In 2004 RNIB published research that put the total cost of sight loss at £4.9 billion in 2001-2002. This was a first attempt to demonstrate the direct costs of services provided by Government but also indirect costs, such as independent living support provided by family and friends of blind and partially sighted people.
Recognising the importance of a strong and up-to-date evidence-base to support the implementation of the UK Vision Strategy in 2008, RNIB commissioned new research into the costs of eye disease and sight loss. In addition, RNIB has produced a campaign report that explains the key findings in an easily accessible way and includes calls to action based on these findings.
The key messages are:
1. There are currently 1.8 million people in the UK who have varying degrees of sight loss including approximately 390,000 who are blind or partially sighted. This number is likely to increase sharply to almost 4 million by 2050.
2. Sight loss is expensive: in 2008 the costs associated with the treatment of eye disease, partial sight and blindness amounted to a total of £22 billion. this figure includes £2 billion in direct costs (primarily hospital treatment, optometry services, residential care and community care services), £4 billion in indirect costs (primarily lower employment and informal care) and £15 billion of what is called burden of disease which measures the impact of sight loss on quality of life.
3. Spending more on early detection and treatment is likely to reduce the costs of sight loss especially in glaucoma.
4. Improving access to eye care services for minority ethnic groups is the most cost-effective way of promoting eye health.
What can be done?
Due to the predicted increase in the number of people with sight loss costs are likely to increase further unless:
1. Funding of eye services is increased and commissioning is improved so that
2. The Department of Health and Governments in the devolved nations take their responsibility for the nation's eye health seriously and fund campaigns that effectively convey key eye health messages to the public.
Campaign report
Download the Cost Oversight? campaign report.