Vision Loss
Vision loss can have a devastating impact on people’s lives.
Not only those experiencing vision loss, but those who love and care about them.
People with vision loss are:
- far less likely to be employed[1]
- three times as likely to experience clinical depression[2]
- twice as likely to fall and four times as likely to suffer hip fractures[3]
The eyes are the windows to our world.
Almost 80% of sensory information our brain receives comes from our eyes. Latest estimates suggest that one in every 24* New Zealanders is living with vision loss The total cost of vision in 2017 was estimated to be over half a billion dollars. Eye Health Aotearoa recognises that the eye health system is facing complex challenges. While recognising these, we recommend eight effective interventions based on the latest evidence to increase equitable access to quality eye health for all New Zealanders.
[1] Disability, education and the labour market: A longitudinal portrait for New Zealand – AUT January 2016
[2] Rovner B, Ganguli M. Depression and disability associated with impaired vision: the MoVies Project. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 1998;46:617-9.
[3] Klein BEK, Moss SE, Klein R et al. Associations of visual function with physical outcomes and limitations 5 years later in an older population. The Beaver Dam Eye Study. Ophthalmol 2003;110:644-650 Klein BEK, Klein R, Lee KE et al. Performance-based and self-assessed measures of visual function as related to history of falls, hip fractures and measured gait time. The Beaver Dam Eye Study. Ophthalmol 1998; 105:160-164
*Calculated by dividing the New Zealand population estimate as at 31 March 2019 (4,957,400) divided by approximate number of New Zealanders with vision loss (200,000).