Meeting with European institutions1st April

#ECVeyehealthEU

Key points

Need to tackle eye health and vision ‘epidemic’

About the European Coalition for VisionThe Global context: WHO Action PlanManifesto and asks

Increasing threats to Eyes

”Europe is facing an invisible epidemic, with an estimated 20.4 million Europeans suffering from serious vision impairment - including 2.3 million who are blind. These worrying numbers will only increase with the rise of diabetes and other conditions like refractive error and cataract “

Preventing Sight Loss

• 2/3 of visual impairment in Western Europe is avoidable – it could be easily treated and sight restored

• Inadequate and inequitable services mean around 8.5m people in Western Europe live with a disabling vision problem

Improve the vision and eye health of the peoples of Europe as an economic and public health priority.

Tackle the rapidly increasing scale and costs of preventable sight loss now and in the future.

Protect and support the rights of people with, or at risk of, sight loss.

European Coalition for Vision

Strength in Diversity

‘Membership of the Coalition will be open to organisations that are active in Europe and who are willing to work in a

collaborative way to bring their collective experience, expertise and resources together to address the purpose and objectives’

•NGOs/ DPOs•Professional organisations•Associations of health providers/suppliers•Research bodies

• 30m diabetics in EU increasing to 35m by 2030

• 1 in 3 diabetics has some form Diabetic Retinopathy

• 1 in 10 diabetics has sight threatening DR

Emerging challenges: diabetes

• If you are aged 50 – 69 then you have a 1 in 10 chance of having a disabling vision disorder

• Aged ≥ 70y and it rises to 4 in 10.• Presently around 18% of the European

population is ≥65y old• By 2050 around 30% of the population will

be ≥65y old

Emerging challenges: aging

Causes of blindness in Western Europe

Disease % of blindness % of seriously disabling visual impairment

Macular degeneration 16.1 5.4

Cataract 13.8 13.8

Uncorrected refractive error 14 47.3

Glaucoma 10.6 3.4

Diabetic retinopathy 4.2 3

Rupert Bourne, Vision Loss Expert Group of the Global Burden of Disease Study , Presentation for ECV 2013

Need for more Data

Four World Health Assembly Resolutions and Two Action Plans 2009 and 2013

WHA 62.12009

Universal Access to Eye Health:

A Global Action Plan,

2014 – 2019

WHA 66.11 2013

http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA66/A66_11-en.pdfImplementation at country level

WHO Global Action Plan

Implementation of Global Action Plan 2014-19: Towards Universal eye health

IAPB ©

ECV Launch Strasbourg 4th Feb 2014

Manifesto

Towards Universal Eye Health in Europe (I) Importance of early screening and timely

interventionAddress the evolving challenges in

demographics and epidemiology (aging, diabetics)

Tackling health inequalities: ensuring financial costs and other barriers do not impede access

Promotion of eye health across the health continuum, including health determinants and rehabilitation

Towards Universal Eye Health in Europe (II)

Integration of eye health within equitable health systems

Gaps in health data on eye health and on sight loss must be overcome

Promoting inclusion of persons with vision impairment through reasonable accommodation, accessible design, provision of assistive devices

The future is challenging: waiting is not an option for Europe

• Lifestyles: screens are everywhere

• Aging population

• Myopia epidemic

• Cost of health systems increase

• Aging workers

• Road traffic growth

Benefits for Europe

Better mental health (sight loss links to depression)

good vision prevents accident risks (on road, at home, at work).

importance of good vision for children to learn, for sports, to play…)

Promotion of gender equality (women can be at greater risk)

Significant health, welfare, and productivity savingsSocial and economic Inclusion and well-being of those affected and families

#ECVeyehealthEU