Economics

Eye Health and Economic Development

The Economic Benefits of Investing in Eye Health

Value of early detection and treatment
- Investing in the early detection and treatment of eye diseases can lead to significant savings in healthcare costs. Addressing issues before they escalate reduces the need for more advanced and costly treatments down the line, ensuring that both individuals and nations save valuable resources.¹
Boosting productivity
- Poor eye health often leads to decreased productivity, absenteeism, and, in severe cases, job losses. However, restoring vision can empower individuals, leading to increased workplace efficiency and driving economic growth.^{2, 3}
Return on investment
- Around the globe, multiple case studies underscore the economic advantages of investing in eye health. Every dollar spent on refractive error or cataract correction produces $36 in benefits, on par with other ‘Best Buys’ in international development.⁴
A snapshot of current investments
- While the significance of eye health is undeniable, investments in this sector vary widely. Governments, the private sector, and international organizations have increasingly recognised its importance, but allocations remain inconsistent. Some countries allocate between 1.5% to 2.7% of health expenditure to eye health.⁵
Cost-effectiveness
- When compared to other areas of health investment, eye health often receives less attention. Yet, the ROI, both in terms of health outcomes and economic benefits, from eye health often surpasses many other health sectors.² Investing in vision is not just a health priority but a strategic economic decision.

Investment in eye health

Roche and Deloitte’s report examines investment in eye health and vision outcomes.

Best buy in healthcare

Seva’s policy brief outlines why eye health is a best buy in global health and development.

The case for investment

The 2023 WHA Bulletin paper demonstrates that every dollar spent on refractive error or cataract correction produces $36 in benefits.

Economic benefits

Seva’s new publication demonstrates that every dollar spent on refractive error or cataract correction produces $36 in benefits.

Transforming lives

The Fred Hollows Foundation demonstrates the urgent need for greater investment in eye health programs, specifically cataract and refractive error.

The PROSPER trial

This landmark study found that providing near vision spectacles significantly increased productivity in people with presbyopia.

Child eye health

Orbis’ report outlines how India loses an estimated USD 118 billion annually in cumulative gross national income (GNI) due to childhood blindness.

Impact of Cataract Surgery on Income

The SUCCESS RCT demonstrates the impact of timely cataract surgery in southern China.

The Case for Investing in Assistive Technology (AT)

ATScale demonstrates how providing AT would yield more than USD 10 trillion over the next 55 years.

2050 Projections if Existing Solutions are Implemented

This study demonstrates that US$ 984 billion could be gained globally by treating all preventable cases of sight loss.

Why Eye Health is Important for Economic Development

Sight loss has significant economic implications such as job loss, reduced productivity, or early retirement. Sight loss limits mobility, literacy, and people’s capacity to fully participate in society. Sight loss not only affects individual livelihoods but generates broader societal economic burdens.

Investing in sight loss prevention and treatment can be extremely cost-effective, and enhances quality of life and boosts productivity, while reducing the societal and economic burdens of untreated vision impairment and blindness.

Understanding the economics of eye health is important to inform decision-making in healthcare policy, to prioritize interventions, and ultimately improve global eye health in a sustainable manner.

To learn more about why eye health is important for economic development, and the links between eye health and Sustainable Development Goals, view the following infographic and access the Eye Health: Why it matters factsheet.

The Economic Costs of Sight Loss

Global and regional statistics on the economic impact of vision impairment

The worldwide economic burden attributed to vision impairment and blindness is a staggering $411 billion annually,² equivalent to roughly 0.3% of the global GDP.⁶

People with sight loss experience 30% relative reduction in employment, and have a higher mortality risk.⁷

School-age children with sight loss can also experience lower levels of educational achievement and self-esteem than their peers[4], which has implications for future earning potential.

The economics of vision impairment and its leading causes: A systematic review

This study provides a systematic review of the economic costs of vision impairment globally, through analysis of 138 studies from various regions.

In 2020, the estimated global annual economic productivity loss associated with vision impairment was approximately US$ 411 billion.

This article also reveals gaps in the existing studies and recommends standardized methods for future cost analysis.

Global Productivity Losses Due to Avoidable Sight Loss

This IAPB Evidence Series research reveals the global league table of countries with the biggest potential economic boost from better eye care.

The study calculated the productivity costs of avoidable sight loss among people over 50.

Countries with some of the biggest potential productivity gains include China ($96 billion), United States ($50 billion), India ($27 billion), Japan ($20 billion) and the United Kingdom ($12 billion).

Update of a Simple Model to Calculate the Annual Global Productivity Loss Due to Blindness and Moderate and Severe Vision Impairment

This study investigates the significant economic impact of vision loss on productivity, focusing on adults aged 50-64 years, who are most likely to leave the workforce due to vision-related issues.

It underlines the issue of early retirement due to vision loss as a major contributor to productivity losses. The paper also presents a redeveloped simple model that uses minimum wage (MW) and gross national income (GNI) to estimate country level productivity losses.

Current estimates of the economic burden of blindness and visual impairment in India: A cost of illness study

This study aimed to assess the economic implications of blindness and visual impairment on the Indian economy. The findings reveal that the net loss of GNI attributed to blindness in India stands at INR 845 billion (Int$ 38.4 billion). Additionally, potential productivity losses due to vision impairment are calculated at INR 646 billion (Int$ 29.4 billion).

The Economic Burden of Vision Loss and Blindness in the United States

This study reported that in 2017, the U.S. faced an economic strain of $134.2 billion due to sight loss. This sum consisted of $98.7 billion in direct expenses, encompassing medical care, nursing homes, and support services, and another $35.5 billion from indirect sources such as absenteeism, diminished household output, lower workforce involvement, and informal caregiving. On average, the national cost for each individual affected by vision loss or blindness was $16,838 annually.

Eye health and the World of Work

Reduced productivity due to sight loss has serious economic implications. Reduced output in agriculture, manufacturing, and services can result in lower wages and increased poverty levels.

On a national scale, decreased productivity can result in slower GDP growth. Additionally, sight loss can contribute to increased healthcare costs due to accidents or the need for ongoing care. The visualisation below demonstrates the influence of sight loss on various industries around the world.

Economic impact of sight loss by industry type

The following graphic shows a selection of studies in various industries that report on the economic impact and productivity losses of sight loss, and the benefits of treating sight loss.

Select the following image to access a selection of studies in various industries that report on the economic impact and productivity losses of sight loss, and the benefits of treating sight loss.

Eye Health and the World of Work

To learn more about eye health and the world of work, read the key co-publication from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and IAPB, Eye Health and the World of Work, which underlines the crucial need for better eye health protection in workplaces.

According to the report, 13 million individuals suffer from work-related vision impairment, with 3.5 million eye injuries reported annually at work. Workers with vision issues are 30% less likely to be employed. The report advocates for global, national, and workplace initiatives for eye health.

World Health Organization (WHO), “World report on vision,” Geneva, 9789241516570, 2019.
M. Burton, “Lancet Global Health Commission on Global Eye Health: Vision Beyond 2020,” The Lancet Global Health, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. e489–e551, 2021.
P. A. Reddy et al., “Effect of providing near glasses on productivity among rural Indian tea workers with presbyopia (PROSPER): a randomised trial,” The Lancet Global Health, vol. 6, no. 9, pp. e1019–e1027, Sep. 2018, doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30329-2.
SEVA, “Eye health: a best buy in global health and development,” SEVA, Nov. 2023. Accessed: Nov. 10, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.seva.org/site/DocServer/SevaPolicyPaper_EyeHealth.pdf
Deloitte and Roche, “Investment in Eye Health to Prevent Sight Loss.” Accessed: Sep. 12, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.deloitte.com/au/en/services/economics/analysis/vision-future-investing-eye-health-safeguard-sight.html
A. P. Marques et al., “The economics of vision impairment and its leading causes: A systematic review,” eClinicalMedicine, vol. 46, p. 101354, 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.
J. R. Ehrlich et al., “The Association Between Vision Impairment and Mortality : A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” The Lancet Global Health, vol. in press, 2020, doi: 10.17605/osf.io/weu96.
K. A. Eckert, V. C. Lansingh, M. J. Carter, and K. D. Frick, “Update of a Simple Model to Calculate the Annual Global Productivity Loss Due to Blindness and Moderate and Severe Vision Impairment,” Ophthalmic Epidemiology, 2022, doi: 10.1080/09286586.2022.2072899.
S. Mannava, R. R. Borah, and B. R. Shamanna, “Current estimates of the economic burden of blindness and visual impairment in India: A cost of illness study,” Indian J Ophthalmol, vol. 70, no. 6, pp. 2141–2145, Jun. 2022, doi: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_2804_21.
D. B. Rein et al., “The Economic Burden of Vision Loss and Blindness in the United States,” Ophthalmology, vol. 129, no. 4, pp. 369–378, Apr. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2021.09.010.
ILO and IAPB, “Eye Health and the World of Work,” International Labor Organization, Switzerland, 2023. Accessed: Oct. 20, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_protect/@protrav/@safework/documents/publication/wcms_892937.pdf
A. Bastawrous and A. V. Suni, “Thirty Year Projected Magnitude (to 2050) of Near and Distance Vision Impairment and the Economic Impact if Existing Solutions are Implemented Globally,” Ophthalmic Epidemiology, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 115–120, 2020, doi: 10.1080/09286586.2019.1700532.
The Fred Hollows Foundation and Victoria University Institute of Strategic Economic Studies, “Transforming Lives: An Investment Case for Eye Health,” The Fred Hollows Foundation, 2023. Accessed: Aug. 01, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.hollows.org/Upload/FHFV3/Media/au/pdf/Reports/Investment-Case-Final-Report.pdf
X. Tan et al., “Impact of Cataract Surgery on Income in Rural Southern China: The SUCCESS Randomized Controlled Trial,” The Asia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology, vol. 12, no. 4, p. 355, Aug. 2023, doi: 10.1097/APO.0000000000000624.
B. R. Shamanna, R. R. Borah, S. Sheeladevi, and D. Chandra, “Cost-benefit analysis of investing in child eye health,” University of Hyderabad, Orbis, 2022.
ATscale Global Partnership for Assistive Technology, “The Case for Investing in Assistive Technology.”