We are in the midst of a longevity revolution. And we could easily live another 30 or 40 years after retiring from full-time employment. Do you have a plan for smart ageing? Have you considered what quality of life means to you? Just like cognition, mobility, and hearing, vision is a critical ability factor as we move through life. As we age, it’s important to reassess these ability factors regularly.

‘Vision loss’ is used as an umbrella term to describe a wide range of situations where a person has impaired sight or blindness. In fact, descriptions such as vision loss or vision-impaired are often inadequate, and terms continue to be modified. If you are diagnosed with vision loss, it is important to define precisely what type of loss it is, how it will affect your daily life, what treatments are available, and what the future prognosis might be.

The Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) engaged Deloitte Access Economics in 2020 to provide a contemporary estimate of the annual social and economic cost of vision loss and blindness in Canada. In support of this report, the CCB partnered with Fighting Blindness Canada and key partners, the Canadian Association of Optometrists and the Canadian Ophthalmological Society. According to the report, about 1.2 million Canadians have been diagnosed with vision loss, and about 4% of those are blind. Due to aging and other factors, that number will double over the next 25 years. And currently, 8 million Canadians (or 1 in 5) live with an eye condition that puts them at risk of losing their sight. [1]

Vision loss is preventable. However, a 2023 survey by Specsavers and the Canadian Council of the Blind found that 50% of Canadians were unaware that 75% of vision loss is preventable and treatable. Surprisingly, 51% of Canadians were unsure about how to get an eye examination. The current provincial standards across the country recommend that people without pre-existing conditions undergo an eye exam every 2 years at a minimum, and annually for those under 18 years of age or over 65 years of age. [2]

Among those diagnosed with vision loss, what are the leading causes?

1. Cataracts – An estimated 3.7 million Canadians are affected by this condition, where the lens in the eyes becomes opaque with aging. The lens can be surgically replaced.
2. Age-related Macular Degeneration – About 2.5 million Canadians are affected. There are two types of AMD, wet and dry, where there is destruction of the central vision field, which is critical to skills such as driving, facial recognition, reading, and more.
3. Diabetic Retinopathy – An estimated 1 million people have this condition with an elevated glucose level in the eyes, causing the retina to swell and leak.
4. Glaucoma – About 728,000 people have this condition with high pressure within the eye, causing a loss of peripheral vision.

Primary caregivers or those assisting elderly parents or friends should consider the importance of vision as a key ability factor in enabling a person to enjoy a good quality of life. The importance of prevention cannot be overstated, and regular eye check-ups at least every 2 years should be the standard of care. Other contributing factors, such as smoking, family history, eye injury, diabetes, and other illnesses, may require you to be extra vigilant.

Once vision loss occurs, it can significantly impact an individual’s mobility, social interactions, independence, and substantially affect their quality of life. Invariably, family members bear the burden of support. For example, wet age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy can mean monthly ophthalmology appointments. The individual will require transportation to and from the appointment, which often will take up a morning or afternoon. The resulting impacts on the primary caregiver can be burdensome, including loss of time at work, reduced productivity, financial consequences, stress, and fatigue.

The direct and indirect costs of vision loss are extensive and outlined in the Cost of Vision Loss Report referred to previously. Notably, ‘based on trends in population growth and aging, the cost of vision loss in Canada will grow from $32.9 billion in 2019 to $56 billion (in 2019 dollars) in 2050.’[3]

Supports to Assist Those with Eye Disease

Canadians can find education, information, and research support from the following organizations.

• Fighting Blindness Canada
• Canadian National Institute for the Blind
• Canadian Council of the Blind
• Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada

With the advent of personal technologies such as Smartphones and iPads, there are more opportunities for people to connect with family and friends, thereby decreasing social isolation. Google Smart Homes can assist vision ability with voice commands to regulate temperature, turn appliances on, dial a contact, etc. Rehabilitation professionals can also help with access to various assistive devices, such as reading magnification machines and Braille readers.

While there is some progress being made in making our public spaces more accessible, there is still a perception that physical disabilities are prioritized over visual or other disabilities, with research showing that Canada continues to lag behind other countries in accessibility.

As our population continues to age, the incidence of vision loss will continue to climb with serious and costly impacts on individuals, caregivers, and our communities. As part of our own smart ageing plans, we each need to consider vision health as a critical ability factor to maintain our quality of life. Regular eye examinations and modifying risks should be part of your plan. An ounce of prevention now may well save your vision in the future.

[1] https://www.fightingblindness.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/KG-EN-ACC-Cost-of-Vision-loss-and-Blindness-in-Canada-Final.pdf

[2] https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/75-of-vision-loss-is-preventable-and-treatable-but-half-of-canadians-don-t-know-it-811299710.html

[3] Ibid., p.13