The figures, published as part of the IAPB Vision Atlas show global cases of blindness and vision loss have been on the decline for the last few years - down from 289 million to 253 million. This encouraging news shows that global blindness prevention efforts are working.
However, due to an ageing and growing global population, a steep increase in myopia and the rising tide of diabetic retinopathy, we are set to enter a new era of blindness and visual impairment. We could even see blindness triple by 2050 if access to eye health services is not improved.