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Objectives. We assessed global inequality in eye health by using data on the global burden of disease measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Methods. We estimated the burden of eye disease by calculating the sum of DALYs (from the Global Burden of Disease study, 2004 update) due to trachoma, vitamin A deficiency, glaucoma, cataract, refractive errors, and macular degeneration. We assessed the geographic distribution of eye disease in relation to economic status and etiology by calculating the Gini coefficient, the Theil index, and the Atkinson index. Results. The global burden of eye disease was estimated at 61.4 million DALYs worldwide (4.0% of total DALYs). Vitamin A deficiency and trachoma were distributed more unevenly than were noncommunicable eye diseases, regardless of economic status. For noncommunicable eye diseases, the major contributor was refractive errors, regardless of economic status. The most uneven distribution was observed for cataract (high-income countries) and refractive errors (middle- and low-income countries). Conclusions. Creating new eye health service for refractive errors and reducing the unacceptable eye health disparity in refractive errors should be the highest priorities for international public health services in eye care and eye health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Survey questions are frequently used to collect data on the prevalence of vision difficulties. The 1971-1972 Health and Nutrition Examination Survey included both a question about ‘trouble with your vision even when wearing glasses or contact lenses,’ and clinical measurement of central distance visual acuity with usual corrective lenses. The question had low sensitivity for impairment of visual acuity, with variation by age and severity of impairment. Sensitivity analyses from other studies are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the Saint John Eye Hospital in east Jerusalem. It is stated to be a bridge for peace in a world at war. It serves as the main center for specialized eye care in the West Bank, Gaza, and east Jerusalem. The eye hospital started in 1882, and was then located in Ottoman Empire Jerusalem. It closed in 1914, during World War I, but reopened in 1919. It is said to be the only public hospital in the region specializing in ophthalmology. It is stated to place a high priority on training local doctors and nurses. Patients are predominantly Palestinians. The hospital operates a number of satellite clinics in areas where public services are not easily available. It works to eliminate the main causes of preventable blindness.

The article discusses the provisions on vision care in national health programs of the American Public Health Association in the U.S. The policies identify issues such as that vision health care problems are second most evident chronic health difficulty in the U.S. It also notes that there are only one-half of the population who receive eye or vision care from any source. It is recommended to support the preventive vision health services in any national health insurance of national health service program.