribute to the economy. These two figures give a range for the possible increase in global gross domestic product that would result from providing refractive care for all.…”

“…The estimated cost can be compared to a previously published estimate of the annual cost of the productivity lost due to refractive vision impairment worldwide, of 269 000 million international dollars, equivalent to 202 United States dollars (US$). 3 The comparison provides an indication of the economic return that society might expect from the investment required to make refractive care accessible to all. We present an idealized account of the actions needed to solve the problem of URE globally, which can serve as a guide and provide an incentive for action.…”

Poor Vision Among China's Rural Primary School Students: Prevalence, Correlates and Consequences

“…It is well known that if vision problems in adults are left uncorrected, there can be serious consequences. A WHO study estimates that the potential global lost productivity from uncorrected refractive error may be more than one hundred billion dollars annually (Smith, Frick, Holden, Fricke, & Naidoo, 2009). There are only a handful of studies that examine the potential negative impacts of children's vision problems (Congdon et al, 2008;Esteso et al, 2007;Nilsson, 2007).…”

Validity of recall absent schoolchildren to free eye health projects

“…Uncorrected refractive error is the main cause of low vision and second cause of blindness, after cataract (2) . Without proper optical correction, 153 million people miss opportunities, are disqualified to work and experience economical and social con sequences (3) . The losses with regards to children learning, intellectual develop ment and socialization are immeasurable.…”