felt by nationwide vulnerable groups including indigenous, youth, and elderly persons.
We seek to transform the lives of our fellow Canadians by preventing avoidable blindness and restoring sight.
Preventing avoidable blindness and restoring sight has immediate impact on health care costs, mental health issues and injury. Positive impact on job opportunities, education and economic independence.
We envision an organization that brings together donors, practitioners, educators, and innovators to provide quality, comprehensive eye care to all in Canada.
Nearly 1 in 6 Canadians are living with one of the four major eye diseases
Vision loss can be treated or even prevented in 75 per cent of cases. Recently, the Conference Board of Canada reveals that treating vision loss is projected to save $1.6 billion in direct health care costs in 2020, a number that’s expected to reach $4 billion by 2040.
“The odds of getting a serious eye disease are higher than you think. Through early detection, treating vision loss provides life-changing impacts on patients and their families, including regained independence and quality of life,”says Dr. Colin Mann, President of the Canadian
75% of vision loss is treatable or preventable.
By treating vision loss, approximately 82,500 negative medical outcomes will be avoided, including injuries or other associated health care needs such as falls, hip fractures, depression, anxiety, admission into long-term care, and use of home care or caregiver services.
Ophthalmological Society. “Of all the disease categories in Canada, vision loss has the highest direct health care cost. The report shows that the economic benefits of averting vision loss far outweigh the cost of delivering ophthalmic interventions and help to safeguard the future of eye care in Canada.”
Source: “Ophthalmology in Canada: Why Vision Loss Should Not Be Overlooked” Conference Board of Canada, 2020
Over 75% of vision impairment and blindness are avoidable or treatable, but early detection and treatment are critical. By enabling access to primary eye care, we can reduce the number of people in Canada who have vision impairment. When people have their sight, there are more opportunities to work, learn and break the cycle of poverty.
Indigenous peoples, particularly those living in rural and remote areas, experience a number of barriers to accessing eye care. These access issues are the result of many factors, including inadequate transportation, financial constraints, and a lack of on-reserve care. Research commissioned by the CNIB found one-third of Indigenous people have not had an eye examination within the last two years. The lack of equitable access to eye health and vision care for Indigenous people should be a public health imperative.
Children
Research shows that Indigenous children experience high levels of astigmatism along with high levels of uncorrected refractive error and poor compliance with wearing glasses.
Providing timely access to quality, in-person optometric care for all Indigenous people in southern Alberta, particularly those living in rural and remote areas.
Indigenous Population
Over the last two decades, the percentage of Canada’s Indigenous population living with diabetes increased to 20%, putting them at increased risk of diabetic retinopathy leading to vision loss. Indigenous Canadians with permanent and severe vision loss lack access to rehabilitation services in their communities.
There is a growing public health crisis in the delivery of vision care services to Indigenous communities.
Barriers to care must be reduced, and new models of in-community services developed with engagement of Indigenous people.
We intend to change those statistics
Establishing community-based and culturally appropriate prevention strategies that include a diabetic retinopathy program.
Working with community leaders and hiring local community health workers to work within the community and build trust from within.
Here are the facts
19 billion a year+
Vision impairment costs Canadians in productivity.
75%
Vision impairment and blindness is avoidable or treatable.
1.1 billion+
Globally, live with vision loss.
A nation full of resources
By 2032, vision loss is expected to cost Canadians $30.3 billion in lost productivity.
The World Health Organization estimates that global demand for eye care will triple by 2050 because of population growth, aging, and lifestyle changes. This poses a considerable challenge to health systems.
We need your help. Action
An analysis from McKinsey & Company suggests that addressing this issue will take an investment of $14 billion over the next three years. In Canada, An estimated 5.5 million Canadians suffer from vision impairment and that number is expected to increase by nearly 30% in the next decade. Vision loss has the highest direct health care cost of any other disease. By 2032, vision loss is expected to cost Canadians $30.3 billion in lost productivity.
