Self-reported vision status and associated risk factors in Europe: prevalence and temporal change

Ziel

The European Coalition for Vision (ECV) exists to raise the profile of eye health and vision, help prevent avoidable visual
impairment and secure an equal and inclusive society for those with irreversible blindness or low vision in Europe. Members
of the group have assessed the evidence base for prevalence of vision impairment and blindness in Europe [ref: Bourne,
Jonas et al. Br J Ophthalmol 2014 May;98(5):629-38] by collating prevalence data from all population-based surveys of eye
disease. While these efforts have established estimates of numbers of people affected by vision loss, we are unaware of the
self-reported visual problems of European Union citizens. This Research Fellowship (supported by ECV) will involve analysis
of Eurostat data which provides an opportunity for us to investigate the prevalence of self-reported visual difficulties and also
to relate this to potential risk factors that are also collected by the Eurostat program. The primary objective is to estimate the
prevalence of self-reported distance and near vision impairment in Europe, and change over past 10 years. Secondary
objectives include estimation of prevalence of refractive correction in Europe, demographic, environmental and healthrelated
risk factors for self-reported vision loss and to investigate the association between self-reported vision loss and selfreported
hearing loss. Additionally, access to health services for those with these impairments will be investigated. This is
relevant given the importance of social inclusion in European policies of health goals and universal health coverage. The
Fellow will be supported by Professor Rupert Bourne, who coordinates the Vision Loss Expert Group of the Global Burden
Disease Study, in Cambridge, UK, and a team of researchers that include bioinformatics, public health and statistics
expertise at Anglia Ruskin University with collaborations with Queens University Belfast and University of Ulster.