The report, which was commissioned by the Sydney-based Save Sight Institute (SSI) and produced by Deloitte Access Economics, examined the socioeconomic impact of low vision and blindness from paediatric eye disease in Australia.Highlighting the significant challenges faced by individuals and families affected by childhood blindness, the report found that including health expenditure, lost productivity, and other financial costs, the estimated economic impact of vision impairment in children is $624 million per year.Other findings included:
- Refractive error (hyperopia, myopia and astigmatism) accounts for three of the top 10 most common long-term health conditions in under 15-year-olds
- In 2015, there were almost a third of a million Australian children with vision impairment or the potential to become visually impaired
- Last year, the total health costs to treat children with diseases of the eye and adnexa were an estimated $439 million, or 11.3% of the total health syst expenditure on eye conditions
- Having a vision impairment-causing disability reduces the chance of being ployed by almost 50%
- Reduced ployment due to a vision impairment-causing disability costs the economy an estimated $50 million per year in lost productivity.
Professor John Grigg, paediatric ophthalmologist and head of the discipline of clinical ophthalmology at the University of Sydney, said, Because of this report, we now know that the cost [of paediatric visual impairment] to the public health syst is substantial. We have a small window of opportunity in most cases to give children the best chance at a sighted life as the early disruption of normal visual development has long-term consequences for individuals, families, communities and nations. Prof Grigg said the report also highlighted the need for more investment support for paediatric eye research. This is not only important for children’s quality of life, but also for the otional and financial wellbeing of families, he stated. It is in everyone’s interests to find better ways of treating vision impairment in children. The full report can be accessed via www.savesightinstitute.org.au
