Eye Health is not just essential to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, but a matter of life and death

Commenting on the publication of The Lancet Global Health Commission on Global Eye Health, Commissioner and Chief Executive of International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), Peter Holland said “The Lancet Global Health Commission on Global Eye Health is a landmark report. As it shows 1.1 billion people on our planet experience sight loss because they do not have access to eye care services.  

“It cannot be right that so many people in our world go without access to eye care when the majority of treatments are affordable and have been around for many years. The Commission goes on to state that 90% of sight loss could be avoided. 

“Action on sight loss is essential if the world is to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Lancet Global Commission on Global Eye Health proves once and for all that good quality eye care has a vital effect on people’s everyday lives, enabling children to benefit from education, ensuring working adults keep their jobs and that older people can participate in their families and communities. 

“As the Commission highlights sight loss costs the global economy $411 billion per year in productivity losses. 

 “Today’s report from The Lancet Global Commission on Global Eye Health also shows that sight loss is not just about improving people’s lives, but is a matter of life and death, making the first official connection that those with poor eye health have a 2.6 times increased risk of mortality. Addressing sight loss is not only the right thing to do for our global economy it is right thing to do.” 

Read the full release here.