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To develop and implement mechanisms to collect, report, and assess the World Health Organization (WHO) core eye health indicators in Chile, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay.Simple templates for a situational analysis (of data collection and reporting processes), a national data collection strategy, and a national work plan to implement the core eye health indicators were developed. Public and private sector representatives from the ministries of health (MOHs), national vision committees, and national societies of ophthalmology of each country used these tools with 2013 baseline data to improve their data collection processes and collected 2015 data. Final analysis and cross-validation were performed using intraocular lens sales data and last observation carried forward imputation.Study tools were effectively implemented in all five countries and resulted in improved intersectoral stakeholder collaboration and communications, which improved the data collection and reporting processes. More complete and accurate data were reported by 2015 compared to the 2013 baseline.Multisectoral stakeholders, including national professional societies and national vision committees, should collaborate with MOHs to improve the quality of data that are reported to WHO. This study involved these stakeholders in the data collection processes to better understand the realities of indicator implementation, better manage their expectations, and improve data quality. WHO Member States across the globe can feasibly adapt the study tools and methodologies to strengthen their data collection processes. Overall, the reliability and validity of the indicators is hampered with limitations that prevent fully accurate data from being collected.

To estimate the annual loss of productivity from blindness and moderate to severe visual impairment (MSVI) using simple models (analogous to how a rapid assessment model relates to a comprehensive model) based on minimum wage (MW) and gross national income (GNI) per capita (US$, 2011).Cost of blindness (COB) was calculated for the age group ≥50 years in nine sample countries by assuming the loss of current MW and loss of GNI per capita. It was assumed that all individuals work until 65 years old and that half of visual impairment prevalent in the ≥50 years age group is prevalent in the 50-64 years age group. For cost of MSVI (COMSVI), individual wage and GNI loss of 30% was assumed. Results were compared with the values of the uncorrected refractive error (URE) model of productivity loss.COB (MW method) ranged from $0.1 billion in Honduras to $2.5 billion in the United States, and COMSVI ranged from $0.1 billion in Honduras to $5.3 billion in the US. COB (GNI method) ranged from $0.1 million in Honduras to $7.8 billion in the US, and COMSVI ranged from $0.1 billion in Honduras to $16.5 billion in the US. Most GNI method values were near equivalent to those of the URE model.Although most people with blindness and MSVI live in developing countries, the highest productivity losses are in high income countries. The global economy could improve if eye care were made more accessible and more affordable to all.