Unlocking human potential with universal eye health

Eye health is not a topic one sees often in global journals or indeed general medical more broadly. A brief literature search of the last 10 years, using terms for major causes vision loss globally (refractive error, cataract, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration), reveals that nine top destination such research were specialist ophthalmology titles. Yet when we published Rupert Bourne colleagues' “Causes worldwide, 1990–2010” our first year circulation, it quickly became (and remains) most cited. Perhaps this because pervasive issue you look at numbers. In their updated Global Burden Disease paper February issue, his colleagues Vision Loss Expert Group estimated 1·1 billion people blind impaired 2020. also an inequity: women than men are affected globally, burden falls heavily low-income middle-income countries, particularly those Asia. Although WHO has devoted admirable amount attention to eye over including initiative “VISION 2020: The Right Sight”, 2013 World Health Assembly resolution its action plan “Universal Health: Action Plan 2014–2019”, year's “World Report on Vision”, remains rather siloed discipline research, care, policy. Enter Lancet Commission culmination 2 years intensive work from 73 multidisciplinary academics, practitioners, policy makers, advocates 25 countries. Launched month across series webinars, makes strong case reframing as development well builds Report's recommendation include within universal coverage. When widen perspective health, easy see links many Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). compellingly lays out evidence how impairment impedes good educational outcomes (SDG4); decreases productivity (SDG8) thus contributes poverty (SDG1) food insecurity (SDG2); increases gender inequality (SDG5). This addition effects wellbeing (SDG3), which associations with depressive illness, dementia, falls, even mortality. systematic review meta-analysis conducted part Commission's stand-alone Article found hazard all-cause mortality higher magnitude effect severity (being 89% worst visual acuity). More importantly, shows interventions prevent address 90% avoidable—eg, provision glasses low-cost surgery cataract trichiasis—can improve these SDG-related outcomes. culminates assertion will be possible reach SDGs by 2030 unless high-quality care included integral component second half setting framework countries might do that, both system level non-health sectors education, workplace, communities; incorporates workforce needs sustainable financing. For long document, remarkably accessible, encourage read listen it. emphasising accessibility, we—for time—include audio version Executive Summary screen-reader-friendly alt text descriptions 23 figures. was humbling experience us: championing open access language accessibility (we all authors submit translated summaries papers), had until now missed obvious opportunity make content accessible disabilities loss. yet have concrete workflow place happen every paper, something aim coming year. No should denied full potential simply lack pair glasses, unavailability straightforward surgical rehabilitative services, screening opportunity. Decade SDGs, wholeheartedly support call invest sake future generations' development.