The economic impact and cost of visual impairment in Australia

Abstract

Aims: To quantify the total economic costs of vision loss in Australia. Methods: Prevalence data of visual impairment, unpublished data on indirect costs, and national healthcare cost databases were used. Results: Vision disorders cost Australia an estimated A$9.85 billion in 2004. A$4.8 billion is the loss of wellbeing (years of life lost as a result of disability and premature mortality). Vision disorders rank seventh and account for 2.7% of the national loss of wellbeing. Direct health system costs total A$1.8 billion. They have increased by A$1 billion over the last 10 years and will increase a further A$1-2 billion in the next 10 years. Cataract, the largest direct c..