Prevalence, Years Lived With Disability, and Time Trends for 16 Causes of Blindness and Vision Impairment: Findings Highlight Retinopathy of Prematurity

Abstract

BackgroundCause-specific prevalence data of vision loss and blindness is fundamental for making public health policies and is essential for prioritizing scientific advances and industry research.MethodsCause-specific vision loss data from the Global Health Data Exchange was used. The burden of vision loss was measured by prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs).FindingsIn 2019, uncorrected refractory error and cataract were the most common causes for vision loss and blindness globally. Women have higher rates of cataract, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and diabetic retinopathy (DR) than men. In the past 30 years, the prevalence of moderate/severe vision loss and blindness due to neonatal disorders has increased by 13.73 and 33.53%, respectively. Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is the major cause of neonatal disorders related vision loss. In 2019, ROP caused 101.6 thousand [95% uncertainty intervals (UI) 77.5–128.2] cases of vision impairment, including 49.1 thousand (95% UI 28.1–75.1) moderate vision loss, 27.5 thousand (95% UI 19.3–36.60) severe vision loss and, 25.0 thousand (95% UI 14.6–35.8) blindness. The prevalence of new-onset ROP in Africa and East Asia was significantly higher than other regions. Variation of preterm birth prevalence can explain 49.8% geometry variation of ROP-related vision loss burden among 204 countries and territories. After adjusting for preterm prevalence, government health spending per total health spending (%), rather than total health spending per person, was associated with a reduced burden of ROP-related vision loss in 2019 (−0.19 YLDs for 10% increment). By 2050, prevalence of moderate, severe vision loss and blindness due to ROP is expected to reach 43.6 (95% UI 35.1–52.0), 23.2 (95% UI 19.4–27.1), 31.9 (95% UI 29.7–34.1) per 100,000 population.ConclusionThe global burden of vision loss and blindness highlights the prevalent of ROP, a major and avoidable cause for childhood vision loss. Advanced screening techniques and treatments have shown to be effective in preventing ROP-related vision loss and are urgently needed in regions with high ROP-related blindness rates, including Africa and East Asia.

Association of sex with the global burden of vision impairment caused by neonatal preterm birth: An analysis from the global burden of disease study 2019

“…Globally, the YLD numbers of blindness, SVL, and MVL showed a rising trend for both men and women. As reported in Zhang et al, the prevalence of blindness, SVL, and MVL due to neonatal disorders increased by 33.53 and 13.73%, respectively, from 1990 to 2019 (22). The NPB-related eye diseases include congenital cataracts, ROP, congenital glaucoma, refractive error, etc.…”

“…The NPB-related eye diseases include congenital cataracts, ROP, congenital glaucoma, refractive error, etc. ROP was identified as the primary cause of neonatal disorders related to vision loss, and the prevalence of blindness due to ROP reached 32% by 2019 ( 22 ). In this study, while the adjusted measurements of SVL and MVL showed an upward trend, blindness displayed a downward trend with a peak around 2010.…”

Screening and surveillance for retinopathy of prematurity: A Wilson and Jungner framework approach

“…ROP is a common avoidable cause of childhood blindness, causing an estimated 32 300 cases of blindness and visual impairment globally in 2010, with the highest incidence in middle-income countries with expanding neonatal care coverage [ 4 ]. In 2022, Zhang et al [ 5 ], based on cause-specific vision loss data from the Global Health Data Exchange, estimated that ROP caused moderate vision loss in approximately 49 100 cases, severe vision loss in 27 500 cases, and blindness in 25 000 cases in 2019 [ 5 ]. The study found that the prevalence of ROP-related blindness varied among 21 Global Burden of Disease regions, with southern sub-Saharan Africa having the highest rate at 44 cases per 100 000 population and East Asia having the lowest rate at 17 cases per 100 000 population [ 5 ].…”

“…In 2022, Zhang et al [ 5 ], based on cause-specific vision loss data from the Global Health Data Exchange, estimated that ROP caused moderate vision loss in approximately 49 100 cases, severe vision loss in 27 500 cases, and blindness in 25 000 cases in 2019 [ 5 ]. The study found that the prevalence of ROP-related blindness varied among 21 Global Burden of Disease regions, with southern sub-Saharan Africa having the highest rate at 44 cases per 100 000 population and East Asia having the lowest rate at 17 cases per 100 000 population [ 5 ]. By 2050, estimated global prevalence of moderate, severe vision loss, and blindness caused by ROP is projected to reach 43 600, 23 200, and 31 900 per 100 000 population, respectively [ 5 ].…”

“…The study found that the prevalence of ROP-related blindness varied among 21 Global Burden of Disease regions, with southern sub-Saharan Africa having the highest rate at 44 cases per 100 000 population and East Asia having the lowest rate at 17 cases per 100 000 population [ 5 ]. By 2050, estimated global prevalence of moderate, severe vision loss, and blindness caused by ROP is projected to reach 43 600, 23 200, and 31 900 per 100 000 population, respectively [ 5 ]. Blindness in childhood increases the likelihood of socioeconomic deprivation, frequent hospitalisations, and early death [ 6 ].…”