Gender

Uncover the persistent gender gap in eye health, with women bearing a disproportionate burden of sight loss. Best viewed on desktop — scroll slowly to explore the full data story.

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Bourne R, et al. (2021). Trends in prevalence of blindness and distance and near vision impairment over 30 years: an analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study. The Lancet global health, 9(2), e130-e143.

Burton M, et al. Lancet Global Health Commission on Global Eye Health: Vision Beyond 2020. The Lancet Global Health (2021).

Bourne R, et al. Effective refractive error coverage in adults aged 50 years and older: estimates from population-based surveys in 61 countries. Lancet Glob Health. 2022;10(12):e1754–63.

UN Women. (2023, September). Policy brief: Closing the gender and inclusion gap in eye health.

Danquah L, et al. The long term impact of cataract surgery on quality of life, activities and poverty: results from a six year longitudinal study in Bangladesh and the Philippines. PLoS One 2014; 9(4): e94140.

Kuper H, et al. Does cataract surgery alleviate poverty? Evidence from a multi-centre intervention study conducted in Kenya, the Philippines and Bangladesh. PLoS One 2010; 5(11): e15431.

Md. Saroar Rahman Prodhan

Luca Catalano Gonzaga, South Sudan

Graham Coates, Sierra Leone

Nick Burn, Bwamanda Hospital DRC

Louis Leeson (Orbis International), Cameroon

Joy Saha, Dhaka

Arpan Chowdhury, India

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Better Education In Sight
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Better Education In Sight

Uncorrected refractive error costs children worldwide 6.3 million years of schooling and $173 billion in future earnings every year.
The Value of Vision
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The Value of Vision

Investing $7 billion in eye health across low- and middle-income countries could return $199 billion in economic benefits — making it one of the best buys in global health.
Effective cataract surgical coverage
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Effective cataract surgical coverage

Cataract surgery is fast, straightforward, and inexpensive. However for millions around the world, it remains out of reach.

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Two young boys wearing decorated heart-shaped glasses laughing and hugging during an eye health event.