Evidence briefs
What are the most effective strategies for preventing visual impairment among older people in Africa?
Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that 2.2 billion people have a near or distance vision impairment and that 50% of these cases could have been prevented through multiple strategies and measures. According to WHO Afro, visual impairment is a major public health problem in African countries affecting about 26.3 million people and the principal causes are trachoma, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, corneal opacity and uncorrected refractive error. The 2019 Global burden of disease report supported by studies showed that visual impairment is higher among adults especially older women and 90% of cases are centered in LMICs (Bourne et al., 2021). Visual impairment affects people’s quality of life, exacerbates poverty, increases risk of mortality, and negatively impacts on individuals’ independence and mental health (Banks & Polack, 2014; Kuper et al., 2019). If no steps are taken, this will derail African countries progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 3 ‘Good Health and Well-Being’ (as vision has a significant impact on both) as well as the Africa Agenda 2063 which aims to address the continent’s specific development challenges. This evidence brief aims to bring out effective strategies informed by research that can prevent visual impairment among older people in Africa.
- Health