According to WHO estimates:
- Worldwide, 285 million people are visually impaired
- Of these, 39 million people are blind.
- 246 million people have low vision
- Up to 80% of all visual impairment is avoidable by prevention, treatment or cure
- About 90% of blind people live in low-income countries
- Globally, uncorrected refractive errors are the main cause of visual impairment, while cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness
- The number of people visually impaired from infectious diseases has greatly reduced in the last 20 years
- 65% of visually impaired people are over 50 years of age, although this age group comprises only 20% of the world population
- Top causes of visual impairment: refractive errors, cataracts and glaucoma
- Top causes of blindness: cataracts, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration