Mexico faces visual disability crisis due to inequality

During the “Salud Visual en México” forum, senators and medical specialists warned that social inequality and lack of economic resources are major drivers of visual disability in Mexico. Data indicates that one in three people in the country cannot afford eye surgery.

According to the latest census from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, approximately 2.69 million people in Mexico suffer from visual disabilities. The Ministry of Health reports that 760,000 people have cataracts, with 47,000 new cases recorded annually.

Experts highlighted significant regional disparities in healthcare access. For instance, Baja California has one ophthalmologist per 72 inhabitants, whereas Oaxaca has only one per 530. Specialists called for increased investment in medical personnel, infrastructure, and supplies, emphasizing that prevention is critical to avoiding permanent blindness caused by treatable conditions.