The Economic Impact of Blindness in Europe

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To estimate the annual loss of productivity from blindness and moderate to severe visual impairment (MSVI) in the population aged >50 years in the European Union (EU).

Methods: We estimated the cost of lost productivity using three simple models reported in the literature based on (1) minimum wage (MW), (2) gross national income (GNI), and (3) purchasing power parity-adjusted gross domestic product (GDP-PPP) losses. In the first two models, assumptions included that all individuals worked until 65 years of age, and that half of all visual impairment cases in the >50-year age group would be in those aged between 50 and 65 years. Loss of productivity was estimated to be 100% for blind individuals and 30% for those with MSVI. None of these models included direct medical costs related to visual impairment.

Results: The estimated number of blind people in the EU population aged >50 years is ~1.28 million, with a further 9.99 million living with MSVI. Based on the three models, the estimated cost of blindness is €7.81 billion, €6.29 billion and €17.29 billion and that of MSVI €18.02 billion, €24.80 billion and €39.23 billion, with their combined costs €25.83 billion, €31.09 billion and €56.52 billion, respectively. The estimates from the MW and adjusted GDP-PPP models were generally comparable, whereas the GNI model estimates were higher, probably reflecting the lack of adjustment for unemployment.

Conclusion: The cost of blindness and MSVI in the EU is substantial. Wider use of available cost-effective treatment and prevention strategies may reduce the burden significantly.

KEYWORDS:

• Blindness
• direct costs
• productivity loss
• visual impairment

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the writing and content of this article.

Funding

This study was commissioned by Novartis Pharma. Novartis provided the funding to Deloitte to carry out country specific burden of illness assessments. The findings from the study were shared in full with the authors (UC, RB, CF, JAL). EB and ROS declare that they are employees of Deloitte. The authors UC, RB, CF and JAL declare no relevant conflicts of interest. Novartis employees were not involved in the construction of the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This study was commissioned by Novartis Pharma. Novartis provided the funding to Deloitte to carry out country specific burden of illness assessments. The findings from the study were shared in full with the authors (UC, RB, CF, JAL). EB and ROS declare that they are employees of Deloitte. The authors UC, RB, CF and JAL declare no relevant conflicts of interest. Novartis employees were not involved in the construction of the manuscript.