More than half a billion people don't have the proper eyeglasses they require

April 30, 2010

While refractive errors and other eye health conditions affect millions of individuals around the world, many patients are not receiving the eye care they need in order to treat these problems.

More than 1 billion individuals suffer from presbyopia, a condition in which the lens of the eye becomes stiff and weakens the muscle that focuses the lens. However, it is estimated that of these patients, 517 million lacked the proper prescription eyeglasses needed to treat the condition, according to the Calgary Herald.

Scientists believe that if more people aren't given the proper treatment they need, the problem will continue to grow at a rapid pace across the globe.

"Without intervention to make spectacles more accessible, the global number of individuals who will have a disability associated with uncorrected presbyopia is predicted to grow to 563 million people by 2020," researcher Brien Holden told the news provider.

He added the number of presbyopia cases would grow to 1.8 billion by 2050.

There are organizations such as New Eyes for the Needy and the Lions Club that work to collect prescription eyeglasses for less fortunate individuals and help them receive the proper treatment for their eye health issues.