Prevalence of Vision Loss in High-Income Countries and in Eastern and Central Europe in 2020: Magnitude and Temporal Trends

Prevalence of Vision Loss in High-Income Countries and in Eastern and Central Europe in 2020: Magnitude and Temporal Trends Publisher Pubmed

Bron AM ; Jonas JB ; Cicinelli MV ; Tapply I ; Fernandes AG ; Arrigo A ; Leveziel N ; Briant PS ; Vos T ; Resnikoff S ; Taylor HR ; Sedighi T ; Flaxman S ; Addo IY Show All Authors

Bron AM
Jonas JB
Cicinelli MV
Tapply I
Fernandes AG
Arrigo A
Leveziel N
Briant PS
Vos T
Resnikoff S
Taylor HR
Sedighi T
Flaxman S
Addo IY
Adekiya TA
Agodi A
Agyemangduah W
Ahinkorah BO
Ahmad D
Ahmed A
Alahdab F
Alfaar AS
Almidani L
Androudi S
Anyasodor AE
Azzam AY
Barchitta M
Bhaskar S
Braithwaite T
Butt ZA
Santos FLCD
Carneiro VLA
Martins NC
Dadras O
Das S
Dascalu AM
Dervenis N
Emamverdi M
Fagbamigbe AF
Fischer F
Galluzzo L
Gupta VB
Gupta VK
Hussain S
Ilic IM
Islam SMS
Jacob L
Jakovljevic M
Jeong W
Jozwiak JJ
Kandel H
Karaye IM
Kayode GA
Khodadoust E
Kim J
Kisa A
Kisa S
Koyanagi A
Kurmi OP
Leasher JL
Lee M
Lee SW
Lee WC
Liu X
Loureiro JA
Manafi N
Maugeri A
Mcalinden C
Miller TR
Moni MA
Mulita A
Murray CJL
Natto ZS
Nguyen DH
Nguyen HQ
Oancea B
Odogwu NM
Olagunju AT
Ordak M
Osuagwu UL
Otstavnov N
Papageorgiou E
Pardhan S
Parikh RR
Patel J
Pawar S
Pesudovs K
Petcu IR
Podder V
Qattea I
Qureshi MF
Rawaf S
Sakshaug JW
Samadzadeh S
Sawhney M
Seylani A
Shorofi SA
Singh JA
Sousa RARC
Tabatabaei SM
Topouzis F
Ubah CS
Verras GI
Wang Y
Xiao H
Yang L
Yonemoto N
You Y
Zastrozhin MS
Zielinska M
Steinmetz JD
Bourne R
Bron A
Fernandes A
Taylor H
Bikbov M
Casson R
Cheng CY
Ehrlich JR
Furtado JM
Elizabeth Hartnett M
Kahloun R
Kempen J
Khairallah M
Khanna RC
Van Lansingh C
Naidoo KS
Nangia V
Nowak M
Ramulu P
Tahhan N
Tsilimbaris M
Bourne RRA

Source: Ophthalmic Epidemiology Published:2026

Abstract

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of vision loss for 2020 in high-income countries (HICs) and Central/Eastern Europe and analyse evolving trends since 1990. Methods: Based on a systematic review of medical literature, prevalence of blindness, moderate and severe vision impairment (MSVI), mild vision impairment (VI), moderate VI and presbyopia were estimated for 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020. Results: The study included 68 population-based studies. In the whole study region, the age-standardized prevalence (all ages) of blindness, MSVI, moderate VI, severe VI, mild VI, and presbyopia-related VI was 0.17% (95% CI:0.15–0.19), 2.27% (2.05–2.49), 2.06% (1.84–2.29), 0.21% (0.18–0.23), 1.79% (1.62–1.99), and 2.61% (1.88–3.48) respectively, with slightly higher rates for women than men. The prevalence rates were higher in Central/Eastern Europe than in the HIC, and lower than the global rates. Stratified between Australasia, high-income Asia Pacific region, high‐income North America, Western Europe, Central Europe, and Eastern Europe, the age-standardized prevalence of blindness changed between 2000 and 2020 for men aged 50+ years by −7.95% (−8.11/−7.78), −14.51% (−14.64/−14.38), +13.18% (+13.00/+13.36), −12.07% (−12.23/−11.91), −14.39% (−14.54/−14.23), and −23.59% (−23.72/−23.46), respectively, without significant sex-related differences. Highest increase was in high‐income North America (+13.18% (+13.00/+13.36)) and most marked reduction in Eastern Europe (−23.59% (−23.72/−23.46)). Estimated blind individuals were stratified as follows: Australasia, 68,866 (54,913–84,527), high-income Asia Pacific region, 535,124 (439,912–640,330), high‐income North America, 711,990 (575,977–867,402), Western Europe, 1,533,752 (1,218,371–1,898,343), Central Europe, 327,352 (264,513–398,083) and Eastern Europe, 789,618 (663,130–923,121). Conclusions: Age-standardized prevalence of blindness and MSVI have further decreased in HIC and Eastern/Central Europe (except for high‐income North America with an increase). © 2025 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

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Style	Citing Format
MLA	Bron AM, et al.. "Prevalence of Vision Loss in High-Income Countries and in Eastern and Central Europe in 2020: Magnitude and Temporal Trends." Ophthalmic Epidemiology, vol. 33, no. 1, 2026, pp. 54-67.
APA	Bron AM, Jonas JB, Cicinelli MV, Tapply I, Fernandes AG, Arrigo A, Leveziel N, Briant PS, Vos T, Resnikoff S, Taylor HR, Sedighi T, Flaxman S, Addo IY, Adekiya TA, Agodi A, Agyemangduah W, Ahinkorah BO, Ahmad D, ... Bourne RRA (2026). Prevalence of Vision Loss in High-Income Countries and in Eastern and Central Europe in 2020: Magnitude and Temporal Trends. Ophthalmic Epidemiology, 33(1), 54-67.
Chicago	Bron AM, Jonas JB, Cicinelli MV, Tapply I, Fernandes AG, Arrigo A, Leveziel N, et al.. "Prevalence of Vision Loss in High-Income Countries and in Eastern and Central Europe in 2020: Magnitude and Temporal Trends." Ophthalmic Epidemiology 33, no. 1 (2026): 54-67.
Harvard	Bron AM et al. (2026) 'Prevalence of Vision Loss in High-Income Countries and in Eastern and Central Europe in 2020: Magnitude and Temporal Trends', Ophthalmic Epidemiology, 33(1), pp. 54-67.
Vancouver	Bron AM, Jonas JB, Cicinelli MV, Tapply I, Fernandes AG, Arrigo A, et al.. Prevalence of Vision Loss in High-Income Countries and in Eastern and Central Europe in 2020: Magnitude and Temporal Trends. Ophthalmic Epidemiology. 2026;33(1):54-67.
BibTex	@article{ author = {Bron AM and Jonas JB and Cicinelli MV and Tapply I and Fernandes AG and Arrigo A and Leveziel N and Briant PS and Vos T and Resnikoff S and Taylor HR and Sedighi T and Flaxman S and Addo IY and Adekiya TA and Agodi A and Agyemangduah W and Ahinkorah BO and Ahmad D and Ahmed A and Alahdab F and Alfaar AS and Almidani L and Androudi S and Anyasodor AE and Azzam AY and Barchitta M and Bhaskar S and Braithwaite T and Butt ZA and Santos FLCD and Carneiro VLA and Martins NC and Dadras O and Das S and Dascalu AM and Dervenis N and Emamverdi M and Fagbamigbe AF and Fischer F and Galluzzo L and Gupta VB and Gupta VK and Hussain S and Ilic IM and Islam SMS and Jacob L and Jakovljevic M and Jeong W and Jozwiak JJ and Kandel H and Karaye IM and Kayode GA and Khodadoust E and Kim J and Kisa A and Kisa S and Koyanagi A and Kurmi OP and Leasher JL and Lee M and Lee SW and Lee WC and Liu X and Loureiro JA and Manafi N and Maugeri A and Mcalinden C and Miller TR and Moni MA and Mulita A and Murray CJL and Natto ZS and Nguyen DH and Nguyen HQ and Oancea B and Odogwu NM and Olagunju AT and Ordak M and Osuagwu UL and Otstavnov N and Papageorgiou E and Pardhan S and Parikh RR and Patel J and Pawar S and Pesudovs K and Petcu IR and Podder V and Qattea I and Qureshi MF and Rawaf S and Sakshaug JW and Samadzadeh S and Sawhney M and Seylani A and Shorofi SA and Singh JA and Sousa RARC and Tabatabaei SM and Topouzis F and Ubah CS and Verras GI and Wang Y and Xiao H and Yang L and Yonemoto N and You Y and Zastrozhin MS and Zielinska M and Steinmetz JD and Bourne R and Bron A and Fernandes A and Taylor H and Bikbov M and Casson R and Cheng CY and Ehrlich JR and Furtado JM and Elizabeth Hartnett M and Kahloun R and Kempen J and Khairallah M and Khanna RC and Van Lansingh C and Naidoo KS and Nangia V and Nowak M and Ramulu P and Tahhan N and Tsilimbaris M and Bourne RRA}, title = {Prevalence of Vision Loss in High-Income Countries and in Eastern and Central Europe in 2020: Magnitude and Temporal Trends}, journal = {Ophthalmic Epidemiology}, volume = {33}, number = {1}, pages = {54-67}, year = {2026} }
RIS	TY - JOUR AU - Bron AM AU - Jonas JB AU - Cicinelli MV AU - Tapply I AU - Fernandes AG AU - Arrigo A AU - Leveziel N AU - Briant PS AU - Vos T AU - Resnikoff S AU - Taylor HR AU - Sedighi T AU - Flaxman S AU - Addo IY AU - Adekiya TA AU - Agodi A AU - Agyemangduah W AU - Ahinkorah BO AU - Ahmad D AU - Ahmed A AU - Alahdab F AU - Alfaar AS AU - Almidani L AU - Androudi S AU - Anyasodor AE AU - Azzam AY AU - Barchitta M AU - Bhaskar S AU - Braithwaite T AU - Butt ZA AU - Santos FLCD AU - Carneiro VLA AU - Martins NC AU - Dadras O AU - Das S AU - Dascalu AM AU - Dervenis N AU - Emamverdi M AU - Fagbamigbe AF AU - Fischer F AU - Galluzzo L AU - Gupta VB AU - Gupta VK AU - Hussain S AU - Ilic IM AU - Islam SMS AU - Jacob L AU - Jakovljevic M AU - Jeong W AU - Jozwiak JJ AU - Kandel H AU - Karaye IM AU - Kayode GA AU - Khodadoust E AU - Kim J AU - Kisa A AU - Kisa S AU - Koyanagi A AU - Kurmi OP AU - Leasher JL AU - Lee M AU - Lee SW AU - Lee WC AU - Liu X AU - Loureiro JA AU - Manafi N AU - Maugeri A AU - Mcalinden C AU - Miller TR AU - Moni MA AU - Mulita A AU - Murray CJL AU - Natto ZS AU - Nguyen DH AU - Nguyen HQ AU - Oancea B AU - Odogwu NM AU - Olagunju AT AU - Ordak M AU - Osuagwu UL AU - Otstavnov N AU - Papageorgiou E AU - Pardhan S AU - Parikh RR AU - Patel J AU - Pawar S AU - Pesudovs K AU - Petcu IR AU - Podder V AU - Qattea I AU - Qureshi MF AU - Rawaf S AU - Sakshaug JW AU - Samadzadeh S AU - Sawhney M AU - Seylani A AU - Shorofi SA AU - Singh JA AU - Sousa RARC AU - Tabatabaei SM AU - Topouzis F AU - Ubah CS AU - Verras GI AU - Wang Y AU - Xiao H AU - Yang L AU - Yonemoto N AU - You Y AU - Zastrozhin MS AU - Zielinska M AU - Steinmetz JD AU - Bourne R AU - Bron A AU - Fernandes A AU - Taylor H AU - Bikbov M AU - Casson R AU - Cheng CY AU - Ehrlich JR AU - Furtado JM AU - Elizabeth Hartnett M AU - Kahloun R AU - Kempen J AU - Khairallah M AU - Khanna RC AU - Van Lansingh C AU - Naidoo KS AU - Nangia V AU - Nowak M AU - Ramulu P AU - Tahhan N AU - Tsilimbaris M AU - Bourne RRA TI - Prevalence of Vision Loss in High-Income Countries and in Eastern and Central Europe in 2020: Magnitude and Temporal Trends JO - Ophthalmic Epidemiology VL - 33 IS - 1 SP - 54 EP - 67 PY - 2026 ER -

Style

Citing Format

MLA

Bron AM, et al.. "Prevalence of Vision Loss in High-Income Countries and in Eastern and Central Europe in 2020: Magnitude and Temporal Trends." Ophthalmic Epidemiology, vol. 33, no. 1, 2026, pp. 54-67.

APA

Bron AM, Jonas JB, Cicinelli MV, Tapply I, Fernandes AG, Arrigo A, Leveziel N, Briant PS, Vos T, Resnikoff S, Taylor HR, Sedighi T, Flaxman S, Addo IY, Adekiya TA, Agodi A, Agyemangduah W, Ahinkorah BO, Ahmad D, ... Bourne RRA (2026). Prevalence of Vision Loss in High-Income Countries and in Eastern and Central Europe in 2020: Magnitude and Temporal Trends. Ophthalmic Epidemiology, 33(1), 54-67.

Chicago

Bron AM, Jonas JB, Cicinelli MV, Tapply I, Fernandes AG, Arrigo A, Leveziel N, et al.. "Prevalence of Vision Loss in High-Income Countries and in Eastern and Central Europe in 2020: Magnitude and Temporal Trends." Ophthalmic Epidemiology 33, no. 1 (2026): 54-67.

Harvard

Bron AM et al. (2026) 'Prevalence of Vision Loss in High-Income Countries and in Eastern and Central Europe in 2020: Magnitude and Temporal Trends', Ophthalmic Epidemiology, 33(1), pp. 54-67.

Vancouver

Bron AM, Jonas JB, Cicinelli MV, Tapply I, Fernandes AG, Arrigo A, et al.. Prevalence of Vision Loss in High-Income Countries and in Eastern and Central Europe in 2020: Magnitude and Temporal Trends. Ophthalmic Epidemiology. 2026;33(1):54-67.

BibTex

@article{ author = {Bron AM and Jonas JB and Cicinelli MV and Tapply I and Fernandes AG and Arrigo A and Leveziel N and Briant PS and Vos T and Resnikoff S and Taylor HR and Sedighi T and Flaxman S and Addo IY and Adekiya TA and Agodi A and Agyemangduah W and Ahinkorah BO and Ahmad D and Ahmed A and Alahdab F and Alfaar AS and Almidani L and Androudi S and Anyasodor AE and Azzam AY and Barchitta M and Bhaskar S and Braithwaite T and Butt ZA and Santos FLCD and Carneiro VLA and Martins NC and Dadras O and Das S and Dascalu AM and Dervenis N and Emamverdi M and Fagbamigbe AF and Fischer F and Galluzzo L and Gupta VB and Gupta VK and Hussain S and Ilic IM and Islam SMS and Jacob L and Jakovljevic M and Jeong W and Jozwiak JJ and Kandel H and Karaye IM and Kayode GA and Khodadoust E and Kim J and Kisa A and Kisa S and Koyanagi A and Kurmi OP and Leasher JL and Lee M and Lee SW and Lee WC and Liu X and Loureiro JA and Manafi N and Maugeri A and Mcalinden C and Miller TR and Moni MA and Mulita A and Murray CJL and Natto ZS and Nguyen DH and Nguyen HQ and Oancea B and Odogwu NM and Olagunju AT and Ordak M and Osuagwu UL and Otstavnov N and Papageorgiou E and Pardhan S and Parikh RR and Patel J and Pawar S and Pesudovs K and Petcu IR and Podder V and Qattea I and Qureshi MF and Rawaf S and Sakshaug JW and Samadzadeh S and Sawhney M and Seylani A and Shorofi SA and Singh JA and Sousa RARC and Tabatabaei SM and Topouzis F and Ubah CS and Verras GI and Wang Y and Xiao H and Yang L and Yonemoto N and You Y and Zastrozhin MS and Zielinska M and Steinmetz JD and Bourne R and Bron A and Fernandes A and Taylor H and Bikbov M and Casson R and Cheng CY and Ehrlich JR and Furtado JM and Elizabeth Hartnett M and Kahloun R and Kempen J and Khairallah M and Khanna RC and Van Lansingh C and Naidoo KS and Nangia V and Nowak M and Ramulu P and Tahhan N and Tsilimbaris M and Bourne RRA}, title = {Prevalence of Vision Loss in High-Income Countries and in Eastern and Central Europe in 2020: Magnitude and Temporal Trends}, journal = {Ophthalmic Epidemiology}, volume = {33}, number = {1}, pages = {54-67}, year = {2026} }

RIS

TY - JOUR
AU - Bron AM
AU - Jonas JB
AU - Cicinelli MV
AU - Tapply I
AU - Fernandes AG
AU - Arrigo A
AU - Leveziel N
AU - Briant PS
AU - Vos T
AU - Resnikoff S
AU - Taylor HR
AU - Sedighi T
AU - Flaxman S
AU - Addo IY
AU - Adekiya TA
AU - Agodi A
AU - Agyemangduah W
AU - Ahinkorah BO
AU - Ahmad D
AU - Ahmed A
AU - Alahdab F
AU - Alfaar AS
AU - Almidani L
AU - Androudi S
AU - Anyasodor AE
AU - Azzam AY
AU - Barchitta M
AU - Bhaskar S
AU - Braithwaite T
AU - Butt ZA
AU - Santos FLCD
AU - Carneiro VLA
AU - Martins NC
AU - Dadras O
AU - Das S
AU - Dascalu AM
AU - Dervenis N
AU - Emamverdi M
AU - Fagbamigbe AF
AU - Fischer F
AU - Galluzzo L
AU - Gupta VB
AU - Gupta VK
AU - Hussain S
AU - Ilic IM
AU - Islam SMS
AU - Jacob L
AU - Jakovljevic M
AU - Jeong W
AU - Jozwiak JJ
AU - Kandel H
AU - Karaye IM
AU - Kayode GA
AU - Khodadoust E
AU - Kim J
AU - Kisa A
AU - Kisa S
AU - Koyanagi A
AU - Kurmi OP
AU - Leasher JL
AU - Lee M
AU - Lee SW
AU - Lee WC
AU - Liu X
AU - Loureiro JA
AU - Manafi N
AU - Maugeri A
AU - Mcalinden C
AU - Miller TR
AU - Moni MA
AU - Mulita A
AU - Murray CJL
AU - Natto ZS
AU - Nguyen DH
AU - Nguyen HQ
AU - Oancea B
AU - Odogwu NM
AU - Olagunju AT
AU - Ordak M
AU - Osuagwu UL
AU - Otstavnov N
AU - Papageorgiou E
AU - Pardhan S
AU - Parikh RR
AU - Patel J
AU - Pawar S
AU - Pesudovs K
AU - Petcu IR
AU - Podder V
AU - Qattea I
AU - Qureshi MF
AU - Rawaf S
AU - Sakshaug JW
AU - Samadzadeh S
AU - Sawhney M
AU - Seylani A
AU - Shorofi SA
AU - Singh JA
AU - Sousa RARC
AU - Tabatabaei SM
AU - Topouzis F
AU - Ubah CS
AU - Verras GI
AU - Wang Y
AU - Xiao H
AU - Yang L
AU - Yonemoto N
AU - You Y
AU - Zastrozhin MS
AU - Zielinska M
AU - Steinmetz JD
AU - Bourne R
AU - Bron A
AU - Fernandes A
AU - Taylor H
AU - Bikbov M
AU - Casson R
AU - Cheng CY
AU - Ehrlich JR
AU - Furtado JM
AU - Elizabeth Hartnett M
AU - Kahloun R
AU - Kempen J
AU - Khairallah M
AU - Khanna RC
AU - Van Lansingh C
AU - Naidoo KS
AU - Nangia V
AU - Nowak M
AU - Ramulu P
AU - Tahhan N
AU - Tsilimbaris M
AU - Bourne RRA
TI - Prevalence of Vision Loss in High-Income Countries and in Eastern and Central Europe in 2020: Magnitude and Temporal Trends
JO - Ophthalmic Epidemiology
VL - 33
IS - 1
SP - 54
EP - 67
PY - 2026
ER -

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