Licht für die Welt: 90% of vision loss is preventable

The humanitarian organization ‘Licht für die Welt’ has stated that 90 percent of vision loss cases worldwide could be prevented through proper medical care. Approximately 1.1 billion people currently suffer from vision impairment, with the primary causes being uncorrected refractive errors and cataracts.

To address these issues, the Austrian-based NGO has spent over 30 years working to improve ophthalmic care, particularly in disadvantaged regions of Africa. In countries such as Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, and Uganda, the organization focuses on training local medical professionals, including ophthalmologists and optometrists, and providing necessary medical equipment.

Early detection is highlighted as a critical factor, especially for children, as vision is essential for the learning process. Since 1988, the organization has distributed 100 million medications to combat neglected tropical diseases, such as trachoma and river blindness, which are major contributors to preventable blindness.