Loss of wellbeing
The estimated cost of lost wellbeing from vision loss for people aged over 40 was estimated at $2.4 billion in 2009.
Costs of disability, loss of wellbeing and premature death from vision loss are more difficult to measure than direct financial costs. Clear Focus used Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), an internationally-accepted approach to measuring loss of wellbeing and premature mortality. The burden of disease as measured in DALYs was converted into a dollar figure using an estimate of the value of a statistical life year. This means that loss of wellbeing can be quanitifed in financial terms.
Vision loss prevents healthy and independent ageing and is associated with:
- Risk of falls increased two times,
- Risk of depression increased three times,
- Risk of hip fractures increased four to eight times,
- Admission to rest homes three years early, and
- Twice as likely to use health services.
Employment and life satisfaction studies of New Zealanders with vision loss have found that those with vision loss are financially disadvantaged, in worse physical and mental health, and have less social support than individuals with no vision problems[iv].
Vision loss is also associated with a higher than average risk of mortality because it is correlated with a higher risk of falls, motor vehicle accidents and depression[v].There were an estimated 115 deaths attributable to vision loss in 2009 in New Zealand.
56% of working age RNZFB members are unemployed and many are under-employed [vi].
Loss of wellbeing for those with vision loss was valued at an average $19,000 per person with vision loss over 40.
[iv] La Grow S, Alpass F, Stephen C (2009) 'Economic Standing, Health Status and Social Isolation among Visually Impaired Persons aged 55 to 70 in New Zealand', J Optom, 2: 155-158.
[v] Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) and Access Economics (2004), 'Clear Insight: the economic impact and cost of vision loss in Australia', http://www.cera.org.au/uploads/CERA_clearinsight.pdf, accessed 20 April 2010.
[vi] Wilkinson-Meyers, L; McNeill, R; Inglis, C and Bryan, T (2008) Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind 2007 Employment Survey. Centre for Health Services Research and Policy, The University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences.
This page is part of the overview report Clear Focus: The economic impact of vision loss in New Zealand in 2009.
