Vision impairment occurs when an eye condition affects the visual system and its functions. It affects people of all ages, although most people living with vision impairment are over 50 years of age. The main causes of vision impairment are uncorrected refractive error, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. In the African Region, trachoma, onchocerciasis, corneal opacity and childhood eye conditions also remain important causes of vision loss.

A 2026 systematic review of 91 population-based studies in Africa estimated that, after age-standardization to adults aged 50 years and over, approximately 9.5% of people had vision impairment and 1.9% were blind. Cataract was the leading cause of blindness, followed by uncorrected refractive error. The likelihood of vision impairment rose over time, while the prevalence of blindness remained stable (1).

Impact

Poor vision affects children’s learning, adults’ employment and income, and older people’s independence and safety. It is also linked to higher rates of depression and anxiety as well as falls and social isolation. In 2018, vision impairment was estimated to cost sub-Saharan Africa around US$ 9.7 billion annually in lost GDP productivity (2).

Achievements in the Region

Member States in the African Region have made significant progress against infectious causes of blindness. Vitamin A supplementation has sharply reduced childhood blindness from xerophthalmia. Ten Member States in the Region have been validated by WHO as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, most recently Algeria in April 2026 (3). Decades of community-directed treatment with ivermectin have greatly reduced blindness from onchocerciasis, and in 2025, Niger became the first country in Africa to be verified as having interrupted its transmission (4).

At the same time, population ageing, the rise of diabetes and other noncommunicable diseases, changing lifestyles and environmental factors are increasing demand for eye care across the Region.

Prevention and treatment

Many causes of vision loss can be prevented. Infections, eye injuries and harm from unsafe traditional eye medicines or the inappropriate use of eye drops can be avoided or treated early. For conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, early detection through regular eye examinations and timely treatment prevent irreversible vision loss. Protective eyewear can also help prevent many work-related injuries in industry, construction and agriculture.

Effective treatments exist for most eye conditions. Refractive error can be corrected with spectacles, contact lenses or refractive surgery. Cataract can be removed through a short, safe surgical procedure. Other conditions can be managed with eye drops, medicines, laser treatment or surgery. For people whose vision loss cannot be reversed, rehabilitation services, including mobility and daily living skills training and assistive products such as magnifiers, can support independent living. Much of this care can be delivered through primary health care, including by trained non-specialist health workers (5).

In the African Region, many people still cannot access these services because they are unavailable, too far away or too expensive.

WHO response

The WHO Regional Office for Africa supports countries to integrate eye care into primary health care as part of universal health coverage, in line with World Health Assembly resolutions WHA73.4 (2020) (6) and WHA78.7 (2025) (7). Through the SPECS 2030 initiative, WHO is working with nine pioneer countries in the Region to improve access to affordable spectacles and refractive services.

References

1. Kyei S, Asiamah R, Amoako PT, Kwarteng MA, Holdbrook S. Epidemiology of visual impairment and blindness in Africa: a systematic review and Bayesian meta-analysis. Lancet Reg Health Afr. 2026;5:100065. doi:10.1016/j.lanafr.2026.100065.
2. Marques AP, et al. Global economic productivity losses from vision impairment and blindness. EClinicalMedicine. 2021;35:100852.
3. WHO. Algeria eliminates trachoma as a public health problem. News release, 23 April 2026. (https://www.who.int/news/item/23-04-2026-algeria-eliminates-trachoma-as-a-public-health-problem)
4. WHO. WHO verifies Niger as the first country in the African Region to eliminate onchocerciasis. News release, 30 January 2025 (https://www.who.int/news/item/30-01-2025-who-verifies-niger-as-the-first-country-in-the-african-region-to-eliminate-onchocerciasis).
5. World report on vision. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019.
6. Resolution WHA 74.5. Integrated people-centred eye care, including preventable vision impairment and blindness. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020. (https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA73/A73_R4-en.pdf)
7. Resolution WHA78.7. Primary prevention and integrated care for sensory impairments including vision impairment and hearing loss, across the life course. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2025. (https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_R7-en.pdf)