Avoidable visual impairment in The Netherlands: the project "Vision 2020 Netherlands" of the World Health Organization
Limburg, H.; den Boon, J.M.; Hogeweg, M.; Gevers, R.J.T.; Keunen, J.E.E.; ten Hove, G.T.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 149(11): 577-582
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-2162 PMID: 15799640 Document Number: 584990
In the year 2004 there were an estimated 220,000-320,000 people in The Netherlands with visual impairment. In 150,000-220,000 (70%) of them the visual impairment is either curable or could have been prevented. Those most at risk are people with intellectual disabilities, elderly people in care institutions, elderly people in general and diabetics. 'Vision 2020 Netherlands', an initiative of the World Health Organization, was launched to eliminate avoidable visual impairment in the Netherlands by the year 2020 by means of awareness campaigns, implementation of screening programmes and by expanding eye care capacity through efficient cooperation between the professional groups involved in eye care.