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Impact
of vision loss higher than we think, delegates at landmark conference
told
TORONTO – February 3, 2004 – Vision impairment
may be a significantly greater public health problem than it appears,
according to new research from Australia, presented at landmark
international symposium, The Cost of Blindness: What it means to
Canadians, held in Toronto on January 31 and February 1.
Hosted by The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), in
partnership with Canada’s leading vision health organizations, The
Cost of Blindness featured national and international experts in the
fields of blindness, low vision, and epidemiology who unveiled new
findings as a first step in developing strategies to lower the
prevalence of age-related vision loss and reduce escalating medical
costs.
Currently, Canada is experiencing an unprecedented surge in
age-related blindness with one in four Canadians over the age of 75
developing irreversible vision loss.
Incidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is soaring as baby
boomers reach 50 and 60. In 2003, just under 80,000 new cases were
diagnosed across Canada. Speakers at this symposium also urged
Canadians to throw away any cigarettes, as recent research has
unveiled a direct link between smoking and AMD in one third of the
cases studied.
Glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy are also on the rise with thousands
of Canadians totally unaware they have glaucoma or diabetes.
“While there has been much concern about the rising incidence of
age-related vision loss, there has been little research on the impact
of this vision loss,” said Dr. Hugh Taylor, head of the Centre for Eye
Research Australia.
“Recent research in Australia shows that elderly people with vision
loss are admitted to nursing homes on average three years earlier than
those without vision loss. Their risk of falls is twice as high, their
risk of depression three times as high, and their risk of hip
fracture—a leading cause of death in the elderly — is four times as
high. Worst of all, their risk of death is twice as high.”
While no similar research has been done in Canada and there are no
specific figures available, the medical costs related to treating
these types of injuries and conditions are substantial. Professor
David Foot, author of the best-seller Boom, Bust and Echo, told the
symposium audience that falls are the fastest growing cause of death
for people in their 70s and 80s. Also alarming, motor vehicle
accidents are almost as high for people in their 80s as for those in
their 20s — the decade of highest incidence for such accidents.
“Given that these are the years when vision loss is greatest, could
these falls and accidents be happening because people can’t see
properly?” asked Foot.
Understanding the true financial burden of eye disease in Canada is
critical in order to guide policy decisions with respect to health
care funding for ocular health and social support for those with
visual disabilities. Researchers report that Canada has fallen behind
other G8 nations in supporting blindness research and prevention
programs.
“The potential future health savings through investing in blindness
prevention, new treatments, and early intervention have not been fully
documented but are likely substantial,” says Gerrard Grace, symposium
chair and CNIB vice president of external affairs.
“The research presented at the symposium clearly identifies the
prevalence of blindness and vision loss in Canada and lays out
measures that can be taken to improve access to vision care and remove
social barriers, ensuring that Canadians who are blind or visually
impaired can become productive members of society.”
Symposium delegates resolved to create awareness among the government,
the health care professions, and the public that:
Vision loss is rapidly increasing in Canada
Vision loss is a major cause of frailty in the
elderly Certain types of vision loss are preventable More funds are needed for research, treatment and
rehabilitation
To view Dr. Taylor’s address, and presentations of other
national and international blindness experts, visit the
participating speakers section, or visit the
CNIB’s Web site at www.cnib.ca.
Contact: Ellen Woodger, E Publicity (416) 483-2358
ellen.woodger@sympatico.ca
Sean McNeely, CNIB (416) 480-7021
sean.mcneely@cnib.ca |
