Contact2World.com

Most cases of uncorrected presbyopia and resulting disability occur in developing countries, according to researchers at the International Centre for Eyecare Education, Australia.

They estimated that 1.04 billion people worldwide had presbyopia in 2005. Of these, 517 million had either no spectacles or inadequate spectacles.

Approximately 410 million of these people were unable to perform required near tasks; 94% of these cases occurred in developing countries.

"Alleviation of this problem requires a substantial increase in the number of personnel trained to deliver appropriate eye care together with the establishment of sustainable, affordable spectacle delivery systems in developing countries," the researchers said.

Furthermore, because conditions such as glaucoma and diabetic eye disease are more prevalent in people with presbyopia, primary eye care should include not only refraction services but also services for detection of these sight-threatening conditions.